Becoming Aware of Radiation Sources: Overview
There is radiation all around us and we need to be aware of the various sources--when to be concerned and how to protect ourselves from harmful exposure.
Get e-mail updates when this information changes.
On this page:
Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors and alarms are important home safety devices. Ionization chamber and photoelectric smoke detectors are the two most common types available commercially.
Food Irradiation
Food irradiation is a technology for controlling spoilage and eliminating food-borne pathogens, such as salmonella.
Mail Irradiation
In October, the deadly bacterium anthrax was found in mail
sent to various news agencies, and to offices of the U.S.
Congress. As a precaution, the U.S. Postal Service, with assistance
from FBI and national public health experts, began irradiating
mail to kill any potentially present anthrax spores.
Other Sources
- Consumer Products
- Security Devices and Processes
- Food and Food Containers
- Medical Procedures
- Naturally Occurring Radiation
- Radiologically Contaminated Sites
- Government and Industry
- RadNet (formerly the Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System)
Consumer Products
Consumer Products may contain, may have been treated with, or may emit radiation.- Consumer Products Containing Radioactive Materials (Health Physics Society Fact Sheet)
- Electronic Product Radiation Control
- Does this product emit radiation?
- Cell Phones
- Radiation Emitting Device Labeling Requirement
- Microwaves
- Television
- Sun
lamps and tanning
- Study Links Use of Tanning Lamps to Increased Risk of Skin Cancer (Scientific American)
- Smoke detectors [EPA]
- Building Products
- Tobacco Smoke
Security Devices and Processes
Security devices, procedures, and processes often involve ionizing radiation. Many of the devices are regulated by federal agencies other than EPA or by state agencies. These links will lead you to information on such topics as airport luggage x-ray machines and irradiated mail.- Irradiated mail [EPA]
- Airport luggage x-ray machines
Building Products
Common building products such as brick, cement blocks, granite counter tops, and glazed tiles may contain radioactive materials due to their presence in the natural materials from which they are made. Nearly all rocks, minerals, and soil may contain small amounts of naturally occurring radioactive materials. Typically found radionuclides include radium, thorium and uranium. For example, soils of the U.S. contain on average about one picocurie (a unit measure of radiation) of radium per gram weight, though they sometimes can contain more. When these soils or rocks are incorporated into building materials,these naturally occurring radioactive materials are included as well.
Food and Food Containers
Food may be exposed to the high energy of ionizing radiation to kill bacteria and other pathogens. Learn the pros and cons of this sterilization method. Some foods also contain naturally occurring radiation from the soil they grow in.Also learn how naturally occurring radionuclides can remain in glazes used on food containers.
- Food irradiation
- Food Did you know? Some foods contain trace or small amounts of radionuclides. For example, trace amounts of the potassium in foods, such as bananas, are the radionuclide, potassium-40
- Pottery glazes
Zircon is widely used in glazes and metal molds. It contains minute amounts of uranium and thorium.
Medical Procedures
Medical procedures are the major source of radiation exposure for many people.Naturally Occurring Radiation
Radiation has been part of the earth since its beginning.- UV radiation
- Radon in soil
- Radon in water
- Radioactive wastes from use of natural resources
- Radionuclides
- Radiation in nature
Radiologically Contaminated Sites
Land used by industries such as radium dial manufacturers or mining may be contaminated with radionuclides.- Superfund sites
- Sites contaminated with Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TENORM)
Government and Industry
Government and industry processes often involve radioactive materials in their processes.- Irradiating mail
- Orphaned industrial sources
- Mining and manufacturing
byproducts
- Fertilizer production
- TENORM in process wastes
- Phosphogypsum
- Oil and gas
- Mining
- Nuclear
power plant emissions
Emissions data are available for all operating nuclear power plants in the United States. The database has complete listings of air emissions and wastewater emissions, as well as limited data on low-level wastes disposed of by each power plant.