Is Radiation Always Dangerous to You?

Most of the time, we consider radiation ionization harmful – and that is a fair assumption. DNA damage that leads to defects, cancer, and other radiation-related diseases is ionizing at large doses or in low exposure over a long time.

The flip side of the story is medical radiation, which utilizes different amounts of radiation to fight cancer and other medical illnesses, and radiation hormesis. However, the medical staff still needs to use radiation shielding clothes.

This hypothesis says extremely low levels of ionizing radiation are beneficial for you and detrimental if there is no radiation. 

This article is entirely about the idea of radiation hormesis and how it is helpful rather than harmful to human life to be exposed to low amounts of radiation.

Regular minimum daily radiation exposure is still safe

While we do not support any changes in public policy regarding known, high doses of radiation exposure, it is common sense that people and other species living on the planet have evolved to build cellular defense/repair mechanisms in response to the day-to-day doses of radiation that we are exposed to constantly.

Some of the most frequent and natural sources of ionizing radiation with extremely low exposure are:

• Sun 
• Drinking water 
• The soil (do not forget that natural radiation happens via many of the components of the earth)
• Foods that we consume because they radiate radiation from under the radon (a natural radiation source from under the ground crust)
• Cosmic rays that enter the atmosphere of the earth

Given that these occurrences are normal, it appears reasonable to understand that our body cells have established a mechanism to monitor and repair damage caused by exposure to everyday sources of radiation. Again, this natural and evolutionary process is comparable to how the immune system may react to frequent bacterial and viral incursions.

Watch out for higher radiation doses

While the idea is theoretically solid behind the basics, the radiation hormones theory has not been proved. In recent times, the concept has attracted attention from the press as the Trump administration raises the question of whether radiation hormesis is correct and whether current legislation to prevent harmful radiation exposure to cancer.

Those concerned about the government’s readiness to reconsider federal radiation regulations received from the public and employees mention the appointment of major proponents of radiation hormesis to the Radiation Advisory Panel now at the Environmental Protection Agency.

While we do not want to use the website or blog of our business to promote political views, we believe it is always essential that the public pay attention to all new regulations put forth by the EPO’s Radiation Advisory Panel and prepare for radiation shielding. 

Their discoveries, policies, and legal requirements are important for health and radiation safety in the United States (and beyond!).