TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Radiation A1 - Rella, Joseph G. A2 - Nelson, Lewis S. A2 - Howland, Mary Ann A2 - Lewin, Neal A. A2 - Smith, Silas W. A2 - Goldfrank, Lewis R. A2 - Hoffman, Robert S. Y1 - 2019 N1 - T2 - Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies, 11e AB - Although the theory of atomism originated with the Greeks in the fifth century B.C., it has been only a little more than a century that scientists could describe and measure atoms and the other particles of radiation. Today we use radiation and radionuclides for a vast array of purposes, ranging from mundane household uses such as detecting smoke to powering satellites, treating cancer, and examining the physical properties of individual molecules. Unfortunately, as our knowledge of how to use radiation has expanded, so too has our awareness of radiation as a toxin. Indeed, for three of the last four editions of this text, there has been a significant radiation event that captured the world’s attention and demonstrated clearly just how much more we need to know. The particles of radiation, their sources, and the mechanisms by which they pose a health risk are the subjects of the following discussion. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/28 UR - accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1163005028 ER -