What is radiation dose and how is it influenced by different radiation-types?
The radiation dose is the amount of energy that the radiation gives to the body. The dose is the indicator of the risk, thus a high dose is a high risk. A radiation dose is received when radiation travels through the body and hits cells and organs. This explains why alpha-emitting atoms are not dangerous outside of the body; the radiation coming from them doesn’t even enter the body. However, if for instance a plutonium-atom is taken up in an organ – the alpha-radiation it gives off, in the form of large particles, will create a significant damage in the body. The radiation can have an impact on everything (DNA, cell membranes) it encounters and therefore result in a relatively high dose. Gamma radiation travels right through your body, but the chances of it ‘hitting’ something are quite small and therefore does not deliver such high doses. However all gamma- emitting atoms, whether inside or outside of the body, add to the radiation risk.
