Book contents
- Radioecology
- Cambridge Environmental Chemistry Series
- Radioecology
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 The Emergence of Radioecology
- 2 Stable and Unstable Atoms
- 3 Radionuclides and Other Sources of Radiation in the Natural Environment
- 4 Radionuclide Distributions and Their Value as Environmental Clocks and Tracers
- 5 The Accumulation of Radionuclides by Plants and Animals
- 6 Radiation Dosimetry and Biological Effects
- 7 Managing Environmental Radiation Exposures: Experiences and Challenges
- Index of nuclides
- Index
- References
6 - Radiation Dosimetry and Biological Effects
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 December 2021
- Radioecology
- Cambridge Environmental Chemistry Series
- Radioecology
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 The Emergence of Radioecology
- 2 Stable and Unstable Atoms
- 3 Radionuclides and Other Sources of Radiation in the Natural Environment
- 4 Radionuclide Distributions and Their Value as Environmental Clocks and Tracers
- 5 The Accumulation of Radionuclides by Plants and Animals
- 6 Radiation Dosimetry and Biological Effects
- 7 Managing Environmental Radiation Exposures: Experiences and Challenges
- Index of nuclides
- Index
- References
Summary
As we have seen, nuclear transformations result in both electromagnetic radiation and particles with a high kinetic energy that are then transformed into other forms of energy as a result of interactions with surrounding atoms. These facts alone raise two simple questions: what are the absorbed doses received by different types of animals and plants exposed externally and internally to different sources of radiation, including natural background; and what are the likely biological consequences of such exposures? As one might imagine, although these are easy questions to ask, they have not been easy ones to answer.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- RadioecologySources and Consequences of Ionising Radiation in the Environment, pp. 226 - 284Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2021