BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Applied Science
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science
Unit 21: Medical Physics Applications
C: Understand health and safety, associated risks, side effects and limitations
of ionising and non-ionising instrumentation techniques in medical
applications
All medical imaging technologies have their own health and safety risks, side effects and
limitations. Both non-Ionising and ionising radiation technologies are no exception.
Non-ionising radiation technology.
The use of non-ionising radiation technology has the potential to harm humans. Although
non-ionising radiation does not penetrate dense bone or tissues, it can pose serious risks
by affecting the nervous system, causing nausea or disorientation, and damaging and
burning skin tissue and eyes, depending on the amount of energy, exposure given, and
the way it is applied. The risks, side effects, and limitations of various non-ionising
radiation technologies are listed below.
Health and safety risks or non ionising radiation technology
Ultrasound is a type of non-ionising radiation in which the energy of the ultrasound
waves has the potential to heat biological tissue and cause damage. The energy of these
ultrasound waves can also cause the formation of gas pockets in how tissues work.
Assets are another example of non-ionising radiation technology that can harm biological
tissue. Because lasers are most used to treat medical conditions of the skin, tissue, and
eyes, tissue damage and burning are the most common side effects. Because UV and IR
lasers emit radiation that cannot be seen, stray optical radiation (when laser light is
misdirected) poses a significant health and safety risk. If the laser light is misdirected,
patients and staff will be unaware of the radiation and their eves will be at risk of being
damaged or burned. An MRI is another non-ionising radiation technology with health and
safety concerns, such as the risk of metal objects becoming projectiles while the MRI is
in use due to the MRI's extremely strong magnetic fields. If patients with undeclared
metal implants or pacemakers undergo MRI scans. The strong magnetic fields could
interfere with the mechanism of the patient's pacemaker or whatever metal implant they
have, making it extremely dangerous and potentially fatal. There are also health and
safety risks for staff who operate these technologies, such as unwanted radiation
exposure, which is why it is critical that preventative measures be put in place and
updated on a regular basis for the safety and well-being of both patients and staff.
Side effects of non ionising radiation technology.
Non-ionising radiation technology also has several side effects. Several types of
ultrasounds, for example, have different side effects. A transvaginal scan (vaginal
ultrasound) involves inserting an ultrasound probe into the vagina for 15-30 minutes to
look for ovarian cysts, fibroids (uterine muscle tumours), pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding,
and other issues. The patient may experience pain, discomfort, or embarrassment
because of this procedure.
Endoscopic ultrasound, on the other hand, produces images of surrounding internal
organs by inserting a long thin tube (with an ultrasound signal and a microscope) into
the patient's oesophagus (or the rectum or colon) to investigate conditions such as
pancreatic cysts, heart analysis, cancer detection, and gallstone detection is quite
intrusive, so some of the side effects include patients experiencing discomfort or pain,
which is often avoided. The patient may experience a sore throat, abdominal pain, a mild
infection, or vomiting after the procedure is completed and the painkillers and
, anaesthetic wear off. Lasers can also cause scarring, pain, or bleeding during and after
the procedure, as well as skin tone changes and mild infections.
Limitations of non ionising radiation technology.
Non-ionising radiation technology also has several drawbacks. If an ultrasound of the
digestive system is being performed, for example, patients should not eat for several
hours before the examination. If a pregnancy ultrasound or a pelvic pain examination is
being performed, the patient should be advised to drink some water and keep it in their
bodies until the scan is finished. Also. Laser treatment of patients may not be permanent
or complete, and certain people with specific conditions or requirements, such as young
children, may not be able to receive laser treatment. Another disadvantage of non-
ionising technology, such as MRI scans, is that patients with metal implants, such as
pacemakers, may be unable to undergo the procedure, and patients with claustrophobia
may find it more difficult to have a scan taken. Furthermore, the MRI can be noisy when
turning on and off the field coils, which can frighten or deter patients from undergoing
the procedure. Non-ionizing radiation technology is similar. Ionizing radiation technology
has the potential to harm the human body severely. Ionising radiation is much more
dangerous than non-ionising radiation technology because it contains enough energy to
break chemical bonds, and if too much energy or exposure is given, it can cause
genetic/cell tissue damage, cancer, or even death. The risks, side effects, and limitations
of various ionising radiation technologies are listed below.
