Skip to main content

Adverse Reproductive Outcomes in Families of Atomic Veterans The Feasibility of Epidemiologic Studies (1995) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

4. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF RADIATION BIOLOGY
Pages 21-26

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 21...
... The electromagnetic spectrum extends from very long wavelengths, which include electric power, television and radio, to those in the middle, which include visible and ultraviolet light. Approaching the other end of the spectrum, those with the shorter wavelengths include microwaves, radar, and infrared radiation, and as the wavelength becomes very short, the spectrum contains the highly energetic waves of ionizing radiation.
Read the entire page →
From page 22...
... Radioactive materials that emit alpha particles are a hazard only if they are inhaled or ingested and get into the cells of the body in sufficiently large concentrations. Because X rays and gamma rays travel as very-high-energy electromagnetic waves, they can penetrate the human body quite easily.
Read the entire page →
From page 23...
... Because of their high-LET characteristics alpha particles can be much more damaging, for a given absorbed dose, than low-LET radiations such as beta particles and gamma rays. Low-LET radiations ionize the atoms in their paths much less frequently and produce tracks that are much less densely ionized.
Read the entire page →
From page 24...
... For most of the Atomic Veterans exposed to fallout, the dose rate would generally be low, whereas for those exposed directly to a weapon at the time of explosion, the dose rate would be high. Given the dose information, presented in Chapter 9, it would appear that almost all of the Atomic Veterans have what would be classified as a low dose, and therefore, a reduction factor of 2 for potential biologic effects could be assumed, that is, half that expected at a high dose and a high dose rate.
Read the entire page →
From page 25...
... . Only 10 percent of the Atomic Veterans appear to have received doses that would exceed the naturally occurring difference in radiation resulting from living in Denver compared with that from living in an area in the United States with a more typical level of background radiation.
Read the entire page →
From page 26...
... , chromosomal breakage on culture of their fibroblasts, and a high risk of lymphoma. When the lymphoma is treated with conventional doses of X rays, a severe, often lethal acute radiation reaction occurs.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • alpha particles
  • genetic material
  • background radiation
  • x rays
  • atomic veterans

  • beta particles
  • deterministic effects
  • gamma rays
  • dose rate
  • radioactive materials

  • cell killing
  • biologic effects
  • human body
  • radiation weighting
  • natural background

  • absorbed doses
  • ionizing events
  • absorbed dose
  • radiation exposure
  • genetic effects

  • free radicals
  • beta radiation
  • low dose
  • weighting factors
  • terrestrial sources

  • unnecessary exposure
  • reduction factor
  • effective doses
  • denver compared
  • spontaneously occurring


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.