Article Title: "Radiation Exposure Pathways and Protective Measures" by Lecturer Mohammed Abdulkarim Mohammed<br /><br />Radiation Exposure Pathways and Protective Measures<br /><br />If control over a radioactive source is lost, it becomes hazardous for the following reasons:<br />• Direct contact,<br />• Exposure to radiation emitted from it at a short distance,<br />• Contamination of surrounding areas.<br /><br />Regarding nuclear facilities:<br />• The release of radioactive materials into the environment may cause different radiological incidents.<br />For appropriate protective actions during emergencies, radiation exposure pathways must be considered.<br />Protection from External Exposure<br />The amount of radiation dose resulting from external exposure depends on the following factors:<br />The radioactivity of the source,<br />The type and energy of the radiation emitted from the source,<br />The distance from the source,<br />The exposure time,<br />The presence of any shielding between the body and the radiation source.<br />External Contamination<br />May occur due to accidents in nuclear reactors (e.g., Chernobyl) or radiological incidents (e.g., the Goiânia accident in Brazil).<br />Contamination may spread through:<br />• Wind,<br />• Humans,<br />• Explosives,<br />• Building ventilation systems.<br />Internal Exposure<br />Radioactive materials can enter the body through:<br />Ingestion,<br />Inhalation,<br />Wounds,<br />Absorption through the skin.<br />The radiation dose received depends on several factors:<br />The amount of radioactive material entering the body,<br />The length of time it remains inside the body,<br />Its location within the body,<br />The type and energy of the radiation,<br />The biological half-life of the radioactive materials.<br />Protection from Internal Exposure<br />Exercise caution regarding potential contamination sources.<br /><br />Avoid eating, drinking, or smoking in potentially contaminated areas.<br />Avoid staying in radioactive clouds or smoke-covered areas (such as during a fire).<br />Keep hands away from the mouth.<br />Cover all open wounds.<br />Ensure the use of proper protective clothing.<br /><br />Conduct routine monitoring and radiological surveys.<br />Basic Protective Methods<br />Time,<br />Distance,<br />Shielding,<br />Control of inhalation or ingestion of contaminated materials,<br />Keeping hands away from the mouth.<br />Protective Actions: Sheltering<br />Provides protection from external exposure and ground radiation (resulting from deposited radioactive materials).<br />Offers some protection against inhalation.<br />Most effective if implemented properly.<br />Effectiveness depends on the type of building used for shelter.<br /><br />Typically lasts no more than two days.<br />Must be implemented immediately.<br />Protective Actions: Evacuation<br />The most effective protective action for areas near nuclear facilities.<br /><br />Should begin before the release of radioactive materials, to avoid inhalation from a radioactive cloud.<br /><br />The timing of evacuation must be considered to ensure evacuees are not exposed to ground radiation.<br /><br />Protective Actions: Thyroid Protection<br />Achieved by taking stable (non-radioactive) iodine.<br />An effective measure to reduce doses from inhaled radioactive materials.<br />Provides protection to the thyroid gland during the release of radioactive iodine following a nuclear accident.<br /><br />Protective Actions: Control of Food Intake<br /><br />Often applied in nuclear reactor accidents.<br /><br />Can be very costly.<br />Causes significant losses to farmers, requiring compensation.<br />May lead to a loss of public confidence in locally produced food.<br />__________________________<br />Al-Mustaqbal University – The First University in Iraq