Health and safety risks of ionising radiation technologies
Due to the risk of ionising radiation exposure, ionising radiation technology such as X-
ray scans, CT scans, fluoroscopy, mammography, radiotherapy, and nuclear medicine
procedures pose major health and safety risks. This type of radiation is extremely
dangerous because it can cause risks such as genetic, cell, and/or (issue damage,
cancer, reproductive health issues, and even death, whether because of being exposed
to large amounts of unsafe levels of ionising radiation or because of conditions such as
cancer that developed because of the ionising radiation exposure in the first place.
Because ionising radiation is most used to treat malignant cancer, it carries health and
safety risks. This is because ionising radiation is used to target and destroy cancerous
cells. Healthy cells surrounding that area, on the other hand, may be damaged during
the process, affecting their ability to divide and grow and being destroyed. If a high dose
of ionising radiation is used, or if the radiation is exposed frequently, the cells may be
damaged and unable to function normally, or they may die. Although, it sufficient time is
given between doses. Any damaged cells may be able to repair themselves and operate
normally. Furthermore, increased exposure to this type of radiation to treat cancerous
cells may increase the risk of developing another form or a more aggressive type of
cancer in the future, as ionising radiation can cause genetic and cell damage, causing
certain cells to mutate and form cancer. Again, like non-ionising radiation, there are
health and safety risks for staff who operate these technologies, such as accidental
radiation exposure, which is why it is critical that preventative measures are continually
implemented and updated for the safety and well-being of both patients and staff.
Side effects of ionising radiation technologies
Ionizing radiation used to treat diseases like malignant cancer can cause health cells to
become damaged or die, resulting in side effects like nausea, skin reactions, hair loss,
diarrhoea, and fatigue. When using ionising radiation to scan for abnormalities within the
body, such as a CT scan, radio-contrast agents, mostly iodine-based, may be required to
highlight structures that are difficult to distinguish from their surroundings, such as the
brain.
These are usually given via IV and can cause flushing, itching, dizziness, abdominal
cramps, constipation, nausea, and vomiting, which can occur anywhere from one hour to
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science
Unit 21: Medical Physics Applications
C: Understand health and safety, associated risks, side effects and limitations
of ionising and non-ionising instrumentation techniques in medical
applications
All medical imaging technologies have their own health and safety risks, side effects and
limitations. Both non-Ionising and ionising radiation technologies are no exception.
Non-ionising radiation technology.
The use of non-ionising radiation technology has the potential to harm humans. Although
non-ionising radiation does not penetrate dense bone or tissues, it can pose serious risks
by affecting the nervous system, causing nausea or disorientation, and damaging and
burning skin tissue and eyes, depending on the amount of energy, exposure given, and
the way it is applied. The risks, side effects, and limitations of various non-ionising
radiation technologies are listed below.
Health and safety risks or non ionising radiation technology
Ultrasound is a type of non-ionising radiation in which the energy of the ultrasound
waves has the potential to heat biological tissue and cause damage. The energy of these
ultrasound waves can also cause the formation of gas pockets in how tissues work.
Assets are another example of non-ionising radiation technology that can harm biological
tissue. Because lasers are most used to treat medical conditions of the skin, tissue, and
eyes, tissue damage and burning are the most common side effects. Because UV and IR
lasers emit radiation that cannot be seen, stray optical radiation (when laser light is
misdirected) poses a significant health and safety risk. If the laser light is misdirected,
patients and staff will be unaware of the radiation and their eves will be at risk of being
damaged or burned. An MRI is another non-ionising radiation technology with health and
safety concerns, such as the risk of metal objects becoming projectiles while the MRI is
in use due to the MRI's extremely strong magnetic fields. If patients with undeclared
metal implants or pacemakers undergo MRI scans. The strong magnetic fields could
interfere with the mechanism of the patient's pacemaker or whatever metal implant they
have, making it extremely dangerous and potentially fatal. There are also health and
safety risks for staff who operate these technologies, such as unwanted radiation
exposure, which is why it is critical that preventative measures be put in place and
updated on a regular basis for the safety and well-being of both patients and staff.
Side effects of non ionising radiation technology.
