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When you receive a dental or chest x-ray, undergo radiation therapy, or fly at 30,000 feet in an airplane, you are being exposed to radiation at a level slightly above normal. Do you ever wonder about this radiation? Is there a difference between natural and human-made?
Radiation is a part of daily life and a very useful tool in medicine, research, and industry. The use of radiation is regulated by the Radiological Health Program of the Maryland Department of the Environment.
What is radiation?
Radiation is energy that travels as particles or electromagnetic waves. Radiation occurs naturally and is also produced by humans. Naturally occurring radiation reaches us from space (cosmic radiation) and occurs in soil, water, and vegetation. Human-produced radiation includes electricity, radar, microwaves, radio waves, and ionizing radiation. The process that generates steam at nuclear power plants also produces radiation.
Ionizing radiation is regulated by the Radiological Health Program because of its health effects. Ionizing radiation is produced by radiation machines or is emitted from elemental radioactive materials as they undergo radioactive decay. Because ionizing radiation causes biological changes in the body, there is some health risk associated with any ionizing radiation exposure. However, the risk from routine diagnostic tests is very low, and the benefits of finding medical issues outweigh the small radiation risk.
Where would we encounter the use of radiation?
RADIATION MACHINES. One type of radiation is produced by a radiation machine, which electronically produces x-rays. X-rays allow doctors to identify hidden problems such as tooth cavities and bone fractures. They are used by dentists, physicians, chiropractors, podiatrists, and veterinarians, and in medical facilities providing diagnostic x-ray images. High energy x-ray machines called linear accelerators are used in hospitals for radiation therapy to treat cancer. In addition, x-rays are used for security, to view luggage, packages, and persons for items that are invisible to the human eye.
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS. Another type of radiation is emitted from the decay of radioactive elements, or radioisotopes. Shielded radioactive materials are used in construction, manufacturing, academia, research, laboratories, and detection equipment. A common use of radioactive sources in construction is for detection of the density or moisture content of soil at building sites.
Radioactive materials are used in both diagnostic and therapeutic medicine. Diagnostic use involves the intravenous injection of a low dose of a radioactive drug that concentrates in specific organs, such as the heart. A nuclear camera produces images of the organ so that cancer and other abnormalities can be detected. Radioactive materials of much higher doses are placed into devices to treat cancer by exposing it to the radioactive source.
How is radiation use regulated by MDE?
The Radiological Health Program is responsible for protecting the public from unnecessary radiation exposure. The program regulates uses of radiation, inspects facilities and areas of use, and licenses and registers users of radiation. The Program is also responsible for emergency response to any incident potentially involving radiation or a radioactive materials source or device.
How do I get more information?
Go to Radiological Health for general information on the Radiological Health Program.
Go to Biological Effects of Radiation for information on radiation and its effects on humans.
Go to X-Ray Application Forms and Guidance for specific information on radiation machines.
Go to Maryland Radioactive Materials Forms for specific information on radioactive materials.
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