Examples of radioactive materials that give off alpha particles are polonium 210 radon 222 radium 226 and americium 241. These detectors can measure the gamma rays emitted by radioactive materials that are in or on the body.
Ch103 Chapter 3 Radioactivity And Nuclear Chemistry
The measurement of emissions from radioactive material in the body is. For example the amount of radiation being given off or emitted by a radioactive material is measured using the conventional unit curie ci named for the famed scientist marie curie or the si unit becquerel bq. Beta particles are electrons emitted from an atom. The units of measure for radioactivity are the curie ci and becquerel bq. Measurement of absorption of radioactive emissions from an external source nonimaging assay introduction of radioactive materials into the body for the study of body fluids and blood elements by the detection of radioactive emissions. A rem or roentgen equivalent man is a measurement of absorption of radiation on parts of the body over an extended period of time. Outside the body alpha particles wont even go through the outer layer of skin.
In nuclear accidents a measure of the type and amount of radioactivity released such as from a reactor containment failure is known as the source term. Gamma rays are electromagnetic radiation. A dac is a concentration of alpha and beta particles that an average working employee is exposed to for 2000 hours of light work. 4 non imaging nuclear medicine uptake 4 introduction of radioactive materials into the body for measurements of organ functions from detection of radioactive emissions. A radioactive element may emit gamma rays in discrete bundles or quanta called photons if the nucleus remaining after alpha or beta decay is in an excited state. Different radioactive materials will give off gamma rays of different energies which is one technique to identify the material.
By measuring the radiation level around a persons body using a geiger counter a safety officer can approximate that persons absorbed dose. Inside the body they can kill nearby cells. Whether it emits alpha or beta particles gamma rays x rays or neutrons a quantity of radioactive material is expressed in terms of its radioactivity or simply its activity which represents how many atoms in the material decay in a given time period. Radiation can be measured using sensitive detectors in a whole body counter. 5 non imaging nuclear medicine probe 5 introduction of radioactive materials into the body for the study of distribution and fate of certain substances by the detection of. A more sophisticated measure of radiation exposure.
Different units of measure are used depending on what aspect of radiation is being measured. The current legal limit exposure in the united states is 1 ali or 5 rems. A medium energy beta particle travels about one meter in air and one millimeter in body tissue. The united states nuclear regulatory commission defines this as types and amounts of radioactive or hazardous material released to the environment following an accident.