Radiation is a type of energy that spreads in the environment at different speeds, which can penetrate certain materials and be absorbed by the skin and, in some cases, can be harmful to health, causing diseases such as cancer.
The main types of radiation are solar, ionizing and non-ionizing, and in each of these types energy can be produced by industries or found in nature.
Radiation can be classified into three types, such as
Solar radiation, also called ultraviolet radiation, is emitted by the sun and ultraviolet rays can be of different types, such as:
Solar radiation reaches the skin more intensely between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., but even in the shade, people may be exposed to ultraviolet rays.
Prolonged sun exposure can cause sunburn and sunstroke, which occur during dehydration, fever, vomiting and even fainting. In addition, excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays can cause skin cancer that causes skin lesions, warts, or imperfections. Here’s how to identify signs of skin cancer.
How to protect yourself: The best way to protect yourself from ultraviolet rays is to use a daily sunscreen with a minimum protection factor of 30, wear hats to protect your face from ultraviolet rays, and prevent tanning. And yet it is important to avoid the sun in the middle of the day, when the intensity of the radiation is higher.
Ionizing radiation is a type of high-frequency energy produced in power plants, used in radiation therapy devices and imaging tests, such as CT.
Exposure to this type of radiation should be minimal, as people who are exposed to it for a long time can develop health problems, such as nausea, vomiting, weakness and burns on the skin and, in the most severe cases, the manifestation of certain types. cancer.
How to protect yourself: Tests that emit ionizing radiation should be performed with medical indication and, in most cases, do not pose any health problems, as they are usually rapid.
However, professionals exposed to this type of radiation over an extended period of time, such as radiation therapy workers and nuclear power plant employees, must use radiation dosimeters and protective equipment, such as a lead vest.
Non-ionizing radiation is a type of low-frequency energy that propagates through electromagnetic waves and can come from natural or artificial sources. Examples of this type of radiation include radio waves, mobile phones, television antennas, electric lights, wi-fi networks, microwaves, and other electronic equipment.
Non-ionizing radiation generally does not harm health because it carries little energy, however, people who work with electrical systems, such as electricians and welders, are at risk of an accident and receive a very high energy load and may have burns on the body. .
How to protect yourself: non-ionizing radiation does not cause serious illness, so there is no need to take specific protective measures, however, workers in direct contact with electrical cables and generators must use personal protective equipment to avoid accidents.