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Radiation Safety pp 23–38Cite as

Radiation Sources: Benefits and Risks

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Abstract

X-rays tubes and radium found immediately application in medicine from the discovery of radioactivity at the beginning of the 20th century of available radionuclides have significantly grown, and countless advances in nuclear science and technology have helped further developments in medicine, industry, agriculture, education, and scientific research.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    A source is defined as: Anything that may cause radiation exposure, such as by emitting ionizing radiation or by releasing radioactive substances or materials. For example, materials emitting radon are sources in the environment; a sterilization gamma irradiation unit is a source for the practice of radiation preservation of food; an X ray unit may be a source for the practice of radiodiagnostic; a nuclear power plant is part of the practice of generating electricity by nuclear fission, and may be regarded as a source (i.e., with respect to discharges to the environment) or as a collection of sources (i.e., for occupational radiation protection purposes).

  2. 2.

    Sealed source is a radioactive material that is (a) permanently sealed in a capsule or (b) closely bonded and in a solid form.

  3. 3.

    It is an internal radiation treatment or radiation therapy delivered from a short distance.

  4. 4.

    An unsealed source is a source that does not meet the definition of a sealed source.

  5. 5.

    An effective radiation safety program implies practical implementation of all principles and requirements stated by national and international standards.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Miami, FL, USA

    Haydee Domenech

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  1. Haydee Domenech
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Correspondence to Haydee Domenech .

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Domenech, H. (2017). Radiation Sources: Benefits and Risks. In: Radiation Safety. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42671-6_3

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