Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions ("FAQs") which have been prepared from questions and answers submitted through our "Ask the Experts" feature.

List of Available FAQs

Cell Phones

• Cellular Phone and Base Station

Computer/VDT Screens

• Computer/VDT Screens

Consumer Products

• Is Anything We Use in Everyday Life Radioactive?

Doses and Dose Calculations

• Radiation Dose Units
• Relationship Between Radionuclide Gamma Emission and Exposure Rate
• What Is Dose? What Units Are Used for Dose?

Environmental and Background Radiation

• Is Anything We Use in Everyday Life Radioactive?
• Pregnancy and Flying
• Radiation Exposure During Commercial Airline Flights
• Solar Flares and Air Travel
• Space Flight and Radiation/Radiation on Other Planets
• What Are Some Sources of Radiation Exposure?

Homeland Security

• Emergency Responders
• Is Potassium Iodide a "Magic Bullet" for Radiation Exposure?

Industrial Radiation

• Food Irradiation

Instrumentation and Measurements

• How Can You Detect Radiation?
• Measuring Occupational Exposures
• What Dosimeter Should I Use for Personnel Monitoring?
• What Radiation Detecting Device Should I Use?

Lasers

• Can I Safely Use a Laser Pointer?
• Laser Safety
• Optical Fiber Communication Systems and Laser Safety

Medical and Dental Equipment/Shielding

• Lead Garments (Aprons, Gloves, etc.)

Medical and Dental Patient Issues

• Dental Patient Issues
• Medical CT
• Reference Books and Articles on Diagnostic X Ray and CT
• Therapy—Radiation Oncology

Microwaves, Radar, and Radiofrequency

• Microwave Oven Q & A
• Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation: Satellite Dish, Radar, Power Line, and Miscellaneous

Nuclear Medicine Patient Issues

• Nuclear Medicine - Diagnostic Procedures
• Therapy—Nuclear Medicine

Policy, Guidelines, and Regulations

• Regulatory Dose Limits

Pregnancy and Radiation

• Pregnancy and Flying
• Pregnancy and Radiation Exposure
• Pregnancy and Security Screening
• Solar Flares and Air Travel

Radiation Basics

• How Can You Work Safely Around Radiation?
• Radiation Basics
• Radioactivity Units
• Relationship Between Radionuclide Gamma Emission and Exposure Rate
• What Is Radiation?
• What Is Radioactive Contamination?
• What Types of Radiation Are There?

Radiation Effects

• Effects and Security Screening

Radiation Safety Careers

• Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) Qualifications
• What Is the Difference Between Health Physics and Medical Physics?

Radiation Workers

• Workers and Security Screening

Security Screening

• Security Screening

Suntanning

• Suntanning and Tanning Booths

In addition to the FAQs listed above, answers to radiation-related questions may be found in the individual questions and answers posted on this Web site. Please see our complete listing of questions and answers if you cannot find the answer to your question here.