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Health Risks of Ionizing Radiation: - Clark University

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Dosimetry: Measurement or estimation <strong>of</strong> doses.<br />

Dosimeter: A device for measuring x-ray output.<br />

Glossary 201<br />

Doubling Dose: Amount <strong>of</strong> radiation needed to double the natural incidence <strong>of</strong> a genetic or somatic<br />

abnormality.<br />

Ecologic Studies: Descriptive studies that compare disease incidence between populations based on<br />

public records and so do not use case specific data.<br />

Epidemiology: The study <strong>of</strong> the distribution and determinants <strong>of</strong> health-related states and events in<br />

populations, and the application <strong>of</strong> this study for managing health problems.<br />

Excess Absolute Risk: The excess number <strong>of</strong> cases induced by one (EAR) unit exposure, in addition to<br />

the spontaneous number <strong>of</strong> cases. EAR is usually expressed as number <strong>of</strong> cases per year per 10 000<br />

persons exposed to a dose <strong>of</strong> 1 Gy.<br />

Excess Relative Risk (ERR): The fraction by which the risk for an exposed person exceeds that <strong>of</strong> a<br />

person who was not exposed. An excess relative risk <strong>of</strong> 1 means the person’s risk is double that <strong>of</strong> an<br />

unexposed person. ERR = Relative Risk – 1.<br />

Extrapolate: To apply data learned about one range <strong>of</strong> doses to another range <strong>of</strong> doses.<br />

Follicular Tumors: Tumors <strong>of</strong> or relating to follicles.<br />

Fractionated exposure: Exposure to radiation that occurs in several small acute exposures, rather than<br />

continuously as in a chronic exposure.<br />

Free Radical: A molecule with an unpaired electron. Because they have a free electron, such molecules<br />

are highly reactive.<br />

Gamma <strong>Radiation</strong>: High-energy, short wavelength, electromagnetic radiation emitted from the nucleus.<br />

Gamma radiation frequently accompanies alpha and beta emissions and always accompanies fission.<br />

Gamma rays are very penetrating and are best stopped or shielded by dense materials, such as lead or<br />

depleted uranium. Gamma rays are similar to x-rays.<br />

Gamma Ray: Gamma rays are electromagnetic waves or photons emitted from the nucleus (center) <strong>of</strong><br />

an atom.<br />

Gardner Hypothesis: A hypothesis that says that childhood leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma can<br />

be caused by paternal exposure to ionizing radiation before the conception <strong>of</strong> the child.<br />

Germline Mutation: A mutation in the genetic content <strong>of</strong> a sperm or egg.<br />

Goiter: Thyroid gland enlargement. An enlarged thyroid gland may be caused by thyroiditis, benign<br />

thyroid nodules, malignancy, iodine deficiency, or any condition that causes hyperfunction or<br />

hyp<strong>of</strong>unction <strong>of</strong> the gland.<br />

Graves’ disease: A distinct type <strong>of</strong> hyperthyroidism caused by an autoimmune attack on the thyroid<br />

gland. It typically produces enlargement <strong>of</strong> the thyroid gland and also may cause ocular findings.

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