Radiation
Radiation is energy that comes from a source and travels through material or space. Every day, Canadians come in contact with radiation in both their living and work environments. Radiation can be classified as ionizing or non-ionizing. Ionizing radiation has sufficient energy to remove electrons from atoms or molecules. The loss of an electron results in the formation of a charged atom, called an ion. The damaging effects of ionizing radiation result from this ability to change the chemical composition of matter with which it interacts. Radiation that has enough energy to move or vibrate atoms, but not enough to remove electrons, is called non-ionizing radiation.
Sources of naturally occurring radiation include
- radioactive material found in rocks and soils
- cosmic radiation
- ultraviolet radiation from the sun
Radiation can also be generated by artificial sources, including
- medical or clinical devices such as X-ray machines and ultrasound devices
- household or personal products such as microwave ovens and cellular telephones
- industrial or commercial equipment such as telecommunication towers and nuclear power generating stations
- nuclear fallout resulting from past military experimentation and weapons development
Health Canada's Role:
Health Canada aims to reduce the health and safety risks associated with different types of radiation. To protect Canadians from these effects, Health Canada
- conducts research into the biological effects of environmental and occupational radiation
- develops better methods for internal radiation dosimetry and its measurement
- provides radiation safety inspections of federally regulated facilities containing radiation-emitting devices, the devices themselves, as well as training on the proper operation of the devices
- develops regulations, guidelines, standards and safety codes pertaining to radiation-emitting devices
- provides radiation advice and collaborates with government departments and agencies, industry, and the general public
What Information is Available?
In this section, you will find information about
- the different types of radiation found in our environment and places of work
- how radiation is measured and with what degree of accuracy
- the health effects related to natural or artificial sources of radiation, including research on radionuclide metabolism
- regulations, guidelines, standards and safety codes pertaining to radiation-emitting devices
- the Federal Provincial Territorial Radiation Protection Committee
© "The Energy Spectrum" graphic reproduced by permission of World
Nuclear Association, London, United Kingdom
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