Radiation can be either non-ionizing or ionizing. Non-ionizing radiation is utilized in devices like mobile phones and microwave ovens.
Our surroundings also contain ionizing radiation, which originates from space, soil, air, drinking water, food, and our own bodies. This is referred to as natural background radiation.
Ionizing radiation occurs in nature regardless of human activity. For example, in 2018, the average effective dose received by Finns was 5.9 millisieverts (mSv).
Radiation in X-ray examinations
X-ray radiation is ionizing radiation used in standard X-ray examinations (such as imaging of limb bones and lungs), fluoroscopy examinations (such as imaging of the esophagus, bladder, or rectum), and computed tomography (CT) examinations.
X-ray radiation may also be used during certain medical procedures, such as balloon angioplasty of blood vessels.
Ionizing radiation is also used in nuclear medicine imaging and treatments. The radiation used in imaging is called gamma radiation. Radiation used in treatments is alpha or beta radiation.
Watch the video: Radiation Safety ABC – What is radiation? The video is produced by OYS and includes subtitles in Finnish and Swedish.