Difference between revisions of "Background radiation"
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'''Background radiation''' is the [[radiation]] of man's natural environment originating primarily from the naturally [[radioactive]] [[element]]s of the [[earth]] and from the [[cosmic rays]]. The term may also mean radiation extraneous to an experiment.<ref>[http://www.lbl.gov/abc/Glossary.html Glossary of Nuclear Terms] </ref> | '''Background radiation''' is the [[radiation]] of man's natural environment originating primarily from the naturally [[radioactive]] [[element]]s of the [[earth]] and from the [[cosmic rays]]. The term may also mean radiation extraneous to an experiment.<ref>[http://www.lbl.gov/abc/Glossary.html Glossary of Nuclear Terms] </ref> | ||
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There is considerable controversy over whether background radiation is harmful, insignificant, or beneficial <ref>[http://www.radscihealth.org/RSH/Docs/MP99-tokyo.html The Beneficial Health Effects of Low Dose Radiation... and Why] </ref> | There is considerable controversy over whether background radiation is harmful, insignificant, or beneficial <ref>[http://www.radscihealth.org/RSH/Docs/MP99-tokyo.html The Beneficial Health Effects of Low Dose Radiation... and Why] </ref> | ||
Revision as of 21:59, November 12, 2007
Background radiation is the radiation of man's natural environment originating primarily from the naturally radioactive elements of the earth and from the cosmic rays. The term may also mean radiation extraneous to an experiment.[1]
There is considerable controversy over whether background radiation is harmful, insignificant, or beneficial [2] to human beings; see radiation hormesis.
Some partisans totally neglect the effects of background radiation when estimated the amount of damage occuring as a result of accidental release of radiation (see Three Mile Island, Chernobyl).