BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
OF
RADIATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF
RADIATION
 Definition:
The harmful effects caused to human
being and other living beings due to their
exposure to radiation is called as biological
effects of radiation.
CONTENT
 MECHANISMS: How does radiation inflict
biological damage?
 DOSIMETRY: How do we quantify a ‘dose’ of
radiation?
 EFFECTS: What are the potential biological
effects of radiation?
 RISKS & LIMITS: What level of risk is
associated with working with diagnostic
radiation?
DIRECT EFFECT
INDIRECT EFFECT
MECHANISM
DIRECT ATTACK
MECHANISM
- Incident radiation directly attacks the DNA of the water
molecule and ionises water molecules; electrons are
released.
- Biologic chain reaction occurring.
- The ionised water molecules can react further - forming
highly reactive molecules such as hydrogen peroxide,
INDIRECT EFFECT
MECHANISM
When free radicals produced by the
interaction radiation with water molecules act
on a vital molecule such as DNA, the
damaging action of the ionisation radiation is
indirect.
- Absorbed dose (Measured ingrays; Gy) :
- The ‘gray’ is a measure of the energy in a material
by incident ionising radiation.
- (1 Gray = 1 Joule of energy deposited in 1kg of tissue)
deposited
DOSIOMETRY
EFFECTS
1).RADIATION EFFECTS ON CELLS
Basically, there are three things that can happen:
1. The radiation may pass through the cell without
doing any damage to cell.
2. The radiation may damage the cell so that the cell
not only form to repair itself but reproduces itself in
the damaged form – Biological Response.
3. The radiation may cause so much damage, cells
dies.
2).EFFECTS OF LOW DOSE
RADIATION
Low-Dose Radiation
The low dose or “stochastic”
effects (statistical), which
could be seen are:
Carcinogenesis (i.e. induction of cancer)
and
Genetic effects (i.e. damage seen in
offspring)
3).DETERMINISTIC EFFECTS
-They are dose related ,The injury increases in
severity as dose increases.
-They are generally not an issue in diagnostic
imaging – the doses are too low.
-They are predictable
-Mechanisms are relatively well understood e.g. in
radiotherapy
- Repair and recovery can occur.
OTHER TOXIC DOSE EFFECTS
Hair Loss
Sterility
Cataracts
Skin Burns
SENSITIVITY
 In a malignant tumours the cell system will
be much sensitive.
 Outer layer of cells reproduce rapidly and
has a good supply of blood and oxygen
 The cells become more sensitive when they
are reproducing and the presence of oxygen
increases sensitivity to radiation.
 In anoxic cells it tend to be less reactive .
As the tumour is exposed to the
radiation ,outer layer of rapidly
dividing cells are
destroyed,ceasing it to the
shrunken image.
In tumour if massive dose is
given the patient may die hence
small dose is given each day
which gives a healthy tissue ,a
chance to recover from damage.
WHOLE BODY SENSITIVITY FACTORS
 Total dose
 Type of cell
 Type of radiation
 Stage of cell division
 Part of body exposed
 General state of health
 Tissue volume exposed
 Time interval over which dose is received
THANK YOU !!!

Biological effects of radiation

  • 1.
  • 2.
    BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF RADIATION Definition: The harmful effects caused to human being and other living beings due to their exposure to radiation is called as biological effects of radiation.
  • 3.
    CONTENT  MECHANISMS: Howdoes radiation inflict biological damage?  DOSIMETRY: How do we quantify a ‘dose’ of radiation?  EFFECTS: What are the potential biological effects of radiation?  RISKS & LIMITS: What level of risk is associated with working with diagnostic radiation?
  • 4.
  • 5.
    DIRECT ATTACK MECHANISM - Incidentradiation directly attacks the DNA of the water molecule and ionises water molecules; electrons are released. - Biologic chain reaction occurring. - The ionised water molecules can react further - forming highly reactive molecules such as hydrogen peroxide,
  • 6.
    INDIRECT EFFECT MECHANISM When freeradicals produced by the interaction radiation with water molecules act on a vital molecule such as DNA, the damaging action of the ionisation radiation is indirect.
  • 7.
    - Absorbed dose(Measured ingrays; Gy) : - The ‘gray’ is a measure of the energy in a material by incident ionising radiation. - (1 Gray = 1 Joule of energy deposited in 1kg of tissue) deposited DOSIOMETRY
  • 8.
    EFFECTS 1).RADIATION EFFECTS ONCELLS Basically, there are three things that can happen: 1. The radiation may pass through the cell without doing any damage to cell. 2. The radiation may damage the cell so that the cell not only form to repair itself but reproduces itself in the damaged form – Biological Response. 3. The radiation may cause so much damage, cells dies.
  • 9.
    2).EFFECTS OF LOWDOSE RADIATION Low-Dose Radiation The low dose or “stochastic” effects (statistical), which could be seen are: Carcinogenesis (i.e. induction of cancer) and Genetic effects (i.e. damage seen in offspring)
  • 10.
    3).DETERMINISTIC EFFECTS -They aredose related ,The injury increases in severity as dose increases. -They are generally not an issue in diagnostic imaging – the doses are too low. -They are predictable -Mechanisms are relatively well understood e.g. in radiotherapy - Repair and recovery can occur.
  • 11.
    OTHER TOXIC DOSEEFFECTS Hair Loss Sterility Cataracts Skin Burns
  • 12.
    SENSITIVITY  In amalignant tumours the cell system will be much sensitive.  Outer layer of cells reproduce rapidly and has a good supply of blood and oxygen  The cells become more sensitive when they are reproducing and the presence of oxygen increases sensitivity to radiation.  In anoxic cells it tend to be less reactive .
  • 13.
    As the tumouris exposed to the radiation ,outer layer of rapidly dividing cells are destroyed,ceasing it to the shrunken image. In tumour if massive dose is given the patient may die hence small dose is given each day which gives a healthy tissue ,a chance to recover from damage.
  • 14.
    WHOLE BODY SENSITIVITYFACTORS  Total dose  Type of cell  Type of radiation  Stage of cell division  Part of body exposed  General state of health  Tissue volume exposed  Time interval over which dose is received
  • 15.