AWR-930W

Unit 1 Lesson 3

Annual Exposure to Radiation

We are exposed to radiation every day and it comes from different sources.
Exposure to radiation for Americans has been increasing since the early 1980s and
is predominantly due to medical procedures.

Select this link for more information on the sources of radiation represented on the
bar graph below.

How Bodies React to Radiation

So how do our bodies react when exposed to radiation? Remember, radiation is a
form of energy in motion. When radiation penetrates the body, some or all of its
energy is transferred in collisions with the body's atoms. These collisions can
damage cells. Some of the damage is repaired through normal healing processes.

Acute vs. Chronic Exposure

Health effects from radiation occur when the body either improperly repairs the
damage or when the body has so much repair to perform that it can’t overcome the
damage quickly enough. Blood cells, cells that form sperm, cells in the intestinal
tract, and hair follicles are particularly sensitive to radiation.
Health effects can occur following acute or chronic exposure to radiation. Select
each exposure type to learn more.

• Acute Exposure
• Chronic Exposure