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Ionizing radiation is generally harmful and potentially lethal to living things but can have health benefits in radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer and thyrotoxicosis. Its most common impact is the induction of cancer with a latent period of years or decades after exposure.
X-ray and gamma radiation are best absorbed by atoms with heavy nuclei; the heavier the nucleus, the better the absorption. In some special applications, depleted uranium or thorium [22] are used, but lead is much more common; several cm are often required. Barium sulfate is used in some applications too. However, when the cost is important ...
Cancer starts with a single cell whose operation is disrupted. Normal cell operation is controlled by the chemical structure of DNA molecules, also called chromosomes. When radiation deposits enough energy in organic tissue to cause ionization, this tends to break molecular bonds, and thus alter the molecular structure of the irradiated molecules.
Radiation used for cancer treatment is called ionizing radiation because it forms ions in the cells of the tissues it passes through as it dislodges electrons from atoms. This can kill cells or change genes so the cells cannot grow. Other forms of radiation such as radio waves, microwaves, and light waves are called non-ionizing.
Helium is the smallest and the lightest noble gas and one of the most unreactive elements, so it was commonly considered that helium compounds cannot exist at all, or at least under normal conditions. [1] Helium's first ionization energy of 24.57 eV is the highest of any element. [2]
Higher levels of omega-6 fatty acids often found in ultraprocessed foods may interfere with the immune system’s fight against cancer cells, a new study says.
The human body breaks alcohol down into chemicals that can damage DNA, causing cells to grow out of control and become cancerous, according to the National Cancer Institute.
A person's immune system is able to fight off many diseases, but it tends to be ineffective against cancer because of a mechanism called immune tolerance, or the inability to identify "which cells ...