What Is Radiation?

In the late 19^th century, scientists discovered radiation. Since then, they have been studying radiation extensively. Today, it is one of the most understood forms of energy.

Simply put, radiation is energy emitted from a source. Radiation is generated either from unstable atoms that undergo radioactive decay or from machines. Radiation is transmitted from its source in the form of energy waves or energized particles.

All of us are exposed to radiation every day from a variety of sources, both natural and man-made. The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) estimates that the average annual radiation dose per person in the United States is 620 millirem.

Most of that average annual dose comes from natural background radiation sources, including the following:

• Radon and thoron (radioactive gases that are created when naturally occurring elements undergo radioactive decay)
• Space (cosmic radiation)
• Naturally occurring radioactive minerals in our bodies (internal) and in the ground (terrestrial)

The average American also receives 48 percent of his or her annual dose of radiation from medical procedures. That percentage becomes many times larger when radiation therapy, used in the treatment of cancer, is factored into the equation.

There are two categories of radiation: ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation.

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