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33

Extrusion International 4/2016

endogenous repair mechanism in

the cells. Is this not possible, the

defect cell is replaced by a new cell.

Evidence of radiation damages

Exposure to ionized radiation

contains relative risk. Today, the

biological dosimetry is an interna-

tional recognized method to esti-

mate the dose of a possible exces-

sive radiation exposure. Therefore,

special biological marker are used,

which are like fingerprints in irradi-

ated cells.

Save handling with X-ray devices

Just as clothes offer protection

against the ultraviolet radiation of

the sun, also X-rays can be shield-

ed by suitable materials. Materials

with a so called high atomic num-

ber are especially suitable. Relevant

in this context are steel, copper and

lead. By using this materials, the X-

ray radiation of medium energy, as

it is used in industrial measurement

technology, can be weakened so

much that the omnipresent back-

ground radiation on the outside of

such a device is only slightly or not

at all increased.

Unlike radioactive isotopes, whose

radiation can only be shielded but

not turned off, the radiation of an

X-ray device can be switched off.

Without the anode voltage for

the X-ray tube, no X-ray radiation

is produced. Also, X-ray radiation

cannot cause radioactivity in irradi-

ated materials as the energy of the

X-ray radiation is too low to create

radiant, radioactive isotopes. Even

the X-ray tube, just like all other

inner components of the X-ray de-

vice, is completely free of radiation

after the deactivation of the anode

voltage and can therefore be han-

dled unconcernedly.

Blessing and risks

An especially positive aspect of the

X-ray radiation is its usage when

treating malignant tumors in order

to destroy degenerated cells of the

tumor with high-energy X-ray radi-

ation. This energy sector of about

10 MeV is called gamma radiation.

According to the European directive

96/29/Euratom, X-ray based measur-

ing devices have to be built in a way

that its radiation does not exceed the

maximum value of 1 μSv/h at a dis-

tance of 0.1 m on the outside of the

device. This limit is so low that a sig-

nificant statistical proof for a possible

cancer is not possible.

It may sound astounding, but mod-

ern researches point to the com-

plete opposite direction. Namely,

a small dose of X-ray radiation,

similar to the UV radiation of light,

stimulates the immune system and

therefore, can even be healthy.

X-rays

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