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    Home > Medical News > Medical World News > What is the difference between ionizing and non ionizing radiation?

    What is the difference between ionizing and non ionizing radiation?

    • Last Update: 2020-04-03
    • Source: Internet
    • Author: User
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    All energy has radiation, which can be divided into two types: ionized and non ionized, and is ubiquitous on earth It is very important to understand the difference between ionizing radiation and non ionizing radiation to understand their harm and use to human body Ionizing radiation is more dangerous than non ionizing radiation Although there are potential hazards, ionizing radiation also has some medical uses Ionization is the process of removing electrons from a particular atomic orbit, which causes the atom to become charged or ionized This process occurs when there is enough radiation intensity to interact with normal atoms Radiation that is not strong enough to induce this process is called non ionization, but simply stimulates the motion of atoms and heats them The split between ionizing and non ionizing radiation occurs within the UV radiation range, which is why the range is divided into UV-A and UV-B rays, which are more dangerous and stronger Examples of non ionizing radiation include infrared, microwave and visible light Non ionizing radiation is harmless because electrons are not deprived from atoms It can still activate atoms and heat them This is also the principle of microwave oven, and human tissue is basically unaffected Exposure to nonionizing radiation with wavelengths smaller than the body can cause dangerous burns That's why exposure to sunlight can cause skin burns Although ionizing radiation does not produce heat, it does more harm to active tissues than non ionizing radiation By fundamentally changing the chemical composition of atoms, this radiation can lead to molecular damage and uncontrolled cell growth, known as cancer If exposed to human reproductive organs, ionizing radiation can also cause birth defects Solar energy produces large amounts of ionizing and non ionizing radiation, but only a small amount reaches the earth's surface In fact, most of the ionizing radiation absorbed by human body is contributed by radon gas, followed by plutonium and radium, mainly produced in rock layers and other geological structures However, ionizing radiation does have practical value and has been proved to be very important in the field of health care Medical imaging such as X-ray relies on artificial ionizing radiation By removing target tissue, radiotherapy can be used to treat a variety of diseases, including cancer Similarly, natural radiation has the same risks as artificial radiation, and the side effects of high dose radiation therapy are serious.
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