From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Radiobiology (or radiation biology) is the interdisciplinary field of science that studies the biological effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation of the whole electromagnetic spectrum, including radioactivity (alpha, beta and gamma), x-rays, ultraviolet radiation, visible light, microwaves, radio wave, low-frequency radiation (such as used in alternate electric transmission, ultrasound thermal radiation (heat), and related modalities. It is a subset of biophysics.

Areas of interest

The interactions between electromagnetic fields (EMF) and organisms can be studied at several levels:

• radiation physics
• radiation chemistry
• molecular and cell biology
• molecular genetics
• cell death and apoptosis
• dose modifying agents
• protection and repair mechanisms
• tissue responses to radiation
• radio-adaptation of living organisms
• high and low-level electromagnetic radiation and health
• specific absorption rates of organisms
• radiation poisoning
• radiation oncology (radiation therapy in cancer)

Radiobiology of non-ionizing radiation includes:

• Bioelectromagnetics
• Magnetobiology

Radiation sources for radiobiology

Radiobiology experiments typically make use of a radiation source which could be:

• An isotopic source, typically ¹³⁷Cs or ⁶⁰Co.
• A particle accelerator generating high energy protons, electrons or charged ions. Biological samples can be irradiated using either a broad, uniform beam or using a microbeam, focused down to cellular or subcellular sizes.
• A UV lamp.

See also

• Radiosensitivity
• Radiology
• Nuclear medicine
• Radioactivity in biology
• Radiophobia
• Cell survival curve
• Relative biological effectiveness
• Health threat from cosmic rays

Notes

• WikiMindMap

References and further reading

• Eric Hall, Radiobiology for the Radiobiologist. 2006. Lippincott
• G.Gordon Steel, "Basci Clinical Radiobiology". 2002. Hodder Arnold.
• The Institute for Radiation Biology at the Helmholtz-Center for Environmental Health [1]

External links

• The Institute for Radiation Biology at the Helmholtz-Center for Environmental Health