X-rays, one of the sources of radiation

2002/04/12 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Osasuna

X-rays and radioactive nucleids are used for purposes as diverse as medicine, weaponry, electric power production, fire detection, wrist watch lighting or mineral prospecting. Applications are more numerous than we think. Apart from nuclear accidents and nuclear weapons, the greatest artificial radiation our body receives in daily life is that derived from medical applications, both diagnostic and treatment, more violent than collection in some treatments.

However, there are also natural and probably more unknown sources of radiation. There are also radioactive substances in the soil we tread, in the air we breathe and in the food we eat: natural radioactive nuclides. On the Earth's surface, for example, radioactive elements have always existed, such as potassium 40, thorium and uranium, from which radon derives in the air. The cosmic radiation coming from space also brings yours.

However, natural radiation is a characteristic of our environment and does not harm us. On the contrary, we must take into account what we add to this, since if we increase the dose the risk increases.

It is said that all things must be taken to their proper extent.