RT Book, Section 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. SR Print(0) ID 1163021257 T1 Radiation T2 Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies, 11e YR 2019 FD 2019 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781259859618 LK accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1163021257 RD 2024/03/28 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.