Assignment task:
Part I: First, introduce yourself to your classmates with your name, location, current employment, and future goals.
Part II: In this unit, we have discussed the two types of radiation. Which do you think public health officials should pay more attention to: ionizing or nonionizing radiation? Provide a rationale for your response.
Reply To My Classmate's Response To The Above Discussion On Why You Agree With Their Response. (Minimum Of 200 Words)
My name is Samuel O. I reside in Maryland and work as a Nursing Assistant/Direct Support Professional. My future goal is to become a Public Health Professional. As an environmental health specialist, I will learn more about man-made and natural resources that negatively and positively contribute to the well-being of the population at large. Understanding environmental factors like air and water quality, toxic substances, and climate change can help protect human health. Studying it can help me comprehend how specific environmental conditions can impact illnesses like asthma, cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders.
Part II:
Radiation is energy conveyed from one place to another in a form understood as waves or particles. Non-ionizing radiation is minimal energy not strong enough to detach electrons from atoms or molecules, whether in matter or living organisms. Therefore, its power can make those molecules vibrate and manufacture heat (Galindo, 2023).
Ionizing radiation is a kind of radiation with such energy that it can detach electrons from atoms. When interacting with matter, including living organisms, ionizing radiation causes changes at the atomic level. Such changes typically involve the production of ions (electronically charged molecules).
Public health officials should pay attention to both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, as they both can have potential health effects on individuals. Ionizing radiation has enormous energy levels compared to non-ionizing radiation. It can penetrate deeply into tissues and has the potential to cause damage to cells and DNA. Exposure to high levels of radioactive materials can lead to health issues like carcinoma and genetic mutations. Public health officials should scrutinize and regulate the sources of this case, ensure safety measures are in place in medical facilities using X-rays or any radioactive materials, and educate the public about the risks associated with exposure.
Non-ionizing radiation has lower energy levels and includes forms of radiation like radio waves, microwaves, and visible light. While this type of radiation typically has fewer effects than ionizing radiation, prolonged exposure to specific sources, like UV radiation from the sun, can still have adverse health risks, like skin damage and an increased risk of cutaneous melanoma. Public health professionals should focus on raising awareness about safe practices for using devices that emit these issues, like cell phones and microwaves, and provide guidelines for minimizing exposure.
References:
Friis, R.H. (2019). Essentials of Environmental Health (3rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Galindo, A. (2023, Jan. 25). What is Radiation?