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Radiation

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generated from a nucleus, but both are electromagnetic waves. A neutron is a particle that
constitutes a nucleus. Neutrons that are ejected from a nucleus with kinetic energy, e.g.
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Radiation”)

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Radiation
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Radiation generally means ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation, which has the ability to
ionize atoms that make up a substance (separate the atoms into positively charged ions
and negatively charged electrons), is categorized into particle beams and electromagnetic
waves.
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of Vol. 1, “Where does Radiation Come from?”). Particle beams include charged (ionized)
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electromagnetic waves.
Some forms of electromagnetic waves, such as electric waves, infrared rays, and visible
rays, do not cause ionization, and they are called nonionizing radiation. Ultraviolet rays
are generally categorized as nonionizing radiation although some ultraviolet rays do cause
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(Related to p.19 of Vol. 1, “Types of Radiation and Biological Effects,” and p.20 of Vol. 1,
“Penetrating Power of Radiation”)

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Updated on March 31, 2019

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Radiation
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also include neutron beams and proton beams.
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(Related to p.13 of Vol. 1, “Where does Radiation Come from?,” and p.14 of Vol. 1, “Types
of Radiation”)

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Radiation
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generated when the direction of propagation of the thermal electrons changes as they are
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from the inner electron orbit of the anode nucleus, another electron migrates (transitions) to
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part to be imaged. In chest roentgenography (diagnosis), the amount of radiation a patient
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Vol. 1, “Radiation Doses from Medical Diagnosis”)

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Radiation
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Electromagnetic waves are waves that propagate through space while an electric field
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frequency is), the higher the energy of an electromagnetic wave. The energy of radiation is
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both electromagnetic waves with high energy.
Thus, an electromagnetic wave sometimes behaves like a wave and may be expressed
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Radiation
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When radiation passes through a substance, its energy causes ejection of orbital electrons
of the atoms that make up the substance, separating the atoms into positively charged
atoms (or positive ion molecules) and free electrons. This is called ionization.
Ionizing radiation that causes ionization ionizes substances either directly or indirectly.
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through their interaction with the substances.
(Related to p.14 of Vol. 1, “Types of Radiation”)

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Radiation
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penetrating power against biological tissues and cannot penetrate the horny layer of the
skin (layer of dead cells on the skin surface). However, internal exposure to any radioactive
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and has strong biological effects.
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but because of their low ionization density, their biological effects are not as strong as
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tissues.
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power but do not have high ionization density. Their biological effects are similar to those of
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Since a neutron has a mass almost equal to that of a proton, a neutron beam stops
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water, neutrons lose their energy as they collide with hydrogen nuclei (protons) that make
up water molecules.
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Radiation
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Charged particles or electromagnetic waves interact with a substance, lose their energy
(speed), and eventually stop.
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thick aluminum plate is enough to stop them, depending on how much energy they have.
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several tens to hundreds of meters in the air (depending on their energy) and gradually lose
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using iron and the like.
Uncharged neutrons lose their energy through collision and are absorbed through
interaction with substances. That is, neutrons lose their energy (speed) by directly colliding
with nuclei that make up substances. They lose their energy most effectively by colliding
with protons (hydrogen nuclei) that are almost equal in mass to them.
(Related to p.21 of Vol. 1, “Penetrating Power of Radiation within the Body”)

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Radiation
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The easiness to penetrate through the air or the human body varies depending on the
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radioactive materials (nuclides) that cause problems differ for external exposure and internal
exposure.
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layer of dead cells (horny layer) on the skin surface and do not cause effects. However, if an
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where it is deposited.
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when a radiation source is located away from the body. When the surface of the body is
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the relevant spot.
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meters in the air. When they collide with the human body, they can reach deep into the body
or sometimes pass through it. Their energy is imparted to the part they pass through. In
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in black while the parts they cannot easily pass through (bones, etc.) appear in white.
(Related to p.22 of Vol. 1, “Penetrating Power and Range of Effects on the Human Body”)

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Radiation
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On the other hand, in the case of internal exposure, all radioactive materials that emit
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Some radioactive materials such as uranium, once entering the human body, may also
cause metallic toxicity, etc., in addition to causing internal exposure.
(Related to p.21 of Vol. 1, “Penetrating Power of Radiation within the Body”)

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