What is radiation?
Radiation is energy that travels as a wave or particle. Some types of radiation can harm you. These types are called ionizing radiation. When this radiation is given off by substances such as uranium as they decay, it's called radioactivity.
About half of the ionizing radiation we're exposed to comes from nature. It's in rock, soil, and the atmosphere. The other half comes from man-made sources. These include medical tests and treatments and nuclear power plants.
What are the risks of being exposed to radiation?
There is always a risk of damage to cells or tissue from being exposed to any amount of ionizing radiation. Over time, radiation exposure may cause cancer and other health problems. But the risk of this happening is small.
The chance of getting cancer from radiation exposure varies from person to person. It depends on the source of exposure, the amount of exposure, the number of exposures over time, and your age at exposure. In general, the younger you are when you are exposed to radiation, the greater the risk of cancer.
How can you reduce radiation exposure?
You can do some things to reduce your risk of radiation exposure. If you're worried about radiation from a full-body airport scanner, ask for a pat-down instead. If you're concerned about the risk of cancer from a CT scan, ask your doctor about the amount of radiation this test may give you.
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