Background Radiation: A Pictorial Perspective Giovanni Bibbo and Lino Piotto Women’s & Children’s Hospital, Adelaide ARPS 35 Annual Conference, 18 October 2010, Adelaide
Jul 15, 2015
Background Radiation: A Pictorial Perspective
Giovanni Bibbo and Lino PiottoWomen’s & Children’s Hospital, Adelaide
ARPS 35 Annual Conference, 18 October 2010, Adelaide
Background RadiationBackground Radiation
We are all exposed to ionising radiation because of very nature of our environment
2 sources of radiation:
of natural origin => background radiation
artificially produced
We are all exposed to ionising radiation because of very nature of our environment
2 sources of radiation:
of natural origin => background radiation
artificially produced
Sources of Background Radiation Disintegration/s (Bq)
From radioactive elements internal to our body:K-40: ~4,500 ,
[0.01% of K]C-14: ~3,200
+ other Po, Bi,
uranium etc
From outer space in form of cosmic rays:~140 cosmic
From radioactive elements in air & water:~100 from H-3, C-14 radon, thoron
+ others
From radioactive elements in earth’s crust:~50,000
Sources of Background RadiationSources of Background Radiation
Origin of this radiation goes back to begin of time when radiation dominated universe
Amount of radiation we receive depends on:
where we live
diet
our life style
Origin of this radiation goes back to begin of time when radiation dominated universe
Amount of radiation we receive depends on:
where we live
diet
our life style
Radon51.9%
Cosmic16.0%
Terrestrial19.8%
Ingestion11.9%
Average World Background Radiation
fallout from nuclear tests,
Chernobyl accident &
nuclear power plants
Other0.4%
Total background radiation = 2.43 mSv/y
Data from UNSCEAR 2008
Annual Background Radiation in S Australia
Ingestion24.5%
Cosmic18.3%
Radon12.2%
Terrestrial36.7%
Consumer7.6%
Other < 1%
Estimated total Background Radiation
= 1.5 mSv/y
Background Radiation used as Comparator of Risk
Background Radiation used as Comparator of Risk
Common to use background radiation to explain risk to layperson:
patients,
general public &
often to doctors
Common to use background radiation to explain risk to layperson:
patients,
general public &
often to doctors
Background Radiation used as Comparator of Risk
Background Radiation used as Comparator of Risk
Code of practice suggests in Annex 2: Communication of the risk to the research participant that “Sometimes it may be helpful to use a comparator of risk” so that “risks are communicated in a manner that will be understood by the research”
E.g., statement: “This research study involves exposure to ….. amount of radiation. As part of everyday living, everyone is exposed to naturally occurring background radiation and receives a dose of about 2 millisieverts (mSv) each year. The effective dose from this study is about.... mSv etc”
Problem of making this comparison is that we do not take in consideration the effect that dose rate may have:
e.g., effect of delivering 50 mSv to brain in ~ 10 s in a CT scan may be different from 50 mSv delivered to brain in ~ 20 y from background radiation
but this is another story!
Code of practice suggests in Annex 2: Communication of the risk to the research participant that “Sometimes it may be helpful to use a comparator of risk” so that “risks are communicated in a manner that will be understood by the research”
E.g., statement: “This research study involves exposure to ….. amount of radiation. As part of everyday living, everyone is exposed to naturally occurring background radiation and receives a dose of about 2 millisieverts (mSv) each year. The effective dose from this study is about.... mSv etc”
Problem of making this comparison is that we do not take in consideration the effect that dose rate may have:
e.g., effect of delivering 50 mSv to brain in ~ 10 s in a CT scan may be different from 50 mSv delivered to brain in ~ 20 y from background radiation
but this is another story!
