l Applications of Ionizing Radiation
Ionizing radiation can be applied in different aspects to the benefits of the mankind:
1. Electricity generation by means of commercial nuclear power stations.
2. Medical applications in providing images for identification of abnormal changes in body organs and tissues as well as a major tool in the treatment of certain kinds of cancer.
3. Industrial applications in detecting defects in welds and metal castings as well as quality adjustments and measurements in production lines.
4. Consumer products such as smoke detectors, luminous signs and lightning conductors where the benefits and safety significantly outweigh the minimal radiation risks.
5. Archaeological applications in assessment of the age of objects
l Effect of Ionizing Radiation on Health
Although radiation may cause damages to body cells and tissues, health effects are insignificant unless the dose of radiation is large. The effect depends on the intensity of the radiation, the length of the exposure, and the type of body cell exposed. Sudden large doses of magnitude above 1,000 mSv to the whole body can cause acute radiation injuries, with short-term symptoms like nausea, vomiting, extreme tiredness and hair loss. A dose of 10,000 mSv or more can be fatal unless good medical attention is available.
According to the data provided by the Hong Kong Government, the radiation dose received by an average individual in daily life is very low. Even for workers who are exposed to radiation in their work, the average dose is about 0.05 – 0.11mSv/year.