Fundamentals of Radiation and Chemical Safety

Fundamentals of Radiation and Chemical Safety covers the effects and mechanisms involved in radiation and chemical exposure on humans. The mechanisms and effects of these damaging factors have many aspects in common, as do their research methodology and the methods used for data processing. In many cases of these types of exposures the same final effect can also be noted: Cancer. Low doses of radiation and small doses of chemical exposure are continuously active and they could influence the entire population. The analysis of these two main source hazards on the lives of the human population is covered here for the first time in a single volume determining and demonstrating their common basis. Fundamentals of Radiation and Chemical Safety includes the necessary knowledge from nuclear physics, chemistry and biology, as well the methods of processing the experimental results. This title focuses on the effects of low radiation dosage and chemical hormesis as well as the hazards associated with, and safety precautions in radiation and chemicals, rather than the more commonly noted safety issues high level emergencies and disasters of this type.

• Brings together, for the first time, the problems of radiation and chemical safety on a common biophysical basis.
• Relates hazards caused by ionizing radiation and chemicals and discusses the common effective mechanisms
• Outlines common methodology and data processing between radiation and regular chemical hazards
• Concerns primarily with low levels of radiation and chemical exposure

Chemists, physical chemists, chemical engineers, physicists, biologists and radiation experts and safety officers, governments and radiation protection agents.

• Introduction
• 1: Basics of Nuclear Physics
  • Abstract
  • 1.1. Peculiarities of the Processes in Microcosm
  • 1.2. Constitution of Nucleus
  • 1.3. Radioactive Decay and Radioactive Radiations
  • 1.4. The Radioactive Decay Law
  • 1.5. The Radioactive Chains
  • 1.6. X-rays
  • 1.7. Interaction of Ionizing Radiation With Matter
  • 1.8. Elements of Dosimetry
  • 1.9. Radiation Detection
  • 1.10. Natural Radiation Background
• 2: Basics of Biology
  • Abstract
  • 2.1. Cell Structure
  • 2.2. Genetic Processes
  • 2.3. Abnormalities in the Genetic Apparatus: Mutations
  • 2.4. Carcinogenesis
  • 2.5. Cancer and Age
• 3: Evaluation of the Action of Hazardous Factors on a Human
  • Abstract
  • 3.1. Calculating Risks
  • 3.2. Verification of Tests
  • 3.3. Probit Analysis
• 4: Effect of Ionizing Radiation on Biological Structures
  • Abstract
  • 4.1. Physical Stage
  • 4.2. Physicochemical Stage
  • 4.3. Chemical Stage
  • 4.4. Biological Effects of Exposure to Radiation
  • 4.5. Radiation Sickness
  • 4.6. Radon and Internal Exposure
• 5: The Effect of Chemicals on Biological Structures
  • Abstract
  • 5.1. Chemicals
  • 5.2. The Toxic Effects of Chemicals
  • 5.3. Methods of Carcinogen Screening
  • 5.4. Chemical Carcinogenesis Databases
• 6: Radiation and Chemical Hormesis
  • Abstract
  • 6.1. Definition of “Hormesis”: Arndt–Schulz Law
  • 6.2. The Definition of “Low Doses”
  • 6.3. Radiobiology Paradigm
  • 6.4. Chemical Hormesis
  • 6.5. Radiation Hormesis
  • 6.6. Danger and Safety of Low-Dose Radiation and Chemicals
• 7: The Synergic Effect of Radiation and Chemical Agents
  • Abstract
  • 7.1. Smoking
  • 7.2. The Diet
  • 7.3. Problems of Radiation Therapy
• 8: The Methods of Pharmacological Defense: Antidotes, Antimutagens, Anticarcinogens, and Radioprotectors
  • Abstract
  • 8.1. Antidotes
  • 8.2. Methods of Chemical Defense From Carcinogens
  • 8.3. Radioprotectors
• 9: The Regulation of Radiation and Chemical Safety
  • Abstract
  • 9.1. The Regulation of Radiation Safety
  • 9.2. Chemical (Carcinogenic) Safety Regulation
• Conclusion
• Subject Index