Understanding Radiation Biology

Book excerpt: This book provides a qualitative and quantitative exploration of the action of radiation on living matter which leads to a complete and coherent interpretation of radiation biology. It takes readers from radiation-induced molecular damage in the nucleus of the cell and links this damage to cellular effects such as cell killing, chromosome aberrations and mutations before exploring organ damage, organism lethality and cancer induction. It also deals with radiological protection concepts and the difficulties of predicting the dose–effect relationship for low-dose and dose rate radiation risk. The book ends with separate chapters dealing with the effects of UV light exposure and risk classification of chemical mutagens, both of which are derived by logical extensions of the radiation model. This book will provide the basic foundations of radiation biology for undergraduate and graduate students in medical physics, biomedical engineering, radiological protection, medicine, radiology and radiography. Features Presents a comprehensive insight into radiation action on living matter Contains important implications for radiological protection and regulations Provides analytical methods for applications in radiotherapy