These slides were presentation at the Radiation 101 class at Creative Electron, July 7, 2012. Also included how to set up radiation monitoring network with iRad sensors.
1. inventing a better tomorrow
Radiation 101
Dr. Bill Cardoso
President and CEO
bcardoso@creativeelectron.com
760.752.1192
253 Pawnee St.
San Marcos, CA 92078
www.CreativeElectron.com
2. What is radiation?
“Radia0on%is%energy%in%the%form%of%electroDmagne0c%
waves%or%par0culate%maGer,%traveling%in%the%air.”%
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3. What types of radiation exist?
“In%order%to%answer%this%ques0on%we%first%need%to%
learn%where%does%radia0on%come%from.”%
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4. How radiation is created?
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12. Radiation can be of natural or artificial origin
Natural background radiation comes from two primary sources: cosmic radiation and terrestrial
sources. The worldwide average background dose for a human being is about 2.4
millisievert (mSv) per year.[9] This exposure is mostly from cosmic radiation and natural
radionuclides in the environment (including those within the body).
Natural origin entangles materials that contain radioactive atoms. Examples can include certain
types of minerals found in nature like some types of granite as well as Radon.
Radon
Radon is a terrestrial source of ionizing radiation that is of particular concern because, although
on average it is very rare, this intensely radioactive element can be found in high
concentrations in many areas of the world, where it represents a significant health hazard.
Radon is a decay product of uranium, which is relatively common in the Earth's crust, but
generally concentrated in ore-bearing rocks scattered around the world. Radon seeps out of
these ores into the atmosphere or into ground water, and in these localities it can accumulate
within dwellings and expose humans to high concentrations. The widespread construction of
well insulated and sealed homes in the northern industrialized world has led to radon
becoming the primary source of background radiation in some localities in northern North
America and Europe.
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13. Terrestrial sources
• Radioactive material is found throughout nature. It occurs naturally in the soil, rocks, water,
air, and vegetation. The major radionuclides of concern for terrestrial radiation are common
elements with low-abundance radioactive isotopes, like potassium and carbon, or the long-
lived elements uranium and thorium and their decay products, some of which,
like radium and radon are intensely radioactive but occur in low concentrations.
Cosmic radiation
• Estimate of the maximum dose of radiation received at an altitude of 12 km January 20,
2005, following a violent solar flare. The doses are expressed in millionths of a Sievert per
hour.
• The Earth, and all living things on it, are constantly bombarded by radiation from outer
space. This radiation primarily consists of positively charged ions from protons to iron and
larger nuclei derived sources outside our solar system. This radiation interacts with atoms in
the atmosphere to create secondary radiation, including X-rays, muons, protons, alpha
particles, pions, electrons, and neutrons.
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24. Real time data from iRad Geigers around the world
*Color%coded%–%green%%OK,%red%%high%radia0on%levels% www.CreativeElectron.com
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29. Configure your Device/Feed
• Step 1 – Data
– No, I will push data to Cosm
• Step 2 – Title
– My iRad Geiger Feed
• Step 3 – Tags
– radiation, southern california (plus any other
searchable tags)
• Step 4 – Create
– Create your new feed!
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