Ionizing & Non-Ionizing Radiation

Interest in this area of potential human hazard stems, in part, from the magnitude of harm or damage that an individual who is exposed can experience. It is widely known that the risks associated with exposures to ionizing radiation are significantly greater than comparable exposures to non-ionizing radiation. This fact notwithstanding, it is steadily becoming more widely accepted that non-ionizing radiation exposures also involve risks to which one must pay close attention. This chapter will focus on the fundamental characteristics of the various types of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, as well as on the factors, parameters, and relationships whose application will permit accurate assessments of the hazard that might result from exposures to any of these physical agents.