Ionizing Radiation
Ionizing radiation → can be high frequency electromagnetic waves or high energy particles ⇒ come from outer space, natural radioactive materials in our env. or mad made sources. High energy electromagnetic waves can penetrate our body more easily than high energy particles.
Large portion of our exposure to ionizing radiation ⇒ is from natural sources in our env.
Living things are made up of many types of cells such as nerve cells, skin cells and muscle cells. Cells in turn are made up of molecules and atoms. When high frequency electromagnetic waves interacts with a particular atom or molecules and knocks an electron out from it, charged ion is produced.
Charged ion ⇒ will not behave in the same way as an original atom or molecule that was electrically neutral. → ion may hinder a certain chemical reaction which in turn affects a particular cell process. Depending on scale of such disruptions and the specific biological system affected ⇒ results could be cell death, mutations leading to diseases and organ failure.
Higher frequency electromagnetic waves ⇒ can penetrate deep into the body more easily ⇒ to create ions. → high frequency electromagnetic waves are thus more harmful than high energy particles that do not penetrate as deep
Heating
Exposure to strong ionizing electromagnetic radiation ⇒ such as UV light causes heating effects. over exposure to UV light ⇒ can have harmful effects such as skin cancer and premature ageing Thus in SG ⇒ where there is high level of UV radiation all year ⇒ we should protect ourselves against UV.