Where does radiation come from?
Radiation is naturally present in our environment, as it has been since before the birth of this planet. In addition, radiation can be produced artificially, as in medical x-rays and microwaves for cooking. Nonetheless, most people are not aware of all the natural and man-made sources of radiation in our environment.
Why do you need to be careful around radiation?
For the same reason we need to be careful around open flame, toxic chemicals, or knives. Used and stored properly, for example, a knife can help us prepare and eat food; misused, it can cause injury and possibly death. Similarly, when handled correctly, radioactive materials have many beneficial uses; misused, however, it can pose a significant danger. Ionization can cause damage within a cell, which could eventually lead to cancer, a mutation in genetic material, or more immediate types of physical harm to humans.
If radiation is dangerous, why do we use radioactive material?
One could think of radioactive materials as a knife. Used and stored properly, a knife can help us prepare and eat food; misused, it can cause injury and possibly death. Similarly, when handled correctly, radioactive materials have many beneficial medical, industrial, and academic uses.
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