Environmental Health & Safety at Ohio University

Biological Effects

Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation
This module provides information about the following topics: mechanisms of damage, tissue sensitivity, prompt vs. delayed effects, prompt effects table, partial body exposure, delayed effects, process of determining cancer risk, cancer risk estimates, risk perspectives, generic effects, and prenatal radiation exposure.

Radioactive Dentures
Millions of people wear some type of dentures (false teeth). Some of them, especially the oldest ones, are made out of porcelain that includes a trace of uranium, a radioactive element.
Irradiated Gemstones
It is not uncommon for gemstones to be exposed to radiation in order to change their color and to increase their market value. Color changes by irradiating stones is legal, but they must be stored for a set time prior to release to let radioactivity decrease.
Uses of Radioisotopes
Some of the major uses of radioisotopes in the United States.
Uses of Uranium in Dinnerware
This article examines the commercial use of uranium to achieve the unique red color of a popular dinnerware line.
Depleted Uranium - Friend or Foe?

Radiological Information for Farmers and Growers
Disaster guide published by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management designed to provide information for farmers and growers on the probable and potential effects of radiation on farming operations.

Radiation Risks for People Who Fly by Dr. Robert J. Barish
Radiation exposure while flying is an issue most of us never think about. In 1992 the FAA acknowledged that pilots and flight attendants may receive more radiation annually than the average radiation worker - perhaps twice as much. Airlines were directed to educate their crew members about their radiation risk. This is the first book to address this issue.

Tales of Two Similar Hypotheses: The Rise and Fall of Chemical and Radiation Hormesis
This paper compares the historical developments of chemical and radiation hormesis from their respective inceptions in the late 1880's for chemical hormesis and early 1900's for radiation hormesis to the mid 1930's to 1940 during which both hypotheses rose to some prominence but then became marginalized within the scientific community.

How Lasers Work by Davin Flateau
Article on the Laser Fantasy International web site explaining how laser light is produced, why it's so useful, and some of its most common applications.
A New Precision Cutting Tool: The Femtosecond Laser
A Livermore team has won an R&D 100 Award for applying chirped-pulse amplification in a high-average-power mode for cutting and machining materials. The system was developed for disassembling nuclear weapons components, but it has many other uses as well.
Cool Facts About Lasers
Some basic facts about Lasers and about Laser Cooling from the Cool Fact of the Day Archives.