Mapua Institute of Technology

School of Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering

658 Muralla St., Intramuros, Manila 1002, Philippines

Pollution Abatement:
IONIZING RADIATION

Submitted to:
Engr. Juan Paulo A. Nazareno

Submitted by:

SALVADOR, Jejomar R.
BSCEM 3

March 2017
INTRODUCTION:

What is Radiation?

Energy emitted from a

source is generally
referred to as radiation.
Examples include heat
or light from the sun,
microwaves from an
oven, X rays from an
X-ray tube, and gamma
rays from radioactive
elements.

Photo from: http://mamontoff.org/science-heat-transfer.htm

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is the range of all types of EM radiation. Radiation is
energy that travels and spreads out as it goes the visible light that comes from a lamp in your
house and the radio waves that come from a radio station are two types of electromagnetic
radiation. The other types of EM radiation that make up the electromagnetic spectrum are
microwaves, infrared light, ultraviolet light, X-rays and gamma-rays.

Photo from: http://butane.chem.uiuc.edu/pshapley/GenChem2/A3/3.html

Pollution Abatement: Ionizing Radiation

Ionizing Radiation

Ionizing radiation, also called radioactivity, is electromagnetic (EM) radiation whose

waves contain energy sufficient to overcome the binding energy of electrons in atoms or
molecules, thus creating ions.

SOURCES

Radiation is permanently present throughout

the environment, in the air, water, food, soil and in all
living organisms. Large proportion of the average
annual radiation dose received by people from natural
environmental sources.

Natural Sources

1. Normal Occurrences
Cosmic Radiation
Terrestrial Radiation

2. Enhanced Sources
Metal mining and
smelting
Phosphate industry
Oil and gas drilling
Coal mining and
power
production from coal
Rare earth and
titanium
dioxide industries
Application of radium
and thorium.

Man-made Sources

Nuclear power production

Transport of nuclear and
radioactivematerial
Application other than nuclear power
Nuclear tests
Residues in the environment.
(Nuclear fallout)

Pollution Abatement: Ionizing Radiation

Why is ionizing radiation dangerous?

When atoms in living cells become ionized one of three things usually happen the cell
dies, the cell repairs itself, or the cell mutates incorrectly and can become cancerous. Not all
cells are affected by ionizing radiation in the same way. The cells that reproduce the most and
are the least specialized are the most likely to be affected by ionizing radiation, for example
those in a forming fetus.

Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation

Acute Radiation Dose an acute radiation dose is defined as a large dose (10rad or
greater, to the whole body) delivered during a short period of time (on the order of a few
days at the most). If large enough, it may result in effects which are observable within a
period of hours to weeks.

o Blood Forming Organ Syndrome

o Gastrointestinal Tract Syndrome
o Central Nervous System Syndrome

Chronic Radiation Dose A chronic dose is a relatively small amount of radiation

received over a long period of time. The body is better equipped to tolerate a chronic
dose than an acute dose.

o Somatic Effects
o Genetic Effects
o Prenatal Radiation Exposure

On the other hand, radiation is

effective as a cancer treatment because it
can kill the cancer cells, however it can
also kill or damage nearby cells. When
radiation is used to treat cancer it must
be pinpointed very carefully. New
technologies, similar to imaging
techniques used in CT scans, called
TomoTherapy help pinpoint radiation
treatment. TomoTherapy allows
radiologists to apply the ionizing energy
directly to the perimeter and within the
tumor while avoiding the healthy cells
surrounding it.
Photo from: https://www.iatropoli.gr/en/tomotherapy

Pollution Abatement: Ionizing Radiation

CONTROLS & MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Legislations and Laws

In the Philippines

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 480 June 6, 1974

CREATING A RADIATION HEALTH OFFICE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

WHEREAS, there is no distinct government office or agency authorized to control the use of
diagnostic X-Ray units, high energy machines or any radiation apparatus in medicine, industry,
agriculture, research and other fields of activity except those units with radio-active sources
which are controlled by the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission;

WHEREAS, the use of radiation, although beneficial to the development of the country, carries
with it certain hazards and, therefore, should be properly regulated;

WHEREAS, the danger to public health posed by ionizing radiation is similar in effect to the
other dangers to public health resulting from human activity; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Health, being the government agency charged with the functions
of safeguarding and promoting the people's health, should be assigned the responsibility to
institute proper measures of the effective control of such radiation hazards.

Source: Presidential Decree 480, http://www.chanrobles.com/presidentialdecrees/presidentialdecreeno480.html#.WM6pccB97IU

Foreign Countries

In Queensland, Australia Radiation Health administers Queensland's Radiation Safety

Act 1999 and the Radiation Safety Regulation 2010. The objective of the Act is to protect
persons from health risks associated with exposure to particular sources of ionising radiation
and harmful non-ionising radiation, and to protect the environment from being adversely
affected by exposure to radiation.

