http://www.ck12.org Chapter 11. Nuclear Chemistry
FIGURE 11.2
This periodic table highlights elements that have only radioactive isotopes.to people who breathe it. Other sources of radiation are described in the interactive animation at this URL: http://w
ww.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/dirtybomb/sources.html.
Dangers of Radiation
You may have seen a sign like the one inFigure11.3. It warns people that there is radiation in the area. Exposure to
radiation can be very dangerous. Radiation damages living things by knocking electrons out of atoms and changing
them to ions. Radiation also breaks bonds in DNA and other biochemical compounds.
A single large exposure to radiation can burn the skin and cause radiation sickness. Symptoms of this illness include
extreme fatigue, destruction of blood cells, and loss of hair. Long-term exposure to lower levels of radiation can
cause cancer. For example, radon in buildings can cause lung cancer. Marie Curie died of cancer, most likely
because of exposure to radiation in her research. To learn more about the harmful health effects of radiation, go to
this URL: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7359819n.
Nonliving things can also be damaged by radiation. For example, high levels of radiation can remove electrons from
metals. This may weaken metals in nuclear power plants and space vehicles, both of which are exposed to very high
levels of radiation.