Humans have been exposed to radiation since the dawn of time. The sources of this radiation include the ground we walk on, the air we breathe, and the food we eat.
Natural sources of radiation make up about 82 percent
of the average annual radiation
dose to the US public. Most of the remaining 18 percent
comes from medical procedures such as dental X-rays.
An extremely small amount of our average annual dose comes
from man-made sources like smoke detectors, television
sets, and nuclear power.
Radiation emitted by man-made sources is no different
from radiation emitted by natural sources.
Radiation Protection
We prevent harmful
exposure to radiation by controlling distance, shielding, and time.
Distance - The
farther you are from a source of
radiation, the less radiation exposure
you will receive.
Shielding - Material placed
between you and a source of radiation
will provide a degree of protection.
Time - Reducing the time you
are exposed to a radiation source
will result in lower radiation
exposure.