Background Radiation used as Comparator of Risk
Background Radiation used as Comparator of Risk
Another problem is that in general, laypersons have no knowledge of existence of background radiation
Background radiation is an abstract concept to layperson because our senses cannot detector ionising radiation
Quantifying background radiation (Sv or mSv)
has no meaning to lay person &
does not provide proof that this radiation exists
Showing an image of radiation emitted from objects is more credible
A picture is worth a 1,000 words
Japanese 1st ones to image background radiation with an imaging plate
Another problem is that in general, laypersons have no knowledge of existence of background radiation
Background radiation is an abstract concept to layperson because our senses cannot detector ionising radiation
Quantifying background radiation (Sv or mSv)
has no meaning to lay person &
does not provide proof that this radiation exists
Showing an image of radiation emitted from objects is more credible
A picture is worth a 1,000 words
Japanese 1st ones to image background radiation with an imaging plate
Ref: Prof C Mori, Dept of Nucl Engn, Graduate School of Engn, Nagoya University
Slices of vegetables placed on imaging plate & kept there for 20 d in in shielded box with 100 mm Pb walls
Organic material including human body contain small quantity of mostly K-40, C-14 & H-3
Piece of pork placed on imaging plate & kept there for 20 d in in shielded box with 100 mm Pb walls
Fat => white region contains little radioactivity
Lean meat contains most of radioactivity
Ref: Prof C Mori, Dept of Nucl Engn, Graduate School of Engn, Nagoya University
Rock on imaging plate for 2 d
Granite contains U, Th & K-40
Levels of radioactivity varies from place to place
Ref.1: Prof C Mori, Dept of Nucl Engn, Graduate School of Engn, Nagoya University
MethodologyMethodologyImaging plate is CR screen (barium fluorohalide phosphor)
Wrapped in freeze bag
GemstonesGemstones
Carnelian Aventurine
Rose quartzPicture Jasper
SodaliteAgate
Tiger EyeRock Crystal
AmazoniteRed Jasper
Picture Jasper SpectrumPicture Jasper Spectrum
Stone placed in a well counter for 1 h
Spectrum range 0 – 540 keV
2 peaks
1st peak at ~ 45 keV
2nd peak at ~ 140 keV
Background spectrum also measured – no peaks
Stone placed in a well counter for 1 h
Spectrum range 0 – 540 keV
2 peaks
1st peak at ~ 45 keV
2nd peak at ~ 140 keV
Background spectrum also measured – no peaks
Radiation we EatRadiation we Eat
Sugar grains
Rice cracker
Rice grains
Spice Rice cracker
BQ shapes
Gnocchi
Pasta
Oat bread wrap
Dark
Brown
White
Radiation we can DetectRadiation we can Detect
X-rays Gamma rays High energy beta particles
X-rays Gamma rays High energy beta particles
Low energy beta particles
Low energy electrons
Alpha particles
Radiation we cannot Detect
Next Project: to Image Hormesis Stones/Material
Next Project: to Image Hormesis Stones/Material
Stones/materials advertised on INTERNET exploiting hormesis effect of radiation
Several stones/materials for purchase
Stones/materials advertised on INTERNET exploiting hormesis effect of radiation
Several stones/materials for purchase
Ref: www.radiationhormesis.com/stones
Hormesis StonesHormesis Stones
Green Stone
Was commonly used in Atlantis &Lemuria because of its healing properties
To be held or rubbed lightly against areas of pain
Helps to heal open sores that are not healing well
If run under hot water before use, it to increases its effectiveness
Green Stone
Was commonly used in Atlantis &Lemuria because of its healing properties
To be held or rubbed lightly against areas of pain
Helps to heal open sores that are not healing well
If run under hot water before use, it to increases its effectiveness
Hormesis StonesHormesis StonesWater stone
Place in a gallon of water for 8 h or over night
Then drink water during day
Water will only remain irradiated for up to 3 h when removed from source
Water stone
Place in a gallon of water for 8 h or over night
Then drink water during day
Water will only remain irradiated for up to 3 h when removed from source
Hormesis StonesHormesis StonesMud Pack
May be placed comfortably on any part of body that you wish to treat
Most people put these right under sheets in bed to sleep on
Necklace
Highly recommended to those who have lung cancer, or breast cancer
Other stones, etc
Mud Pack
May be placed comfortably on any part of body that you wish to treat
Most people put these right under sheets in bed to sleep on
Necklace
Highly recommended to those who have lung cancer, or breast cancer
Other stones, etc
Hormesis Stones: Side EffectsHormesis Stones: Side Effects
You may feel a headache, more pain, digestive challenges (similar to flu), swelling or a temporary worsening of your symptoms
Do not worry!
Stones are killing fungus and helping to remove poisons from your system
This is time for your body to detox, so relax and take this time to be gentle with yourself
If symptoms are too intense, back off and use the stones for a shorter period of time, drink less charged water and increase consumption of regular water
You may stop using stones and water if you absolutely need to for about 24 h
Do not exceed this 24 h period
Begin use again at a slower rate and try to use them as much you can tolerate
You may feel a headache, more pain, digestive challenges (similar to flu), swelling or a temporary worsening of your symptoms
Do not worry!
Stones are killing fungus and helping to remove poisons from your system
This is time for your body to detox, so relax and take this time to be gentle with yourself
If symptoms are too intense, back off and use the stones for a shorter period of time, drink less charged water and increase consumption of regular water
You may stop using stones and water if you absolutely need to for about 24 h
Do not exceed this 24 h period
Begin use again at a slower rate and try to use them as much you can tolerate
SummarySummary
Our senses cannot detect radiation
Possible to image environmental radiation
Radioactivity definitely present in:
food we eat
soil & buildings
A picture is worth a 1,000 words
Our senses cannot detect radiation
Possible to image environmental radiation
Radioactivity definitely present in:
food we eat
soil & buildings
A picture is worth a 1,000 words