Non-ionising radiation technology also has several side effects. Several types of
ultrasounds, for example, have different side effects. A transvaginal scan (vaginal
ultrasound) involves inserting an ultrasound probe into the vagina for 15-30 minutes to
look for ovarian cysts, fibroids (uterine muscle tumours), pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding,
and other issues. The patient may experience pain, discomfort, or embarrassment
because of this procedure.
Endoscopic ultrasound, on the other hand, produces images of surrounding internal
organs by inserting a long thin tube (with an ultrasound signal and a microscope) into
the patient's oesophagus (or the rectum or colon) to investigate conditions such as
pancreatic cysts, heart analysis, cancer detection, and gallstone detection is quite
intrusive, so some of the side effects include patients experiencing discomfort or pain,
which is often avoided. The patient may experience a sore throat, abdominal pain, a mild
infection, or vomiting after the procedure is completed and the painkillers and
, anaesthetic wear off. Lasers can also cause scarring, pain, or bleeding during and after
the procedure, as well as skin tone changes and mild infections.
Limitations of non ionising radiation technology.
Non-ionising radiation technology also has several drawbacks. If an ultrasound of the
digestive system is being performed, for example, patients should not eat for several
hours before the examination. If a pregnancy ultrasound or a pelvic pain examination is
being performed, the patient should be advised to drink some water and keep it in their
bodies until the scan is finished. Also. Laser treatment of patients may not be permanent
or complete, and certain people with specific conditions or requirements, such as young
children, may not be able to receive laser treatment. Another disadvantage of non-
ionising technology, such as MRI scans, is that patients with metal implants, such as
pacemakers, may be unable to undergo the procedure, and patients with claustrophobia
may find it more difficult to have a scan taken. Furthermore, the MRI can be noisy when
turning on and off the field coils, which can frighten or deter patients from undergoing
the procedure. Non-ionizing radiation technology is similar. Ionizing radiation technology
has the potential to harm the human body severely. Ionising radiation is much more
dangerous than non-ionising radiation technology because it contains enough energy to
break chemical bonds, and if too much energy or exposure is given, it can cause
genetic/cell tissue damage, cancer, or even death. The risks, side effects, and limitations
of various ionising radiation technologies are listed below.
Health and safety risks of ionising radiation technologies
Due to the risk of ionising radiation exposure, ionising radiation technology such as X-
ray scans, CT scans, fluoroscopy, mammography, radiotherapy, and nuclear medicine
procedures pose major health and safety risks. This type of radiation is extremely
dangerous because it can cause risks such as genetic, cell, and/or (issue damage,
cancer, reproductive health issues, and even death, whether because of being exposed
to large amounts of unsafe levels of ionising radiation or because of conditions such as
cancer that developed because of the ionising radiation exposure in the first place.
Because ionising radiation is most used to treat malignant cancer, it carries health and
safety risks. This is because ionising radiation is used to target and destroy cancerous
cells. Healthy cells surrounding that area, on the other hand, may be damaged during
the process, affecting their ability to divide and grow and being destroyed. If a high dose
of ionising radiation is used, or if the radiation is exposed frequently, the cells may be
damaged and unable to function normally, or they may die. Although, it sufficient time is
given between doses. Any damaged cells may be able to repair themselves and operate
normally. Furthermore, increased exposure to this type of radiation to treat cancerous
cells may increase the risk of developing another form or a more aggressive type of
cancer in the future, as ionising radiation can cause genetic and cell damage, causing
certain cells to mutate and form cancer. Again, like non-ionising radiation, there are
health and safety risks for staff who operate these technologies, such as accidental
radiation exposure, which is why it is critical that preventative measures are continually
implemented and updated for the safety and well-being of both patients and staff.
Side effects of ionising radiation technologies
Ionizing radiation used to treat diseases like malignant cancer can cause health cells to
become damaged or die, resulting in side effects like nausea, skin reactions, hair loss,
diarrhoea, and fatigue. When using ionising radiation to scan for abnormalities within the
body, such as a CT scan, radio-contrast agents, mostly iodine-based, may be required to
highlight structures that are difficult to distinguish from their surroundings, such as the
brain.
These are usually given via IV and can cause flushing, itching, dizziness, abdominal
cramps, constipation, nausea, and vomiting, which can occur anywhere from one hour to
