Which radiation type has a hazard to the entire body when exposed?

Which radiation type has a hazard to the entire body when exposed?

• A. Beta
• B. TEDE
• C. Neutron
• D. Genetic radiation

Answer: (C)

The key idea is how deeply a radiation type can penetrate and distribute energy in the body. Neutrons penetrate well and interact throughout tissues, creating secondary ionizations inside many organs. This leads to a whole-body dose and significant biological effects per unit of exposure, making neutron exposure particularly hazardous to the entire body. Beta particles, by contrast, have limited penetration and mainly threaten skin or surface tissues unless inhaled or ingested, so they don’t pose as uniform a whole-body hazard. TEDE is a dose measure, not a kind of radiation, and genetic radiation isn’t a standard radiation type. So neutron exposure most strongly implies a whole-body hazard.

The key idea is how deeply a radiation type can penetrate and distribute energy in the body. Neutrons penetrate well and interact throughout tissues, creating secondary ionizations inside many organs. This leads to a whole-body dose and significant biological effects per unit of exposure, making neutron exposure particularly hazardous to the entire body. Beta particles, by contrast, have limited penetration and mainly threaten skin or surface tissues unless inhaled or ingested, so they don’t pose as uniform a whole-body hazard. TEDE is a dose measure, not a kind of radiation, and genetic radiation isn’t a standard radiation type. So neutron exposure most strongly implies a whole-body hazard.