Health Concerns

The science of radiation protection, or "health physics" as it is more

properly called, grew out of the parallel discoveries of x-rays and
radioactivity in the closing years of the 19th century. Since early workers
with gamma and x-radiation took few, if any, precautions, serious injuries
inevitably occurred. Radiation burns were recorded within a month of
Roentgens announcement of his discovery of x-rays. Becquerel burned
himself by carrying a sample of radium in his pocket. Marie and Pierre
Curie received radiation burns on their skin from working with radium, and it
is suspected their lives were cut short because of exposure to large
amounts of radiation. Many developed skin cancer and suffered
amputations of fingers and hands as a result of high exposures of radiation.
By the 1922, radiation exposure had caused over 150 deaths.

As early as 1900, five years after Roentgens discovery, it was understood

that precautions needed to be taken when working with x- and gamma
radiation. The first warning of possible adverse effects of x-rays came from
Thomas Edison, William J. Morton, and Nikola Tesla who each reported
eye irritations from experimentation with x-rays and fluorescent substances.
Studies of the effects of radiation on living tissue were initiated and the
development of safe working practices began. In the 1920s, the routine
use of film badges for personnel monitoring was introduced and the genetic
effects of x- and gamma rays were recognized. Adoption of the Roentgen
as a unit for measuring radiation by the Second International Congress on
Radiation occurred in 1928.

Today, it can be said that radiation ranks among the most thoroughly
investigated causes of disease. Although much still remains to be learned,
more is known about the mechanisms of radiation damage on the
molecular, cellular, and organ system than is known for most other health
stressing factors. Moreover, it is the vast accumulation of quantitative dose-
response data that enables health physicists to specify radiation levels so
that medical, scientific, and industrial uses of radiation may continue at
levels of risk comparable with the risks associated with any other
technology.

The image on the right shows severe

radiation burns on the back of a man.
The man was one of three woodsmen
who found a pair of canisters in the
mountains of the country of Georgia
(formally part of the USSR). The men
did not know the canisters were
intensely radioactive relics that were
once used to power remote generators. Since the canisters gave off heat, the men
carried them back to their campsite to warm themselves on a cold winter night.