Radiation Safety Act 1999

Radiation Safety Regulation 2010

In Alberta, Canada The Radiation Protection Act and Regulation apply to workers who
install, operate or service x-ray equipment and high powered lasers. The radiation legislation
also specifies maximum exposure limits for radiation, and the need to have radiation workers
monitor their personal exposure to ionizing radiation.

Pollution Abatement: Ionizing Radiation

Technologies

Geiger counter an instrument used for measuring

ionizing radiation used widely in applications such as
radiation dosimetry, radiological protection,
experimental physics and the nuclear industry.

General-purpose survey meters portable

radiation monitors used for a wide range of
radiation measurement applications; used to
measure radiation levels, quantify surface
contamination, detect X-ray leakage, warn of
elevated radiation risks, conduct contamination
surveys.

Electronic dosimeters instruments used to

measure and record radiation doses received
by individuals and monitor environmental dose
rate levels. Indicate radiation doserates in real
time, store doserate histories for subsequent
download, and activate alarms in high radiation
fields.

Search instruments / PRDs Personal radiation

detectors (PRDs), and instruments designed for
the search and localization of radioactive
material. Highly-sensitive portable devices used
to detect and search for radiation sources either
passively or actively.

Portal monitors Large, fixed radiation detectors

for monitoring entrances or transport infrastructure
for the entry/passage of radioactive and nuclear
materials. Can be configured to monitor trucks,
railways, cars or pedestrians.

Portable spectrometers devices able to

distinguish and identify different radioactive
isotopes, often multipurpose/multitask
instruments used to perform a variety of
functions and detect different forms of radiation.

Pollution Abatement: Ionizing Radiation

 Radon measurement instruments for evaluation of
radon and thoron gas concentrations in homes,
workplaces, construction sites, public buildings, etc.;
measure radon levels in air, soil and water.

Radioactivity in food equipment for measuring

levels of radioactivity in foodstuffs and liquids,
combining easy-to-use interface for non-expert
users, with fast an accurate response to compare
radiation levels with international standards.

Pollution Abatement: Ionizing Radiation

REFERENCES:

The Elecromagnetic Spectrum,

https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/science/toolbox/emspectrum1.html
Ionizing Radiation, http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/ionizing-radiation
Ionizing Radiation: Biological Effects,
http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch23/radiation.php
Radiation and Humans,
http://physicscentral.com/explore/action/radiationandhumans.cfm
Types of Ionizing Radiation, https://www.mirion.com/introduction-to-radiation-
safety/types-of-ionizing-radiation/
Ionizing Radiation,
http://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/about/what_is_ir/en/index2.html
Radiation Exposure (photo), https://emergency.cdc.gov/radiation/emergencyfaq.asp
Cosmic Radiation, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3684368/Did-
exploding-stars-cause-mass-extinction-Cosmic-radiation-bombarded-Earth-
supernovae-millions-years-ago.html
Terrestrial Radiation,
https://www.meted.ucar.edu/sign_in.php?go_back_to=http%253A%252F%252Fwww
.meted.ucar.edu%252Fnwp%252Fmodel_physics%252Fprint.htm##
Coal Mining, http://www.groundtruthtrekking.org/slideshows/Usibelli-Coal-Mine-
Photos/?photo=active-coal-mining-at-two-bull-ridge_3
Metal Mining, http://www.tachyonglobal.com/?page_id=874
Nuclear Radiation,
https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=0a
hUKEwj-
5sDn8uLSAhVHEbwKHa_TBjsQjhwIBQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalresearch.
ca%2Fnuclear-radiation-kierkegaard-and-the-philosophy-of-
denial%2F5501239&psig=AFQjCNEAAUVjPuZECKDpfle1e26UnU8sOw&ust=14900
24185795392
Chapter 6: Biological Effeccts of Radiation by: M.G.Rajanandh, Dept. of Pharmacy
Practice, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRM University,
http://www.srmuniv.ac.in/sites/default/files/downloads/BIOLOGICAL_EFFECTS_OF_
RADIATION.pdf
Presidential Decree 480,
http://www.chanrobles.com/presidentialdecrees/presidentialdecreeno480.html#.WM6
pccB97IU
Radiation Health - Legislation, standards and information,
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/radiationhealth/legislation
Radiation Legislation, https://work.alberta.ca/occupational-health-safety/radiation-
legislation.html
Advancements in Radiation Therapy,
https://www.itnonline.com/article/advancements-radiation-therapy

Pollution Abatement: Ionizing Radiation

 Radiation Detectors, http://www.encyclopedia.com/literature-and-
arts/biographies/english-literature-19th-cent-biographies/radiation-detectors
Geiger Counter, https://www.nuc.berkeley.edu/news-events/events/teachers-
workshop/geiger-counter-experiment-and-use
Radiation detectors: Instruments for the detection and measurement of ionizing
radiation, http://www.radiansa.com/detectors-radiation/

Pollution Abatement: Ionizing Radiation