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Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells by damaging their DNA. An example includes the use of gamma rays to treat brain tumors.

Radiation shielding is used to protect people by absorbing or deflecting radiation. Materials like lead are used due to their high density and atomic number, effectively stopping gamma rays.

Radiosensitivity is the relative susceptibility of cells, tissues, or organisms to the harmful effect of radiation. For example, the gastrointestinal tract is highly radiosensitive.

Fallout refers to the residual radioactive material propelled into the upper atmosphere following a nuclear blast, which falls to Earth as dust or precipitation. For example, strontium-90 from nuclear weapon tests.

The radiation bystander effect occurs when non-irradiated cells exhibit the effects of radiation due to signals received from nearby irradiated cells. An example is nearby cells showing DNA damage without direct exposure.

LET is a measure of the energy released per unit path length by a radiation particle as it travels through matter. For example, alpha particles have a high LET compared to gamma rays.

Rad measures the amount of radiation energy absorbed by a material per unit mass. For example, 1 rad is equivalent to 0.01 joule absorbed per kilogram.

Biodosimetry is the measurement of biological responses as indicators of the dose of radiation absorbed by the body. An example is using chromosomal aberrations to estimate radiation dose received by an individual.

Direct action occurs when radiation directly damages critical biomolecules, while indirect action involves reactive species formed by radiation interacting with other molecules, primarily water. An example of indirect action is free radical damage after water radiolysis.

The half-life of a radionuclide is the time required for half of the radioactive atoms to decay. For example, the half-life of Cesium-137 is approximately 30 years.

Genomic instability is a heightened rate of acquisition of alterations in the genome that can be induced by radiation exposure, potentially leading to cancer. This can be observed in cells several generations after the initial exposure.

Deterministic effects have a threshold and their severity increases with the dose. Examples are skin erythema and radiation-induced cataracts.

A radionuclide is an atom with an unstable nucleus that releases radiation during its decay to a stable form. For example, Iodine-131 is used in medical diagnostics.

Rem takes into account the biological effects of radiation, and is the product of the absorbed dose in rad and a quality factor (QF). For example, 1 rem = 1 rad for beta particles since QF is 1.

DSBs occur when both strands of the DNA double helix are broken by high-energy radiation, potentially leading to complex cell repair mechanisms or cell death. An example is DNA damage from X-rays.

The low-dose hypothesis posits that low-level radiation exposure may cause a non-linear dose-response relationship, challenging the LNT model. An example is adaptive response observed in some cellular systems.

Radiation can break chemical bonds, causing ionization and damage to DNA molecules, potentially leading to mutations. An example is the formation of thymine dimers caused by UV radiation.

Sievert is a unit used to measure the health effect of low levels of ionizing radiation on the human body. For example, 1 Sv is considered a very high dose that can cause immediate health effects.

RBE compares the biological effectiveness of different types of radiation, considering the same absorbed dose. An example is the higher RBE of alpha particles compared to beta particles.

Teratogenesis refers to the induction of developmental abnormalities in a fetus due to radiation exposure. An example is congenital malformations in children of pregnant survivors of the atomic bombings.

Free radicals are highly reactive chemical species with unpaired electrons, created by radiation interacting with molecules, which can cause further cellular damage. For example, hydroxyl radicals form when water is radiolysed.

Carcinogenesis is the process by which normal cells transform into cancer cells. Radiation can initiate or promote this process, as illustrated by increased cancer risks from radon exposure.

The LNT model assumes that the risk of cancer from radiation is proportional to the dose and there is no safe threshold. It is applied in setting radiation safety limits.

Contamination occurs when radioactive substances are deposited on or in an object or organism. For example, radionuclide contamination in soil following a nuclear power plant accident.

Radiolysis is the dissociation of water molecules by radiation, producing highly reactive molecules such as hydrogen and hydroxyl radicals. An example is the radiolysis occurring in nuclear reactor cooling systems.

Hormesis is the hypothesis that low doses of radiation might have a beneficial effect by stimulating protective responses. An example is the proposed reduction of cancer rates in regions with high natural background radiation.

Target theory suggests that the biological effects of radiation are due to hits on critical targets within the cell, such as DNA. An example is the cell death after DNA suffers a critical hit by gamma radiation.

Background radiation is the natural and unavoidable exposure to radiation that exists in the environment. An example is cosmic radiation we're exposed to during airplane flights and high-altitude living.

Stochastic effects occur by chance and typically have no threshold; their probability is proportional to the dose. Examples include leukemia and other cancers.

Also known as acute radiation syndrome (ARS), radiation poisoning occurs after exposure to a high dose of radiation over a short period, leading to symptoms like nausea and anemia. An example is exposure from a nuclear accident.

The adaptive response is the ability of cells and organisms to develop resistance to the damaging effects of radiation following a low-dose exposure. An example is enhanced DNA repair mechanisms after a previous sublethal radiation exposure.

Treatment planning in radiotherapy involves calculating the optimal dose of radiation to target cancer while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue. For example, using a linear accelerator to treat a tumor.

Radiation sickness is the effect of high-dose radiation exposure, causing symptoms such as skin burns, hair loss, and internal organ damage. An example is the illness suffered by victims of the Chernobyl disaster.

Mutagenesis is the process of forming mutations; radiation can be a mutagen that induces changes in the genetic material of organisms. An example is radiation-induced mutations in fruit flies exposed to X-rays.

Radioprotection involves measures and pharmacological agents used to protect against the harmful effects of radiation. For example, potassium iodide can be used to protect the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine.