Nuclear Hazards
Ionising Radiation
Like many dangerous substances such as lead and arsenic,
radioactive substances occur in our food, water, air and even our bodies.
These radioactive substances emit ionizing radiation. Other sources of
ionizing radiation are materials (clay, granite, etc.) used in building.
Skiing at high altitudes and flying in commercial aeroplanes will also
result in increased exposure to ionizing radiation in the form of cosmic
rays.
On the average, we receive a dose of about 1 - 2 milliSieverts
(mSv) of ionizing radiation every year. This ionizing radiation is known
as 'background ionizing radiation'. It varies significantly from place
to place and from occupation to occupation. As with all ionizing radiation,
background ionizing radiation is dangerous and should be minimized wherever
possible.
All exposure to ionizing radiation is harmful; the risk
increases in proportion to the amount of exposure. The people who are most
at risk from exposure to ionizing radiation are workers in the nuclear
industry, such as miners
and people working near nuclear reactors.
According to the International Commission on Radiological
Protection (ICRP) and Australia's National Health and Medical Research
Council (NH&MRC) the exposure to ionizing radiation must be kept as
low as possible and the maximum permissible dose
for a worker in the nuclear industry is 20 mSv per year.
Greater technical detail can be found on this topic by searching through
the listed briefing papers and education resources at
http://www.ccsa.asn.au/nic/.
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