Occupational Radiation Hazards and Competency Assessment

Abstract

Non-ionizing radiation is the energy traveling through space and is crucial to life, but extreme exposures will cause tissue damage and mutations. The ionizing radiations have sufficient energy due to high frequency and may cause DNA damage. Radiation sources are prevalent in occupational settings, like hospitals, research institutions, nuclear reactors, nuclear weapon production facilities. On earth, sunlight is the most common source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Man-made UV sources include UV lamps, arc welding, and mercury vapor lamps. The UV radiation is extensively used in industrial processes and medical and dental practices for a variety of purposes. Excessive exposure to UV radiation is associated with skin cancer, sunburn, accelerated skin aging, and eye disease. The new wireless technology appliances have been used extensively without studying their hazardous effects on society. For instance, the issue of so-called non-thermal effects and potential long-term effects of low-dose exposure were barely examined before the introduction of these technologies. These hazardous sources of radiation can pose a considerable health risk to the workers if not adequately controlled. This review provides a starting point for technical and regulatory information regarding the recognition, evaluation, and control of occupational radiation health hazards.