Radiation,
ionising or non ionising has existed in earth’s environment since its inception. It can be understood as energy
in form of particles and electromagnetic waves. Ionizing radiations are those which have sufficient energy to knockout electrons from atoms while radiations having lesser energy cannot produce this effect and are called non ionizing radiations. The humans are being continuously exposed to these ionizing radiations. The sources of these ionizing radiations can be classified into two categories, natural and man made. Natural sources include cosmic rays from outer space and presence of radioactive elements in the earth’s crust. Radioactive elements form a major source of these ionizing radiations. When the humans are exposed to excessive doses of
radiation, many health related malignancies can occur. During recent years, an increasing concern has been expressed over the exposure of general population to ionizing radiations and their health hazards. Of all the radioactive elements, radon, a gaseous element and its daughter products are the largest contributor of annual effective dose to humans form natural sources. Lung cancer is the most prominent effect of exposure to radon and its daughters. The major source of the radon in our environment is the soil. Radon being a gas can diffuse from the place it is generated in the soil and can enter our living spaces. From there it enters our body via inhalation and irradiate internal tissues leading to severe health effects. The generation rate of radon in soil depends on the concentration of uranium in the soil. So the people living in areas where concentration of uranium in soil is high, must make sure that seepage of radon from soil in their living areas is minimized. This can be done, up to an extent, by having ‘pucca’ concrete flooring. Also the living areas must be as ventilated as possible, so that there is no build up of radon in the house. Governments around the world, with the help of various radiation protection agencies such as ICRP, UNSCEAR are formulating guidelines from time to time to educate the people about the methods to reduce radiation exposure. Though there is no need to panic as it is only the radiation exposure above a certain level and for long time, which can be really dangerous, but we must be aware.