Physics: ionizing vs non-ionizing radiation

Self-tutoring about radiation: the tutor mentions ionizing and non-ionizing.

Non-ionizing radiation isn’t powerful enough to dislodge electrons from a molecule or atom. It’s the safer of the two kinds of radiation to be around. Even heat is non-ionizing radiation.

Ionizing radiation, on the other hand, is powerful enough to displace an electron from its atom or molecule. (An atom or molecule that has a different number of electrons than protons is called an ion.)

Once a molecule (or atom) has been ionized, it behaves differently from before. That’s why ionizing radiation is dangerous: as it penetrates body tissues, it can ionize molecules inside them so some cells no longer function properly. This can happen to DNA, potentially corrupting the genetic code the cell will pass on.

In everyday life, ionizing radiation wouldn’t be safe to be around. However, significant exposure typically doesn’t happen anyway. Situations that would cause it aren’t natural, and strictly controlled by government agencies.

Some types of non-ionizing radiation aren’t exactly safe, either. Perhaps I will follow up on this.

Source:

health-canada

osha.gov

wtamu.edu