Dangers of High-Energy EM Waves Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

Which three groups of electromagnetic waves can have hazardous effects on human body tissue?

Ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays.

What are the hazards of ultraviolet waves to the body?

They can make skin age prematurely and increase the risk of skin cancer.

What are the hazards of X-rays and gamma rays to the body?

They are ionising radiation, so they can cause mutation of genes and cancer.

What is radiation dose a measure of, and in what unit is it given?

A measure of the risk of harm from exposure of the body to radiation, measured in sieverts (Sv).

What two things do the harmful effects of radiation on the body depend on?

The type of radiation and the size of the dose.