PH 340 Final: Everything Exam
Study Set 2025/2026
Non-ionizing radiation - ANSWER -Radiation that has enough energy to move atoms in a
molecule around or cause them to vibrate, but not enough to remove electrons
-Little penetrating power
-Balanced entities
What are some examples of long wavelength electromagnetism for non-ionizing
radiation? - ANSWER -Radio waves
-Sound waves
-Light
-Microwaves
-UVA (Accounts for 95% of UV radiation reaching the earth's surface which can
penetrate into the deep layers of the skin and is responsible for the tanning effect.
Contributes to skin aging and skin cancers)
-UVB (biologically active but cannot penetrate beyond the superficial skin layers. It is
responsible for delayed tanning and burning. Most UVB is filtered by atmosphere)
Can the non-ionizing radiation of UVC escape the atmosphere? - ANSWER No, UVC has
a short wavelength and is one of the most damaging types of UV radiation but it is
completely filtered by the atmosphere and cannot reach the earth's surface to penetrate
the skin.
What is the tissue effect of non-ionizing radiation? Depth of tissue absorption? -
ANSWER Effect
-Produces heat
-Tissue cannot absorb energy
Depth
-inversely proportional to wavelength
-Cannot penetrate as well as ionizing, but will happen over time
What is happening when one is exposed to non-ionizing UV radiation? - ANSWER It is
,being absorbed by the skin.
Why is a microwave dangerous if near it for long periods of time? - ANSWER The
non-ionizing radiation can penetrate deeply into the body and leakage can still occur
despite advancements in the development of microwaves.
Ionizing radiation - ANSWER -Has enough energy to knock electrons out of atoms,
creating electrically charged ions (unstable atom is radioactive)
-More ions are developed
What is a radionuclide? - ANSWER -Material which is radioactive
-Think "ionizing": It is unstable, constantly breaking down
What are forms of ionizing radiation from nucleus? - ANSWER α, Beta, Gamma (naturally
occurring), X-rays (man-made)
What does α and beta radiation mean? What is α? - ANSWER -High velocity particles with
low level penetration (skin and surface organs)
-α is an emitter that is easily blocked
What is the second leading cause of lung cancer? - ANSWER Radon
What does gamma and x-ray radiation mean? - ANSWER -High frequency waves with
high level penetration (any tissue)
-Has same energy field if it is naturally occurring or man-made
How does tissue damage occur with ionizing radiation? - ANSWER -Radionuclide
collides with tissue atoms and tissue atoms absorb the ionized energy
-Rays are shorter and have a high permeability
What happens to cells when exposed to low level ionizing radiation? - ANSWER 1.
Macromolecule lesion in cells, which is a transfer of energy to our cells. This can lead to
the development of cancer cells (carcinogenesis)
2. Embryo or fetus can be affected by teratogenesis which is abnormal growths or
development of unnatural formations (ex: extra toe)
3. Macromolecular lesion in the reproductive cell (testis and ovary) which can lead to
the alteration of genome (mutagenesis). Destruction of DNA molecular entities are
occurring.
What does REM stand in regards to radiation exposure? What is meant by MREMS/year?
- ANSWER -Roentgen Equivalent Man
-millarems, or thousandth of full REM per year (in comparison is that deaths can occur in
several thousand REMS)
, -Mass plus biologic effect
What does RAD stand for in regards to radiation exposure? - ANSWER -Radiation
Absorbed Dose
-Measurement of mass
Define REM - ANSWER That amount of ionizing radiation that causes (or yields) the same
biological effect of one Roentgen (energy measurement) as X or gamma radiation.
What does NRC stand for in regards to radiation exposure? - ANSWER -Nuclear
Regulating Commission
-Mass only
Which state has the highest level of radiation exposure and why? What is the average
MREM/year? - ANSWER -Colorado is the highest because of mining and the high altitude
causing the air to be less dense. Atmosphere is thinner.
-Avg MREM/year: 250
What is the NRC limit of the natural background (U.S.)? - ANSWER 0.17 RAD/year
1 X-Ray is approximately how many RAD? - ANSWER ~0.03 RAD
Which states have the lowest level of radiation exposure? What is the average
MREM/year? - ANSWER -Texas and Louisiana
-Avg MREM/year: ~100
What is the average MREM/year in Michigan? - ANSWER ~135
What is the average MREM/year for medical exposure? Diagnostic? Therapeutic?
Weapons Fallout? Nuclear Energy Industry? All other exposures? - ANSWER Medical
Exposure: 90
Diagnostic: 95
Therapeutic: 10
Weapons Fallout: 0.8
Nuclear Energy Industry: <1.0
All other exposures: <0.5
What is a fission reaction? - ANSWER When a neutron strikes a large nucleus (i.e.,
U-235, which is the most active) and it splits into 2 medium or smaller nuclei (lighter
element) which produces energy that gives off heat. The nucleus (i.e., U-235) does not
create energy, so it is indirect not direct. The nucleus (i.e., U-235) continuously
becomes lighter and lighter which produces more energy as it continues to split. This
Study Set 2025/2026
Non-ionizing radiation - ANSWER -Radiation that has enough energy to move atoms in a
molecule around or cause them to vibrate, but not enough to remove electrons
-Little penetrating power
-Balanced entities
What are some examples of long wavelength electromagnetism for non-ionizing
radiation? - ANSWER -Radio waves
-Sound waves
-Light
-Microwaves
-UVA (Accounts for 95% of UV radiation reaching the earth's surface which can
penetrate into the deep layers of the skin and is responsible for the tanning effect.
