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Medical radiation a major source of human exposure

The findings are contained in the first of the two volumes of supporting evidence underpinning the UNSCEAR report for 2008 covering medical radiation exposures; the second covers exposures of the public and workers from various sources of radiation.……

UN Identifies Medical Use of Radiation as Main Source of Human Exposure, Turkish Weekly,  18 August 2010 The use of radiation in medicine accounts for most human exposure to ionizing radiation, according to a report issued on 17 August by the United Nations scientific committee on the effects of atomic radiation. 

“Medical exposures account for 98% of the contribution from all artificial sources and are now the second largest contributor to the population dose worldwide, representing approximately 20% of the total,” the UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) said in a summary of the report to the UN General Assembly.

Radiation produces toxic free radicals when absorbed by the body. Exposure to high levels can cause substantial damage to human body tissues, and may lead to death. Prolonged exposure to lower levels is also associated with an increased risk of ill-health. …..

Other than medical uses, the artificial sources of exposure – which make up about 2% of the total exposure to artificial sources – are: the atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, whose levels continues to fall; occupational exposure – the highest population exposures are among mine workers exposed to radon, while exposures at nuclear power plants have been falling steadily; the declining effects of the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident in 1986; and the nuclear fuel cycle, including mining, power generation and disposal of waste.

The findings are contained in the first of the two volumes of supporting evidence underpinning the UNSCEAR report for 2008 covering medical radiation exposures; the second covers exposures of the public and workers from various sources of radiation.……

UN Identifies Medical Use of Radiation as Main Source of Human Exposure

August 19, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, health | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear technology, radiation, radioactive