About This Special Issue
Ionizing radiation is a type of radiation that carries enough energy to remove electrons from an atom. There are two types of ionizing radiation: wave and particle. Alpha, beta, and neutron particles and gamma and X-rays.
All people can be exposed unexpectedly to ionizing radiation from their daily life. Most of the ionized radiation exposing consist of medical applications. Today, with the advancement of technology, the use of ionizing radiation in medical sciences for diagnostic purposes has started to increase. In medicine, individuals are exposed to radiation from diagnostic examinations, interventional procedures or radiation therapy. There are different imaging methods using ionizing radiation such as Radiography ("conventional X-ray" including mammography), Computed Tomography (CT), Fluoroscopy. The use of x-ray, one of the types of ionizing radiation is the most widespread medical application.
Ionizing radiation can increase a person’s lifetime risk of developing cancer and radiation exposure with medical procedures has a potential carcinogenic effect. Unnecessary exposures to ionizing radiation can lead cancer and cancer is the biggest long-term risk of radiation.
The biological effects of ionizing radiation are classified as direct and indirect effects. The direct effect of ionizing radiation is defined as damage to enzymatic and structural proteins and RNA cells. Direct effect leads to cell damage or even cell death. The indirect effect is defined as the toxic effect on cells by forming free radicals through radiolysis of cellular water.
Aims and Scope:
- Radiation
- Ionizing radiation
- Direct effect
- Indirect effect
- Imaging procedures
- Cancer