- Industry: Government
- Number of terms: 33950
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United States Department of Health and Human Services, Radiation Emergency Medical Management
A naturally occurring radioactive gas found in soil, rock, and water throughout the united states. Radon causes lung cancer and is a threat to health because it tends to collect in homes, sometimes to very high concentrations. As a result, radon is the largest source of exposure to people from naturally occurring radiation.
Industry:Medical devices
The ratio between the risk for disease in an irradiated population to the risk in an unexposed population. A relative risk of 1.1 indicates a 10% increase in cancer from radiation, compared with the "normal" incidence. See also risk, absolute risk.
Industry:Medical devices
The rbe of some test radiation (r) compared with x-rays is defined by the ratio d250/dr where d250 and dr are, respectively, the doses of x-rays and the test radiation required for equal biologic effect. (national bureau of standards, 1954)
Industry:Medical devices
A unit of equivalent dose. Not all radiation has the same biological effect, even for the same amount of absorbed dose. Rem relates the absorbed dose in human tissue to the effective biological damage of the radiation. It is determined by multiplying the number of rads by the quality factor, a number reflecting the potential damage caused by the particular type of radiation. The rem is the traditional unit of equivalent dose, but it is being replaced by the sievert (sv), which is equal to 100 rem. For more information, see “primer on radiation measurement” from cdc.
Industry:Medical devices
The probability of injury, disease, or death under specific circumstances and time periods. Risk can be expressed as a value that ranges from 0% (no injury or harm will occur) to 100% (harm or injury will definitely occur). Risk can be influenced by several factors: personal behavior or lifestyle, environmental exposure to other material, or an inborn or inherited characteristic known from scientific evidence to be associated with a health effect. Because many risk factors are not exactly measurable, risk estimates are uncertain. See also absolute risk, relative risk.
Industry:Medical devices
An evaluation of the risk to human health or the environment by hazards. Risk assessments can look at either existing hazards or potential hazards.
Industry:Medical devices
A unit of exposure to x-rays or gamma rays. One roentgen is the amount of gamma or x-rays needed to produce ions carrying 1 electrostatic unit of electrical charge in 1 cubic centimeter of dry air under standard conditions.
Industry:Medical devices
A radioactive source, sealed in an impervious container that has sufficient mechanical strength to prevent contact with and dispersion of the radioactive material under the conditions of use and wear for which it was designed. Generally used for radiography or radiation therapy. May be classified "special form" on shipping papers and packages.
Industry:Medical devices
Ability of an analytical method to detect small concentrations of radioactive material.
Industry:Medical devices
The material between a radiation source and a potentially exposed person that reduces exposure.
Industry:Medical devices
