Effect of ionizing radiation towards human health: A review

Abstract

This paper reviews the properties, process and effect of ionizing radiation towards human health. The fetus and human embryo are much sensitive to ionizing radiation. The health consequences of exposure can be vary even at low radiation and as a result it will affect the mother. Such consequences can include cancer, malformations, growth retardation and impaired brain function. There are two types of biological effects which is deterministic and stochastic effect. Biological effect of radiation results from both direct and indirect action of radiation. Radiation exposure may be external or internal and can be acquired through various exposure pathways. Different organs have different sensitivity to ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is a radiation that carries enough energy to liberate electrons from atoms or molecules, thereby ionizing them. Ionizing radiation is made up of energetic subatomic particles, ions or atoms moving at high speeds such as alpha, beta, gamma, neutron particles and X-rays. The spontaneous disintegration of atoms is known as radioactivity and the excess energy emitted is a form of ionizing radiation. As the use of ionizing radiation increases, so does the potential for health hazards.