The ATSDR toxicological profile succinctly characterizes the toxicology and adverse health effects information for the toxic substance described therein. Each peer-reviewed profile identifies and reviews the key literature that describes a substance's toxicological properties. Profiles are updated on a periodic basis and released for a public comment period. For more information visit ATSDR.

Contents

• DISCLAIMER
• UPDATE STATEMENT
• FOREWORD
• QUICK REFERENCE FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
• CONTRIBUTORS
• PEER REVIEW
• 1. PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT
  • 1.1. WHAT IS IONIZING RADIATION?
  • 1.2. HOW DOES RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL ENTER AND SPREAD THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENT?
  • 1.3. HOW MIGHT I BE EXPOSED TO IONIZING RADIATION?
  • 1.4. HOW CAN IONIZING RADIATION ENTER AND LEAVE MY BODY?
  • 1.5. HOW CAN IONIZING RADIATION AFFECT MY HEALTH?
  • 1.6. HOW CAN IONIZING RADIATION AFFECT CHILDREN?
  • 1.7. HOW CAN FAMILIES REDUCE THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO IONIZING RADIATION?
  • 1.8. IS THERE A MEDICAL TEST TO DETERMINE WHETHER I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO IONIZING RADIATION?
  • 1.9. WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS HAS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MADE TO PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH?
  • 1.10. WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
• 2. PRINCIPLES OF IONIZING RADIATION
  • 2.1. INTRODUCTION
  • 2.2. HISTORY, BACKGROUND INFORMATION, AND SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES OF IONIZING RADIATION
  • 2.3. FUNDAMENTALS OF IONIZING RADIATION DOSIMETRY
  • 2.4. BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF RADIATION
  • 2.5. MEASURING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL SOURCES OF IONIZING RADIATION
  • 2.6. CONCLUSIONS
  • 2.7. OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION
• 3. SUMMARY OF HEALTH EFFECTS OF IONIZING RADIATION
  • 3.1. INTRODUCTION
  • 3.2. HEALTH EFFECTS FROM EXPOSURE TO IONIZING RADIATION
  • 3.3. IDENTIFICATION OF DATA NEEDS
  • 3.4. CONCLUSIONS
• 4. RADIATION ACCIDENTS
  • 4.1. PALOMARES, SPAIN
  • 4.2. GOIANIA, BRAZIL
  • 4.3. THULE, GREENLAND
  • 4.4. ROCKY FLATS, COLORADO
  • 4.5. THREE MILE ISLAND, PENNSYLVANIA
  • 4.6. CHERNOBYL, UKRAINE
  • 4.7. KYSHTYM
  • 4.8. WINDSCALE, U.K
  • 4.9. TOMSK
  • 4.10. LOST INDUSTRIAL OR MEDICAL SOURCES
  • 4.11. IDENTIFICATION OF DATA NEEDS
  • 4.12. CONCLUSIONS
  • 4.13. OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION
• 5. MECHANISMS OF BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
  • 5.1. INTRODUCTION
  • 5.2. EVIDENCE OF THE EFFECTS ON DNA
  • 5.3. INTERACTIONS OF IONIZING RADIATION WITH DNA
  • 5.4. EFFECTS ON OTHER CELLULAR MACROMOLECULES
  • 5.5. MECHANISMS OF CARCINOGENESIS
  • 5.6. IDENTIFICATION OF DATA NEEDS
  • 5.7. SUMMARY
• 6. SOURCES OF POPULATION EXPOSURE TO IONIZING RADIATION
  • 6.1. OVERVIEW
  • 6.2. COSMIC RADIATION EXPOSURE
  • 6.3. TERRESTRIAL RADIATION EXPOSURE
  • 6.4. NATURAL INTERNAL EXPOSURE
  • 6.5. X RAY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE EXPOSURES
  • 6.6. EXPOSURE FROM CONSUMER PRODUCTS
  • 6.7. EXPOSURE FROM OTHER SOURCES
  • 6.8. ADEQUACY OF THE DATABASE
  • 6.9. CONCLUSIONS
• 7. REGULATIONS
• 8. LEVELS OF SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO RADIATION AND RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
• 9. GLOSSARY
• 10. REFERENCES
• APPENDICES
  • APPENDIX A. ATSDR MINIMAL RISK LEVELS AND WORKSHEETS
  • APPENDIX B. USER’S GUIDE
  • APPENDIX C. ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND SYMBOLS