Radiation and Disasters

Practice flashcards based on the Environmental Health lecture notes focusing on radiation and disasters.

What is radiation?

Radiation is energy that comes from a source and travels through some material or through space.

What are examples of radiation?

Examples include light, heat, and sound.

What types of radiation are there?

There are natural and artificial types of radiation.

What does solar radiation consist of?

Solar radiation consists of incoming solar radiation, reflected solar radiation, absorbed solar radiation, and emitted radiation.

What is ionizing radiation?

Ionizing radiation has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, causing them to become charged or ionized.

What types of ionizing radiation are there?

Types include cosmic rays, gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet.

What is nonionizing radiation?

Nonionizing radiation does not possess sufficient energy to ionize atoms.

What examples of nonionizing radiation?

Examples include visible light, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves.

What are potential adverse health effects of ionizing radiation?

Exposure can lead to cellular damage, mutations, and other heritable alterations in DNA.

What percentage of ionizing radiation exposure is natural versus man-made?

82% is natural and 18% is man-made.

What are the sources of natural ionizing radiation?

Sources include cosmic rays, UV, and radon.

What does the EPA recommend regarding radon testing?

Homes in all zones should be tested for radon, regardless of geographic location.

What is radon?

Radon is a gaseous radioactive element derived from the radioactive decay of radium.

What are the reported risks of radon to smokers?

Higher radon levels increase the risk of lung cancer significantly among smokers.

What are the four phases of disaster management?

The four phases are preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.

What does disaster preparedness involve?

Planning and preparations made to save lives and aid response operations.

What is meant by disaster response?

Actions taken to save lives and prevent further property damage in an emergency.

What types of emergencies should individuals be prepared for?

Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and other emergencies.

What were significant events during World War II related to radiation exposure?

The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

What incident involved significant radiation exposure in 2011?

The Fukushima nuclear disaster.

What is bioterrorism?

The intentional release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs to cause illness or death.

What is a dirty bomb?

A type of radiological dispersal device that combines conventional explosives with radioactive material.

What is the purpose of the Homeland Security Act of 2002?

To prevent terrorist attacks and minimize damage from attacks that do occur.

What do Category A bioterrorism agents include?

Agents that are easily spread, have high death rates, and cause public panic.

What does the BioWatch Program do?

It provides an early-warning system for detecting biological agents in the air.

What was the anthrax attack in 2001?

Letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to news media and senators, resulting in infections and deaths.

What percentage of victims of the Oklahoma bombing died?

168 people died.

What health issues arose from the 9/11 response efforts?

Deaths, injuries, and chronic illnesses among rescue workers, including cough syndromes.

What should an emergency supply kit include?

Water, food, a flashlight, a first aid kit, and other essential items.

What were the health impacts of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita?

Resulted in extensive flooding, waterborne diseases, and fatalities.

What agency is responsible for federal disaster management?

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

What was the worst earthquake and tsunami event recorded?

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

What is an example of a chemical terrorist attack?

The Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway.

What is the significance of radon levels in a residential setting?

Radon levels over 4 pCi/L are considered high, indicating a need for testing.

According to the EPA, what is a recommended radon exposure level?“

Below 4 pCi/L is considered a safe level of radon exposure.

What disaster response action is crucial in an emergency?

Evacuation plans and seeking shelter.

What kind of program was introduced post-9/11 for biological threats?

The BioWatch Program for early detection of biological agents.

What is an example of mitigation in disaster management?

Buying flood insurance.

What are the potential impacts of disasters on water quality?

Flooding can lead to contamination and outbreaks of waterborne diseases.