Radiation Basics
What is Radiation?
Radiation is energy that comes from a source and travels through space at the speed of light. This energy has an electric field and a magnetic field associated with it, and has wave-like properties. You could also call radiation “electromagnetic waves”.
Measuring Radiation
Three common measurements of radiation are the amount of radioactivity, ambient radiation levels, and radiation dose.
Radiation Safety
The guiding principle of radiation safety is ALARA or “as low as reasonably achievable”.
To learn more about how time, distance, and shielding play a role in radiation safety, click here
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Page last reviewed: August 6, 2021
Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention