Stralingsrisico

Stralingsrisico refers to the potential harm or adverse health effects that can arise from exposure to ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is a type of energy released by atoms that travels in electromagnetic waves or as subatomic particles. This energy has enough force to knock electrons out of atoms and molecules, thereby damaging biological tissues.

The risks associated with radiation exposure depend on several factors, including the type of radiation, the dose received, the duration of exposure, and the part of the body exposed. Common sources of ionizing radiation include medical imaging procedures such as X-rays and CT scans, nuclear power plants, and naturally occurring radioactive materials.

Health effects can be broadly categorized as deterministic and stochastic. Deterministic effects, such as skin burns or hair loss, occur when a certain threshold dose is exceeded and are generally predictable in their severity. Stochastic effects, such as an increased risk of cancer or hereditary mutations, do not have a threshold dose and their probability of occurrence increases with dose, but their severity is independent of the dose.

Mitigating radiation risk involves implementing radiation protection principles, which include justification, optimization, and dose limitation. Justification ensures that the benefits of using radiation outweigh the risks. Optimization, often referred to as ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable), aims to minimize exposure levels. Dose limitation sets maximum permissible doses for individuals to prevent deterministic effects and reduce the probability of stochastic effects.