Radiation and You

Name: _________________________________       Date: _____________

When you think about sources of radiation, you probably think of nuclear power plants. As it turns out, nuclear plants are just one of the many sources of radiation that gets into the environment. Some of these sources may actually be in or near your home.

What is radiation and where does it come from? How much of it do you absorb per year? What levels are considered safe? The answers may surprise you!

1. To find out how much radiation you absorb in a year and where this radiation comes from, visit the EPA's Calculate Your Radiation Dose page. Follow the directions at the top of the page. As you complete the activity, fill out this chart:
   
   

   Radiation Source	Radiation Dose (in mrems)
   Cosmic radiation (sea level)	26
   Extra cosmic radiation from elevation
   Terrestrial (ground)
   From food and water	40
   From air (radon)	200
   Dental crowns
   Jet travel this year
   Airport X-rays
   Camping lanterns
   Building construction
   Luminous wristwatch
   TV watching
   Computer use
   Smoke detector
   Medical X-rays
   Nuclear power plant
   Coal-fired power plant
   Your Annual Total Dose

   
   
2. Read the notes just below the radiation survey. How does your annual dose of radiation compare to the United States average from all sources?
   
   
   
   
3. Next, you'll find out more about radiation terms. Define radiation.
   
   
   
   
4. What are the parts of an atom and what are their charges?
   
   
   
   
5. How does an atom become unstable?
   
   
   
   
6. Now you'll learn a bit more about Sources of Radiation. Explain the difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.
   
   
   
   
7. List four natural sources of radiation in the environment. About what percent of radiation comes from each of these sources?
   
   
   
   
8. What is the main source of non-natural radiation?
   
   
   
   
9. Let's see how you can protect yourself from radiation. Describe the three basic radiation protection concepts:
   1. Time
      
      
      
      
   2. Distance
      
      
      
      
   3. Shielding
      
      
      
      
10. Let's take a look at specific protection from the three Types of Radiation. For each type of radiation below, describe its level of penetration and what is needed to stop it.
    1. Alpha
       
       
       
       
    2. Beta
       
       
       
       
    3. Gamma
       
       
       
       
11. Finally, try your luck with the EPA radiation Word Search.