Energy emitted from a source is generally referred to as radiation. Radiation exists in the natural environment as well as generated by man-made devices. Examples include heat or light from the sun, X-rays from an X-ray tube and gamma rays from radioactive materials.

Oregon Radiation Protection Services works to promote the health and safety of the people in Oregon by protecting them from unnecessary exposure to radiation. Radiation exposure can come from a variety of sources including: X-ray equipment, radioactive materials, tanning beds and other radiation-generating devices.