The Nuclear Regulatory Authority has urged the public to limit exposure to radiation as it affects cells, tissues and organs, which can eventually lead to skin breakdown.
According to the Authority, humans are exposed to radiation from various sources on daily basis, citing natural gas, the earth, industrial processes, medical procedures such as x-rays, electrical appliances such as microwaves, mobile phones, computers and space as some of the sources of radiation.
At a workshop to raise media awareness on radiation last Wednesday, the Director General of NRA, Dr Nii Kwashie Allotey, said the Authority was established to ensure that humans and the environment are protected from all harmful effects of radiations as well as to regulate radiation and nuclear facilities to meet national and international standards.
The areas the Authority regulates include nuclear reactors, nuclear medicines and radiotherapy, radiations emitting devices such as x-ray machines, CT scans machines, mammography machines and fluoroscopy machines, radiotracers, Gamma Irradiation facilities and linear accelerators, he stated.
Dr Henry Lawluvi, who oversees Radiological and Non-Ionizing Installation Directorate at the NRA, said non-ionizing radiation, (microwaves, radio waves and ultraviolent light) does not have sufficient energy to dislodge orbital electrons.
However, he noted that, ionizing radiation, (alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays and X-rays and neutrons) has sufficient energy to dislodge orbital electrons which are very dangerous to the humans when exposed excessively.
Dr Lawluvi mentioned cataract of the lens of the eye, sterility as well as acute radiation syndrome as some deterministic effects of exposure to radiation.
He advised the public to limit exposure to radiation, distance themselves from radioactive substances and use protective devices when they are closer to radioactive equipment.
Edem Agblevor & Dzifa Hupkorti, ISD
