Effects Of Low Doses Of Radiation example essay topic

The Biological Effects of Radiation Whether the source of radiation is natural or man made, whether it is a small dose of radiation or a large dose, there will be some biological effects. Radiation causes ionization's of atoms, which will affect molecules, which may affect cells, which may affect tissues, and so on. Although most people tend to think of biological effects in terms of the effect of radiation on living cells, in actuality, ionizing radiation, by definition, interacts only with atoms by a process called ionization (Chandra p. 205). Thus, all biological damage effects begin with the consequence of radiation interactions with the atoms forming the cells. Even though all subsequent biological effects can be traced back to the interaction of radiation with atoms, there are two mechanisms by which radiation ultimately affects cells. These two mechanisms are commonly called direct and indirect effects.

If radiation interacts with the atoms of the DNA molecule, or some other cellular component critical to the survival of the cell, it is referred to as a direct effect. Such interaction may affect the ability of the cell to reproduce and, thus, survive. If enough atoms are affected in such a way that the chromosomes do not replicate properly, or there is a significant alteration in the information carried by the DNA molecule, then the cell may be destroyed by "direct" interference with its life-sustaining system. Indirect effects are caused by the reaction of radiation with the water that makes up the majority of the cells volume.

When radiation interacts with water, it may break the bonds that hold the water molecule together. This produces fragments of hydrogen and hydroxyls. These fragments may recombine or they may interact with other fragments to form compounds, such as water, which would not harm the cell. It is when these fragments combine to form toxic substances, such as hydrogen peroxide, that the destruction of the cell results.

Biological effects of radiation are typically divided into two categories. The first category consists of exposure to "high doses of radiation over brief intervals of time" producing acute effects (Hall p. 15). The second category represents exposure to "low doses of radiation over extended periods of time" producing chronic or long term effects (Hall p. 15). High doses tend to kill cells, while low doses tend to damage or change them. High doses can kill so many cells that tissues and organs are damaged.

This in turn may cause a whole body response often called Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS). The effects of low doses of radiation occur at the cellular level, and the results may not be observed for many years. There are three general categories of effects that result from exposure to low doses of radiation. They are genetic effects, somatic effects, and in-utero effects (Christensen p. 396). Genetic effects involve the mutation of very specific cells, usually reproductive cells. Mutations of these reproductive cells are passed to the offspring of the individuals exposed.

Somatic effects are primarily suffered by the individual exposed. Since cancer is the primary result, somatic effects are sometimes known as Carcinogenic effects. In-utero effects are sometimes mistaken to be a genetic consequence of radiation exposure. This happens because the effect is suffered by a developing fetus and the effect is seen after birth. This is, in fact, a special case of the somatic effect, since the fetus is the one exposed to the radiation.

There is always some risk with any exposure to radiation. However, exposure to radiation does not always guarantee bodily harm. On the other hand, it is important to know that more exposure means more risk, and that there is no dose of radiation so small that it will not have some effect.