Nuclear Radiation Validation Flashcards

Atoms

Atoms are the building blocks of everything around you, they make up all the matter in the universe

Subatomic Particles

Atoms are made out of three subatomic particles, protons, neutrons and electrons

Facts about subatomic particles

Protons have a positive charge

Neutrons have no charge (neutral). Neutrons play a major role in the mass and radioactive properties of atoms.

Protons and Neutrons stick together to form the “nucleus”.

Electrons have a negative charge

Electrons fly around the nucleus randomly to form an electron cloud.

Isotopes

Atoms that have the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons are referred to as isotopes.

Isotopes have the same chemical properties, but different physical properties.

What makes a nucleus radioactive?

An atom is radioactive if its nucleus is unstable, often due to an imbalance of protons and neutrons,

Nuclear decay

The protons and neutrons in a nucleus are constantly moving.

Sometimes they can emit electromagnetic radiation (gamma rays).

Sometimes they can even eject protons and neutrons from the nucleus and become a new element. This is called transmutation.

Both the emission of electromagnetic radiation or particles is known as a nuclear reaction or nuclear decay.

Alpha decay

During alpha decay, a nucleus ejects an alpha particle, which is a cluster of two protons and two neutrons:

-Its mass number decreases by 4

-The alpha particle is given the symbol α

-The alpha particle is identical to a helium-4 nucleus

Alpha decay only occurs in atoms with very heavy nuclei—this is usually where the mass number is greater than 100.

Beta decay

Beta decay occurs when the nucleus ejects a beta particle, which is given the symbol β

Beta particles are identical to electrons and therefore are very small and have a negative charge.

When the nucleus undergoes beta decay, a neutron is converted into a proton. This increases the atomic number by one, meaning a new element is formed.

Gamma decay

Sometimes the protons and neutrons simply rearrange inside the nucleus but do not emit a particle.

Instead they emit a form of electromagnetic wave known as gamma rays.

Gamma rays are given the symbol γ

They are like X-rays but are more powerful.

Ionising Radiation

Ionizing radiation is radiation that has enough energy to remove electrons from atoms, creating ions. It can harm living cells and includes X-rays, gamma rays, and particle radiation like alpha and beta particles.

How can ionising radiation cause cancer?

Ionizing radiation causes cancer by damaging DNA in cells. When radiation interacts with cells, it can directly break DNA strands or create reactive molecules (free radicals) that damage the DNA. This can lead to mutations, chromosomal damage, or double-strand breaks, which the body may not always repair correctly. If the damage affects genes that control cell growth, it can cause cells to divide uncontrollably, forming a tumor

other biological effects of radiation

1. Cancer (due to accumulated DNA damage)

2. Genetic mutations that can affect future generations

3. Chronic health issues, such as cardiovascular problems or organ damage

Radiotherapy

Certainly! Radiotherapy uses high-energy radiation (like X-rays or gamma rays) directed at cancer cells. The radiation causes breaks in the DNA strands within the cells, leading to cell death or stopping their ability to divide. Since cancer cells are often less capable of repairing DNA damage compared to normal cells, they are more likely to be destroyed.

The treatment can be precisely targeted to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Side effects of radiotherapy

Common side effects of radiotherapy include:

• Fatigue

• Skin redness or irritation at the treatment site

• Hair loss in the treated area

• Nausea or upset stomach (depending on the site)

• Swelling or inflammation

• Temporary or permanent damage to nearby organs or tissues

What is nuclear medicine imaging? Give a brief description of how it works, and why a person might need nuclear medicine imaging. 

Nuclear medicine imaging is a medical technique that uses small amounts of radioactive tracers to visualize and assess how organs and tissues function. During the procedure, these tracers are injected, inhaled, or ingested, and they emit gamma rays that are detected by special cameras. This creates detailed images showing both structure and activity within the body.

People might need nuclear medicine imaging to diagnose and monitor conditions like cancer, heart disease, or thyroid problems, as it provides functional information that other imaging methods might not reveal.

Outline and explain how technological advancement and discovery in the past has allowed radiation to be applied to medicine. 

• Discovery of X-rays (1895) enabled internal imaging of the body.

• Identification of radioactive elements (e.g., radium in 1898) facilitated diagnosis and cancer treatment.

• Development of nuclear reactors and cyclotrons (mid-20th century, 1930s-1950s) allowed production of medical radioisotopes.

• Advances in imaging technology (gamma cameras in the 1950s, PET in the 1970s) improved diagnostic capabilities.

• Improved radiation delivery techniques (linear accelerators in the 1950s, image-guided therapy in the late 20th century) increased treatment precision and safety.