![Radiation Radiation](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20080916170233im_/http://osha.gov/SLTC/images/e_m.jpg) |
Safety and Health Topics |
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Radiation |
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Radiation may be defined as energy traveling through space. Non-ionizing radiation is essential to life, but excessive exposures
will cause tissue damage. All forms of
ionizing radiation have sufficient energy to ionize atoms
that may destabilize molecules within cells and lead to tissue
damage.
Radiation sources are found in a wide range of occupational settings. If
radiation is not properly controlled it can
be potentially hazardous to the health of workers.
The following link to information about non-ionizing and ionizing radiation in
the workplace.
![Electromagnetic Radiation Frequency Range Electromagnetic Radiation Frequency Range](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20080916170233im_/http://osha.gov/SLTC/images/radiationspectrum.jpg)
Electromagnetic Radiation
The most familiar form of electromagnetic (EM) radiation is sunshine, which provides light and heat.
Sunshine
consists primarily of radiation in infrared (IR), visible, and ultraviolet (UV)
frequencies. Lasers also emit EM radiation in these "optical
frequencies." The higher frequencies of EM radiation, consisting of x-rays
and gamma rays, are types of ionizing radiation. Lower frequency radiation, consisting of
ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR), microwave (MW), Radio Frequency (RF), and extremely
low frequency (ELF) are types of non-ionizing radiation.
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