Radiation Protection

Radiation Protection practice requires that we address issues on behalf of our clients that include:

Radiation Protection matters in which the firm has or attorneys with the firm have been involved include the following:

Ionizing radiation is energy in the form of waves or particles that has sufficient force to remove electrons from atoms. In this document, we refer to it simply as radiation. One of the sources of radiation is the nuclei of unstable atoms. As these radioactive atoms (sometimes referred to as radionuclides or radioisotopes) attempt to become more stable, their nuclei eject or emit high-energy waves and particles. This process is known as radioactive decay.

Some radionuclides, such as uranium, radium, and thorium, have existed since the formation of the earth. The radioactive gas radon is a type of radioactive material produced as these naturally-occurring radioisotopes decay. Also, human activities, such as the splitting of atoms in a nuclear reactor, can also produce radionuclides. Regardless of how they are produced, all radionuclides release radiation.

The main types of radiation emitted during radioactive decay are alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays. Radiation can come from man-made radionuclides or natural sources. Man-made x-rays, another type of radiation, are created outside of the nucleus. The x-ray exposure that most people receive is technologically produced.

Alpha particles are energetic, positively charged particles that consist of two protons and two neutrons. Although they are highly energetic, the high mass of alpha particles means that they move slowly through the air.

The health effects of alpha particles depends heavily on how exposure takes place. External exposure is of far less concern than internal exposure, because alpha particles lack the energy to penetrate the outer dead layer of skin. Internally alpha particles can be very harmful.

Beta particles are fast moving electrons released from the nucleus during radioactive decay. Beta particles penetrate further than alpha particles but are less damaging over equally traveled distances. They are able to travel considerable distances in air but can be reduced or stopped by a layer of clothing or by a few millimeters of a material, such as aluminum. Certain beta particles are capable of penetrating the skin and causing radiation damage.

Similar to visible light and x-rays, gamma rays are weightless packets of energy called photons. Gamma rays frequently accompany the emission of alpha or beta particles from a nucleus. They have neither a charge nor a mass and are extremely penetrating. Several feet of concrete or a few inches of lead may be necessary to stop gamma rays.

X-rays are high-energy photons created by the interaction of charged particles with matter. X-rays and gamma rays have basically the same properties, but differ in origin. X-rays are either machine produced or produced from a change in the electron structure of the atom. They are emitted from processes outside the nucleus, while gamma rays originate inside the nucleus. They are also generally lower in energy and as a result less penetrating than gamma rays.