Question

What are radioactive emissions, and how are most humans exposed to them?

Short answer

Radioactive emissions emanate from unstable atomic nuclei and comprise of alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays. Most humans are exposed to these emissions primarily through natural background radiation from the environment, medical procedures, occupational exposure, and dietary intake.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Radioactive Emissions

Radioactive emissions, also known as nuclear radiation, are energy particles or rays emitted from unstable atomic nuclei. There are three types of radioactive emissions: Alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays. Alpha and beta particles are charged and have mass whereas gamma rays are uncharged and have no mass.

Source of Radioactive Emissions

Radioactive emissions come from various sources including the natural environment (rocks, soil, air, and water), man-made sources (nuclear power plants, medical procedures, industrial applications, and consumer products), cosmic rays, and even from within our body (organic substances like Potassium-40).

Means of Exposure to Radioactive Emissions

The primary way most humans get exposed to radioactive emissions is through natural background radiation. It comes from naturally occurring radioactive materials, such as Uranium, Radon, Thorium, and Carbon-14 in the environment. Other forms of exposure include medical procedures like X-rays and CT scans, and occupational exposure for workers in nuclear power plants, medical facilities and certain industries. Diet is another pathway as certain foods and water can contain small amounts of radioactive substances.