Non-Ionising radiation technology
Non-Ionising radiation technology has the potential to cause damage to the human body
although non-ionising radiation does not penetrate through dense bone or tissues, depending
on the amount or energy, exposure given and the way it Is applied, it can cause serious risks
such as; affecting the nervous system leading to nausea or disorientation and damaging and
burning skin tissue and eyes. Here are some of the health and safety risks, side effects and
limitations of various non-ionising radiation technologies.
Health and safety risks of non-ionising radiation technology.
An ultrasound is an example or non-ionising radiation technology whereby the energy or the
ultrasound waves have the potential to damage biological tissue by heating. The energy of
these ultrasound waves can also cause the development of gas pockets in body tissues. Lasers
are also, an example of non-ionising radiation technology which also has the potential to
damage biological tissue. As lasers are mostly used for the treatment or medical conditions or
the skin tissue and eyes, these parts of the body are most at risk of tissue damage and
burning. In particular, strav optical radiation (whereby laser light Is misdirected). is a huge
health and safety risk as UV and IR lasers emit radiation which cannot be seen so if the laser
light is misdirected the patient's or staff would not know as they cannot see this radiation and
their eves would be at risk of being damaged or burnt due to this exposure of radiation.
Another non-ionising radiation technology Is an MRI which also has health and safety risks
such as the risk or metal object becoming projectiles when the MRI is in use due to the MRIs
very strong magnetic fields. If patients undergo MRI scans with undeclared metal implants or
pacemakers etc. it could be very dangerous and life threatening for this individual as the
strong magnetic fields could interfere win the mechanism or the patient’s pacemaker or
whatever metal implant they nave.
There are also health and safety risks for staff who operate these technologies. such as
unwanted radiation exposure, which Is why It Is so Important inal preventative measures are
constantly being put in place and updated for the safety and well-being of patients and staff
alike
Side effects of non-ionising radiation technology.
Ultrasound testing comes in a variety of forms. Each involves a probe to image different parts
of the body. Inside your stomach, an abdominal ultrasound displays organs and other soft
tissues such as blood vessels. Sonography is another term for ultrasound imaging. It uses a
transducer, a tiny probe, and a gel that is applied directly to the skin. High-frequency sound
waves flow through the gel and into the body from the probe. The sounds that bounce back
are collected by the probe. These sound waves are used by a computer to form an image.
Ultrasound investigations do not involve the use of radiation (x-rays). Ultrasound can display
the structure and movement of the body's internal organs since it obtains images in real time.
Blood can also be seen flowing via blood vessels in the image.
The use of different techniques to directly or indirectly visualize the structure, function, or
pharmacology of the brain is known as neuroimaging, or brain scanning. Neuroimaging is
1
BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015
Non-Ionising radiation technology has the potential to cause damage to the human body
although non-ionising radiation does not penetrate through dense bone or tissues, depending
on the amount or energy, exposure given and the way it Is applied, it can cause serious risks
such as; affecting the nervous system leading to nausea or disorientation and damaging and
burning skin tissue and eyes. Here are some of the health and safety risks, side effects and
limitations of various non-ionising radiation technologies.
Health and safety risks of non-ionising radiation technology.
An ultrasound is an example or non-ionising radiation technology whereby the energy or the
ultrasound waves have the potential to damage biological tissue by heating. The energy of
these ultrasound waves can also cause the development of gas pockets in body tissues. Lasers
are also, an example of non-ionising radiation technology which also has the potential to
damage biological tissue. As lasers are mostly used for the treatment or medical conditions or
the skin tissue and eyes, these parts of the body are most at risk of tissue damage and
burning. In particular, strav optical radiation (whereby laser light Is misdirected). is a huge
health and safety risk as UV and IR lasers emit radiation which cannot be seen so if the laser
light is misdirected the patient's or staff would not know as they cannot see this radiation and
their eves would be at risk of being damaged or burnt due to this exposure of radiation.
Another non-ionising radiation technology Is an MRI which also has health and safety risks
such as the risk or metal object becoming projectiles when the MRI is in use due to the MRIs
very strong magnetic fields. If patients undergo MRI scans with undeclared metal implants or
pacemakers etc. it could be very dangerous and life threatening for this individual as the
strong magnetic fields could interfere win the mechanism or the patient’s pacemaker or
whatever metal implant they nave.
There are also health and safety risks for staff who operate these technologies. such as
unwanted radiation exposure, which Is why It Is so Important inal preventative measures are
constantly being put in place and updated for the safety and well-being of patients and staff
alike
Side effects of non-ionising radiation technology.
Ultrasound testing comes in a variety of forms. Each involves a probe to image different parts
of the body. Inside your stomach, an abdominal ultrasound displays organs and other soft
tissues such as blood vessels. Sonography is another term for ultrasound imaging. It uses a
transducer, a tiny probe, and a gel that is applied directly to the skin. High-frequency sound
waves flow through the gel and into the body from the probe. The sounds that bounce back
are collected by the probe. These sound waves are used by a computer to form an image.
Ultrasound investigations do not involve the use of radiation (x-rays). Ultrasound can display
the structure and movement of the body's internal organs since it obtains images in real time.
Blood can also be seen flowing via blood vessels in the image.
The use of different techniques to directly or indirectly visualize the structure, function, or
pharmacology of the brain is known as neuroimaging, or brain scanning. Neuroimaging is
1
BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015
