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ATOMIC RADIATION
This subject is very much in the news today and promises to be a
serious health hazard for years to come. Statements made, particularly
during the past twelve months, have tended to confuse most of us; and
an attempt here is made to clarify some basic principles.
In its simplest and widest sense atomic radiation is a phenomenon of
nature; it is present everywhere, to a greater or lesser degree, and is
known as the "natural background radiation" of the earth and its atmosphere.
Following the discovery of x-rays by Roentgen in 1895, certain
uranium salts were found to possess penetrating rays, and shortly afterwards
radium itself was discovered. Further it was found that these
substances emit rays since they are composed of atoms which are unstable
and break down to form other substances producing energy in the form
of rays. For example uranium breaks down to form a series of unstable
substances—thorium, radium, radon, polonium, and so on until the
stable form of the common metal lead is produced.
Nowadays radio active substances can be produced artificially in
nuclear reactors, for example, the numerous radio active isotopes of
iodine or phosphorus and others which find a great number of uses in
medicine and industry.
These rays are part of the electro magnetic spectrum of rays, most of
which are now commonly accepted in the form of heat (infra-red), light
(visible and ultra violet), wireless waves and x-rays. The waves of atomic
disintegration are known as gamma rays (alpha and beta) and cannot
be classified as true rays. They are similar to x-rays which have the power
of great penetration, but alpha and beta rays have only slight penetration.
It has been established that all rays travel at the same speed of
thousands of miles per second. The crucial aspect of difference lies in
the wave length, where the greater the length the more harmless the ray;
and conversely the shorter the wave length the more dangerous. Radio
waves, the longest, are considered harmless. Gamma and x-rays on
the other hand are dangerous. The latter being the most powerful from
the penetration aspect. Alpha and beta rays present a special problem
from the aspect of internal harm once inside the body.
X-rays are produced artificially and are under control in so far as they
can be stopped by switching off the electric current, but gamma rays are
emitted continuously from the radio-active substances in all directions.
Some of these substances emit rays for short periods, others for centuries,
and therein lies their great danger to humanity.
The action of these potentially harmful gamma and x-rays on the
human body depends on a number of factors, thus (1) the type of ray,
(2) its period of action, (3) the distances of the body from the source of
the rays, (4) the amount of previous exposure, (5) the part of the body
exposed and, (6) the sensitivity of the individual to the particular ray.
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