Contributes to skin aging and skin cancers)
-UVB (biologically active but cannot penetrate beyond the superficial skin layers. It is
responsible for delayed tanning and burning. Most UVB is filtered by atmosphere)
Can the non-ionizing radiation of UVC escape the atmosphere? - ANSWER No, UVC has
a short wavelength and is one of the most damaging types of UV radiation but it is
completely filtered by the atmosphere and cannot reach the earth's surface to penetrate
the skin.
What is the tissue effect of non-ionizing radiation? Depth of tissue absorption? -
ANSWER Effect
-Produces heat
-Tissue cannot absorb energy
Depth
-inversely proportional to wavelength
-Cannot penetrate as well as ionizing, but will happen over time
What is happening when one is exposed to non-ionizing UV radiation? - ANSWER It is
,being absorbed by the skin.
Why is a microwave dangerous if near it for long periods of time? - ANSWER The
non-ionizing radiation can penetrate deeply into the body and leakage can still occur
despite advancements in the development of microwaves.
Ionizing radiation - ANSWER -Has enough energy to knock electrons out of atoms,
creating electrically charged ions (unstable atom is radioactive)
-More ions are developed
What is a radionuclide? - ANSWER -Material which is radioactive
-Think "ionizing": It is unstable, constantly breaking down
What are forms of ionizing radiation from nucleus? - ANSWER α, Beta, Gamma (naturally
occurring), X-rays (man-made)
What does α and beta radiation mean? What is α? - ANSWER -High velocity particles with
low level penetration (skin and surface organs)
-α is an emitter that is easily blocked
What is the second leading cause of lung cancer? - ANSWER Radon
What does gamma and x-ray radiation mean? - ANSWER -High frequency waves with
high level penetration (any tissue)
-Has same energy field if it is naturally occurring or man-made
How does tissue damage occur with ionizing radiation? - ANSWER -Radionuclide
collides with tissue atoms and tissue atoms absorb the ionized energy
-Rays are shorter and have a high permeability
What happens to cells when exposed to low level ionizing radiation? - ANSWER 1.
Macromolecule lesion in cells, which is a transfer of energy to our cells. This can lead to
the development of cancer cells (carcinogenesis)
2. Embryo or fetus can be affected by teratogenesis which is abnormal growths or
development of unnatural formations (ex: extra toe)
3. Macromolecular lesion in the reproductive cell (testis and ovary) which can lead to
the alteration of genome (mutagenesis). Destruction of DNA molecular entities are
occurring.
What does REM stand in regards to radiation exposure? What is meant by MREMS/year?
- ANSWER -Roentgen Equivalent Man
-millarems, or thousandth of full REM per year (in comparison is that deaths can occur in
several thousand REMS)
, -Mass plus biologic effect
What does RAD stand for in regards to radiation exposure? - ANSWER -Radiation
Absorbed Dose
-Measurement of mass
Define REM - ANSWER That amount of ionizing radiation that causes (or yields) the same
biological effect of one Roentgen (energy measurement) as X or gamma radiation.
What does NRC stand for in regards to radiation exposure? - ANSWER -Nuclear
Regulating Commission
-Mass only
Which state has the highest level of radiation exposure and why? What is the average
MREM/year? - ANSWER -Colorado is the highest because of mining and the high altitude
causing the air to be less dense. Atmosphere is thinner.
-Avg MREM/year: 250
What is the NRC limit of the natural background (U.S.)? - ANSWER 0.17 RAD/year
1 X-Ray is approximately how many RAD? - ANSWER ~0.03 RAD
Which states have the lowest level of radiation exposure? What is the average
MREM/year? - ANSWER -Texas and Louisiana
-Avg MREM/year: ~100
What is the average MREM/year in Michigan? - ANSWER ~135
What is the average MREM/year for medical exposure? Diagnostic? Therapeutic?
Weapons Fallout? Nuclear Energy Industry? All other exposures? - ANSWER Medical
Exposure: 90
Diagnostic: 95
Therapeutic: 10
Weapons Fallout: 0.8
Nuclear Energy Industry: <1.0
All other exposures: <0.5
What is a fission reaction? - ANSWER When a neutron strikes a large nucleus (i.e.,
U-235, which is the most active) and it splits into 2 medium or smaller nuclei (lighter
element) which produces energy that gives off heat. The nucleus (i.e., U-235) does not
create energy, so it is indirect not direct. The nucleus (i.e., U-235) continuously
becomes lighter and lighter which produces more energy as it continues to split. This
