Gamma Radiation

Radiation comes in two different types: ionizing and non-ionizing. These refer to which types have enough energy to ionize an atom and which ones are not able to achieve this state. Both types of radiation can cause harm to living organisms and the environment from overexposure and accidents, such as the Chernobyl nuclear disaster twenty five years ago. Gamma radiation is high energy ionizing radiation more intense than X-Rays.Gamma radiation was discovered in 1896 by Henri Becquerel, a French physicist, who also discovered X-Rays. What he discovered was uranium giving off energy and he believed it to be similar to the invisible light of X-rays. In actuality what he really discovered was decaying uranium, called radium-226, giving off Gamma radiation. This type of radiation is pure electromagnetic energy which can pass through the air and several materials.
Only dense materials like lead can stop Gamma radiation.

Exposure to high levels of this radiation can be harmful for humans and other animals. Gamma rays are different from X-Rays because X-Rays originate in the surround electron field around the nucleus while gamma rays originate in the nucleus. The radiation is emitted when there is excessive energy in the nucleus of radioactive atoms and frequently occurs after the emission of a beta particle. Gamma rays have extremely short wavelengths which are why they are able to pass through most materials and can travel long distances before the energy and radiation dissipates. Gamma radiation does have particle applications when used carefully and with caution, such as in healthcare organizations. Cancer treatments have been discovered which use Cesiusm-137 and Cobalt-60. Cobalt-60 can also be used for sterilization of medical and surgical equipment. Technetium-99m is another type of radioactive isotope which gives off Gamma radiation. This isotope is used in the medical field for diagnostic purposes including kidney, brain, blood flow, bone, spleen, and liver imaging. Gamma rays also have other industrial applications outside the medical field such as detecting defects and cracks in construction projects and airplane engines.

Detecting these defects and correcting them is important in order to ensure safety of the people that will be using the completed building or flying on the airplane.People are exposed to Gamma radiation most often by direct methods, such as treatment for cancer. However, there are other cases where people are exposed through accidents, like the recent Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant disaster, a result of the earthquakes in Japan. When the news reported that people were experiencing radiation sickness, what they meant was that people had been exposed to large levels of Gamma radiation in a short period of time. This can result in severe damage to the body and its organs.The only way to detect Gamma radiation is with the use of special monitoring equipment and devices. Universal Detection Technology, www.udetection.com, provides individuals, organizations, and government agencies with monitoring products and services. The company has over three decades of monitoring experience and is a leading supplier of detection devices for chemical, biological and radiological devices and weapons.