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Related Concept Videos

Biological Effects of Radiation02:59

Biological Effects of Radiation

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All radioactive nuclides emit high-energy particles or electromagnetic waves. When this radiation encounters living cells, it can cause heating, break chemical bonds, or ionize molecules. The most serious biological damage results when these radioactive emissions fragment or ionize molecules. For example, α and β particles emitted from nuclear decay reactions possess much higher energies than ordinary chemical bond energies. When these particles strike and penetrate matter, they...
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Mutations01:35

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Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
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Mutations01:39

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Isotopes and Radioisotopes01:28

Isotopes and Radioisotopes

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In the early 1900s, English chemist Frederick Soddy realized that an element could have atoms with different masses that were chemically indistinguishable. These different types are called isotopes — atoms of the same element that differ in mass. Isotopes differ in mass because they have different numbers of neutrons but are chemically identical because they have the same number of protons. Soddy was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1921 for this discovery.
An isotope containing...
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Types of Radioactivity03:23

Types of Radioactivity

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The most common types of radioactivity are α decay, β decay, γ decay, neutron emission, and electron capture.
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Nucleotide Excision Repair01:38

Nucleotide Excision Repair

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DNA Distortion and Damage
Cells are regularly exposed to mutagens—factors in the environment that can damage DNA and generate mutations. UV radiation is one of the most common mutagens and is estimated to introduce a significant number of changes in DNA. These include bends or kinks in the structure, which can block DNA replication or transcription. If these errors are not fixed, the damage can cause mutations, which in turn can result in cancer or disease depending on which sequences are...
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An Automated Microscopic Scoring Method for the γ-H2AX Foci Assay in Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes
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[Risks associated to ionizing radiation from natural sources].

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    Natural radiation is a primary exposure source for the global population. While radon inhalation is linked to lung cancer, other natural radiation sources show no conclusive health risks.

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    Area of Science:

    • Environmental Science
    • Radiation Biology
    • Public Health

    Context:

    • Natural radioactivity is the predominant source of ionizing radiation exposure for populations worldwide.
    • Exposure occurs through external (cosmic, telluric rays) and internal (radon inhalation, contaminated food/water) pathways.
    • Exposure levels are influenced by geographical factors (altitude, geology) and lifestyle (housing, diet).

    Purpose:

    • To provide a comprehensive overview of natural radiation sources and their associated health implications.
    • To evaluate the scientific evidence linking natural radiation exposure to adverse health outcomes.
    • To identify key risk factors and knowledge gaps in the field of natural radioactivity and health.

    Summary:

    • Natural radioactivity contributes significantly to the public's ionizing radiation exposure, both externally and internally.
    • Epidemiological data strongly associate domestic radon exposure with an increased risk of lung cancer, second only to smoking.
    • Current evidence does not support significant health risks from other natural sources of ionizing radiation exposure.

    Impact:

    • Highlights radon as a major preventable cause of lung cancer, informing public health strategies.
    • Emphasizes the need for further research into the health effects of various natural radiation sources.
    • Provides a foundation for risk assessment and management of environmental radioactivity.