This document discusses radiation concepts for paramedical professionals. It defines different types of radiation sources including natural sources from space, internal radioactive materials in the body, and artificial sources like X-rays. It describes the effects of radiation exposure on human cells and factors that influence health effects like dose and duration. Both acute and chronic radiation exposures are addressed. The document also outlines international standards for measuring and limiting radiation exposure and the protective measures that can be taken.

1. ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF LOCAL SELF
GOVERNMENT
DELHI
“ Radiation Concepts for Paramedical”
DR.P.P.SINGH
By
Dr. P.P.SINGH
Faculty AIILSGD
Ex Medical Superintendent Cum Consultant pathologist
HRH Delhi
Ex. Director India Population Project 8 Delhi..

2. RADIATION
MAN IS EXPOSED TO RADIATION RECEIVED
FROM OUTER SPACE ON THE EARTH. WHICH IS
THE NATURAL PART OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.
MAN IS ALSO SUBJECTED TO INTERNAL
RADIATION , I.E. FROM RADIO ACTIVE MATTER
STORED IN BODY TISSUES LIKE URANIUM ,
THORIUM STRONTIUM, CARBON ( C14).
ARTIFICIAL OR MAN MADE SOURCE OF
RADIATION ARE – X-RAYS, NUCLEAR
EXPLOSIONS ETC.

3. * RADIO ACTIVITY IS THE DECOMPOSITION OF AN
ATOM BY EMISSION OF RADIANT ENERGY SUCH AS
ALPHA, BETA, GAMMA OR X-RAYS.
*RADIATION IS THE GIVING OFF OF
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES ON PARTICULAR RAYS.
EFFECT OF ACTION OF RADIATION.
*THESE ACT DIRECTLY ON CYTOPLASM OF CELL
AND CAUSE DE-NATURATION OF PROTEINS ,
AFFECTS THE NUCLEUS . THE CELL DIVISION IS
AFFECTED AND RESULTING CELL OF FUTURE
GENERATION ARE BADLY DAMAGES.

4. SOURCES OF RADIATION
1. NATURAL.
2. MAN- MADE.
NATURAL
A, COSMIC RAYS IN THE ATMOSPHERE –
MAJORITY ARE FILTERED BY AIR.
B, ATMOSPHERIC GASES – GASES LIKE
RADON, THORON .
C, TERRESTRIAL – RADIOACTIVE ELEMENT
FOUND IN MINES & ON EARTH SURFACE.
D, INTERNAL – ELEMENT WHICH ARE
DECOMPOSED IN BODY EG ISOTOPE OF CARBON.

5. MAN- MADE
A, OCCUPATION ;- URANIUM MINES , ATOMIC
POWER , X-RAY IN MEDICAL & INDUSTRIAL FIELD.
NATURAL SUBMARINES , MAKING LUMINOUS
WATCH DIALS, PRESERVATION OF FOOD
STERILIZATION OF DRUGS, TESTING PLASTICS ,
ABRASIVE ETC.
B, RADIOACTIVE FALL OUT. ;- NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
RELEASES HIGH ENERGY , TEMPERATURE, HEAT
LIGHT , RADIATION AND MANY ISOTOPES.

6. EFFECTS OF RADIATION ON HUMAN BODY:
FACTORS INFLUENCING ARE :-
1. TYPE OF RADIATION.
2.DOSE OF RADIATION.
3.TIME OF RADIATION.
4 EXPOSURE OF WHOLE BODY OR
PART.
5.DISTANCE FROM SOURCE OF
RADIATION.
6. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

7. RADIATION EXPOSURE MAY BE ACUTE OR
CHRONIC.
ACUTE EXPOSURE : LARGE DOSE OF SHORT
DURATION.
CHRONIC EXPOSURE : SMALL DOSE OVER LONG
PERIOD.
THE COMMON EFFECTS ARE:-
1. ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME : 400-500
RADS.
2. OVERALL EFFECT : 50% DEATH AND 100%
WILL MANIFEST SICKNESS, NAUSEA, VOMITING, HAIR
LOSS, DIARRHOEA WITH BLOOD , ULCERS IN MOUTH ,
FEVER AND DEATH
3.AN EXPOSURE TO DOSE OF 3000RADS –
100% WILL DIE IN ONE WEEK.

