It is well known that radiation could be dangerous to humans, just as it is known for its health benefits. The sun sparks a number of radiation types and could cause genetic mutation. Still, behind all those risks radiation still has its merits for humans.
Radiation is an electromagnetic wave with the ability to transfer energy without a medium. Science has shown there are a number of radiation types with different characteristics, one of which being the ionising radiation. The ionising radiation can ionise materials and cause diseases such as cancer and hereditary illnesses.
However, the ionising radiation is also beneficial to human health, such as its uses in x-rays, the development of plant nurseries, and the development of vaccines.
The use of radiation to develop vaccines is useful for human immunisation in fighting diseases or viral infection. Immunisation is commonly done repeatedly with weakened parasites to reduce the parasites’ pathogen effect and prompt the antibody to fight the parasites.
By using the ionising radiation, an immunogen material that can prompt the body’s immunity to fight diseases/parasites can be created, such as the gamma radiation that can weaken parasites. With the appropriate dose, an immunogen will be created to fight the parasites infection.
Appropriate radiation doses are an important factor in the use of ionising radiation for human health. It takes an appropriate dose for the radiation effects to work as intended. In x-rays, only 0.4 mSv of radiation is sparked, while the minimum amount of radiation that could destroy human blood cells is 500 mSv.
A specialised body that focuses on the use of radiation is needed so that the use of radiation remains beneficial for humankind. Commonly all countries have dedicated organisations that supervise the use of radiation with regulations based on international agreement by researchers from all over the world.
Text by Rezky Zakiri
Stock photos from: Google Search Images
Source(s):
- Devita, T. and Darlina (2007). Penentuan Dosis Iradiasi Optimal Untuk Melemahkan Plasmodium berghei Stadium Ertirositik. Prosiding Pertemuan dan Presentasi Ilmiah Fungsional Pengembangan Jakarta, XII(2) : 1978-9971.
- Mas’uul, A. R. (2016). RSIY PDHI: Pemanfaatan radiasi dalam bidan medis. http://www.rsiypdhi.com/pemanfaatan-radiasi-dalam-bidang-medis/
- Badan Tenaga Nuklir Nasional. (2005). Pengenalan Radiasi. http://www.batan.go.id/pusdiklat/elearning/proteksiradiasi/pengenalan_radiasi/2-3.htm