4.3.1 Background Radiation

• What is background radiation?

  Low-level radiation always present
• Exposure to background radiation is avoidable.

  False
• What is an example of a natural source of background radiation?

  Cosmic rays from space
• Terrestrial radiation from rocks is an example of a natural
• Which radioactive element in the body is a source of background radiation?

  Potassium-40
• Match the instrument with its description and units:

  Geiger-Müller tube ↔️ Detects radiation by ionizing gas, producing an electrical pulse ||| Counts per minute (cpm) or sieverts (Sv)

  Film badge ↔️ Photographic film that darkens when exposed to radiation ||| Sieverts (Sv)
• What is a film badge used for in radiation measurement?

  Long-term dose monitoring
• Order the categorization of background radiation effects on human health:

  1️⃣ Short-term effects

  2️⃣ Long-term effects
• Short-term effects of background radiation exposure include fatigue and skin burns.
• Which type of cancer is associated with prolonged exposure to background radiation?

  Leukemia