Radiation exposure limits is the amount of ionizing radiation stipulated by legislation in which an individual may be exposed according to accepted values by the scientific agencies (ENS 4). There are stipulated amounts of exposure that are set for different types of persons. The exposure limit should be reduced in order to reduce the prevalence of medical effects on humans.
There are two types of exposure that need to be reduced in order to guarantee health. The problem with exposure is that in a way, it tends to interact with the human physiological makeup. The two types of exposures include Acute Exposure and Chronic exposure (NDT 5). Exposure in an acute mode is dangerous in that it is normally a high radiation dose. The exposure may happen in a short time but the effects are above safe limits. An acute exposure comes through accidental means and the fatality is extreme such that it may cause death. There is a high rate of production of diverse effects in stochastic and nonstochastic levels.
Chronic exposure happens on a long term basis. It is also called continuous exposure and leads to dangerous levels of radiation. It is capable of causing stochastic effects on health (NDT 5). This means that chronic exposure causes slow alteration to matter in certain levels. Exposure when over some period of time may be as a result of protective measures not being put into place. This leads to danger in the health of the affected and it is important that protective measures are effected in order to protect humans from the health effects.
There are methods that have been proposed for being used to shield humans from the effects of exposure to rediation. The methods are bound to reduce or block the exposure to radiation which tends to happen every time that an individual is exposed. Exposure of an individual to nuclear raditation tends to cause death and cancer. It is the reason that methods of exposure limitation have to be effected.
The methods of exposure include Time, Distance and Shielding. The time limit helps the individual to reduce the prevalence of exposure by reducing the durations in which exposure is effected. The distance should help to reduce the transmission wavelength to an individual. Shielding is an important form of protection that ensures an individual is not exposed to nuclear radiation. Containment is also a measure to reduce nuclear radiation exposure by ensuring that nuclear materials and processes are carried out in enclosed places to avoid exposure to the environment (U.S.NRC 4).
Time tends to reduce the exposure time to radiation. This is to mean that even though exposure is happening, the individual has to spend less time in exposure hence a reduced level of effects. It is a dangerous means of exposure prevention since the effects of the exposure still happen as the individual spends time in radiation. The method is not effective since the amount of exposure cannot be controlled and incase of a sudden increase in the wavelength, then the effects may be prevalent.
Distance tends to shield an individual from exposure through reducing the wavelength of the radiation. It means that an individual can work a few distance from the radiation exposure by ensuring that the exposure is not as close so as to avoid the dangerous amount of exposure. The reduction of exposure amount by increasing the distance tends to reduce the negative effects of exposure to health.
Shielding can be a safe method of reducing exposure. This tends to block out or reduce the wavelength of exposure to nuclear radiation. Shielding can involve a number of blocking substances that occur naturally in the environment or artificially made for the purpose. Barriers can be made from water, lead or even concrete. The use of barriers tends to effectively reduce the rate and amount of exposure to radioactive rays. It is the reason that a number of processes or materials are kept in lead-enclosed rooms, under water or even behind concrete walls.
The need to protect individuals working in nuclear departments is to ensure that death and prevalent diseases like cancer are avoided. ALARA is an abbreviation term for As Low As Reasonably Achievable. It is a safety principle to radiation doses that tends to shield the exposure to radiation and its various effects. Radiation is carcinogenic and it causes extreme burning of vital organs. The most affected parts of the human body to radiation exposure are the red bone marrow, uterus, gonads that should reach a limit of 50 mSv/year, adrenals, breast, bladder, liver, lung, spleen, stomach, pancreas, lens of the eye, small intestines and the thymus (ENS 4).
There are instances when people who have received radiation in high doses can transmit the same to others. There are practices that should be enhanced in order to be safe from radiation exposures of high magnitudes. Individuals should not indulge in radiation exposure practices if the amount or possibility of exposure is determined. There are instances when individuals are exposed and this should involve safe practice where the individuals are measured according to the magnitude of exposure, the number affected and the tendency to transmit the exposure effects. They should be handled in As Low As Reasonably Achievable way (NOHSC 3).
Works Cited
ENS. Radiation Exposure, Dose Limits, Germany. 2016. Web. 28 February 2016.
NDT. Controlling Radiation Exposure. 2016. Web. 28 February 2016.
NOHSC. Recommendations for Limiting Exposure to Ioning Radiation. Sydney: National Occupational Health & Safety Commissioner, 2002. Print.
U.S.NRC. Minimize your Exposure. 2016. Web. 28 February 2016.
