5 key features of Ionising radiation

1) Ultraviolet waves, X-rays and gamma rays are types of ionising radiation 2) They can add or remove electrons from molecules, producing electrically charged ions 3) Hazardous effects of Ionisation on the body: - UV waves can cause the skin to age prematurely and increase risk of cancer - x-rays and gamma rays can cause gene mutation, which can lead to cancer 4) radiation dose - a measure of the risk of harm caused by exposing the body to ionising radiation (Sv). As radiation dose figures are generally small, they are usually given in millisieverts (mSv) 5) background radiation - around us all the time: - radioactive rocks in the Earth's crust - cosmic rays from space - man-made sources such as nuclear weapons fallout and nuclear accidents Affected by: jobs, where people live