Ionizing Radiation, Biological Effects

Synonyms

Biological radiation effects

Definition

Radiation interacts with matter primarily through ionization and excitation of electrons in atoms and molecules. There are two alternative ways of radiation damage to biological key substances: either by direct energy absorption (direct radiation effect) or via interactions with radicals, for example, those produced by radiolysis of cellular water molecules (indirect radiation effect). For direct radiation effect, the mean number of injured molecules, for example, DNA, is directly proportional to the dose. For indirect effects, the number of changed molecules increases with increasing linear energy transfer (LET). Mutations, cancer induction, and cell death are the most critical biological radiation effects.

See Also

• Biostack

• Cosmic Rays in the Heliosphere

• DNA Damage

• DNA Repair

• HZE Particle

• Linear Energy Transfer

• Mutagen

• Mutagenesis

• Mutation

• Nucleic Acids

• Radiation Biology

• Radiation Dose