Radiation and workers' health what is the relationship?

Recently, more and more people are starting to think about the impact of radiation on our health. Usually, however, we focus on the harmful effects of solar radiation on the skin or its impact on the onset of various types of cancer. However, it is also worth paying attention to radiation exposure in the workplace, as it can have a significant impact on the health of workers.

Ionizing radiation is one of the most harmful types of radiation found in the workplace. It is radiation that has sufficient energy to remove an electron from an atom, leading to the formation of ions. Examples of ionizing radiation include X-rays or gamma rays. Exposure to this type of radiation can lead to various health problems.

Health effects of radiation exposure

Exposure to ionizing radiation can have a number of negative health effects. One of these is radiation sickness, a disease caused by damage to blood cells. It manifests itself as fatigue, weakness of the body or difficulty in blood clotting, among other things. In addition, radiation exposure can lead to the development of various types of cancer, such as skin cancer and malignant tumors of the blood system.

For those exposed to radiation in their work, DNA damage can also occur. Ionizing radiation has the ability to damage the structure of DNA, which can have long-term health consequences. DNA damage can lead to genetic mutations and an increased risk of genetic diseases in offspring.

Proportion of radiation exposure

It is worth noting that the level of radiation exposure in the workplace can vary widely from industry to industry. People who work in medicine, the nuclear industry or also in air transportation are more exposed to radiation than other workers.

In the case of those working in medicine, radiation exposure is due to the frequent use of X-rays in diagnosis and treatment. Nuclear workers, on the other hand, are subjected to radiation exposure from operating nuclear equipment or handling radioactive waste. Air transport workers, on the other hand, are exposed to cosmic radiation, which is much stronger at the high altitudes where aircraft travel.

Risk assessment and protection measures

To minimize the risk of radiation exposure to workers, companies should conduct a workplace risk assessment. This assessment aims to identify the potential risks of radiation exposure and determine appropriate protection measures.

Depending on the type of work and the degree of radiation exposure, employers should provide appropriate protective equipment, such as protective suits or special eye shields. In addition, workers should be properly trained on how to work safely under radiation exposure conditions.

Conclusion

Radiation exposure in the workplace can have serious consequences for workers' health. Therefore, it is important for employers to ensure that adequate protective measures are in place and to conduct regular risk assessments. At the same time, workers should be aware of the potential risks of radiation exposure and follow appropriate protection procedures. Only in this way can the risk of developing serious radiation-related diseases be minimized.