8. CHRONIC EFFECTS:
1. THRESHOLD EFFECTS : TO THOSE A
CERTAIN MINIMUM DOSE IS GIVEN FOR
TREATMENT . THE EFFECT ARE:
I– DECREASE IN BLOOD CELL,
II--GI EFFECT – NAUSEA , VOMITING ,
DIARRHOEA .
III--REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM – STERILITY,
ABORTION, DAMAGE
TO FETUS.
2. NON THRESHOLD EFFECT ARE:
I. GENES MUTATION.
II CANCER OF LUNG, BLOOD, SKIN,
THYROID ETC.

9. PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION :-
1. HEALTH PROMOTION
I, HEALTH EDUCATION REGARDING
HANDLING X-RAY MACHINE.
II, PERSONAL HYGIENE.
III, GOOD HOUSE KEEPING ( CLEAN ,TIDY
AND NEAT).
2. SPECIFIC PROTECTION :
I, USING MINIMUM EFFECTIVE DOSE.
II, AVOIDANCE OF INDISCRIMINATE USE.
III, USE LEAD APRONS, GOGGLES.
IV, DECREASING TIME OF EXPOSURE.
V, USING SHIELD AND KEEPING DISTANCE.
VI, ENCLOSING PROCEDURE TOTALLY.

10. 3. EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT.
PUBLIC HEALTH CHECK UP – BY FILM BADGE (
DOSIMETER) AND BLOOD CELL EXAMINATION .
MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE – CANNOT BE
DISCHARGED IN AIR OR STREAM , SPECIAL TREATMENT
LIKE PRECIPITATION OR STORAGE IN CEMENT CONCRETE
BOX AND DISPOSED IN DEEP SEA.
INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES INVOLVED IN RESEARCH IN
RADIATION – 1. W H O.
2. IAEA ( INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY
AGENCY)
3.ICRP (INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON
RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION.

11. MEASUREMENT OF RADIATION
THERE ARE THREE WAYS;-
1. ROENTGEN – IT IS THE EXPOSURE UNIT IF AMOUNT
OF RADIATION ABSORB IN AIR AT GIVEN POINT I.E. NUMBER
OF IONS PRODUCED IN 1 ML OF AIR.
2. RAD – IT IS THE UNIT OF ABSORBED DOSE PER
GRAM OF TISSUE OR ANY MATERIAL 1 MRAD = 0.001.
3. REM – IT IS MODIFYING FACTOR .THE REM
INDICATES THE DEGREE OF POTENTIAL DANGER TO HEALTH.
( WHERE RAD AND REM ARE EQUAL RADIATION IS
HIGHLY PENETRATING.)

12. INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS
1. COULOMB PER KILOGRAM (C/KG) =
ROENTGEN 2.58X10-4CKG. (
UNITS OF EXPOSURE)
2. GRAY (GY) = RAD 1 RAD = 0.01GY
(UNIT OF ABSORBED DOSE)
3.SIEVERT (SV) = REM . 1 SV = 100 REM

13. PENETRATIVE POWER OF DIFFERENT RAYS:-
COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATIONS.
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APPROXIMATE PENETRATING ABILITY
TYPE OF RADIATION ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIR TISSUE LEAD
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1. ALPHA PARTICLES 4 CM 0.05 CM 0
2. BETA PARTICLE 6 – 300 CM 0.06-4.0 CM 0.005 – 0.3MM.
3. GAMMA RAYS 400 MTS 15 – 30 CM 30 MM.
4. X RAYS 120 – 420 MTS 15 – 30 CM 0.3 MM.
5. COSMIC RAYS SOME COMPONENTS VERY HIGH
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SOURCE : LITTLE J.B.( 1966) N.ENG.J.OF MED. 275-929