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Summary unit 21: Learning aim C Understand health and safety associated risks, side effects and limitations of ionising and non-ionising instrumentation techniques in medical applications$58.71
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Summary unit 21: Learning aim C Understand health and safety associated risks, side effects and limitations of ionising and non-ionising instrumentation techniques in medical applications
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Course
Unit 21 - Medical Physics Applications
Institution
PEARSON (PEARSON)
This assignment comprehensively covers the topics related to ionising instrumentation techniques in medical applications, including X-rays, CT scans, gamma ray imaging, radiotherapy, Gamma Knife surgery, and proton beam therapy. It also discusses health and safety considerations, associated risks, ...
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Non-ionising radiation technology:
The human body may be affected by and harmed by the usage of non-ionizing radiation
technologies. Although non-ionizing radiation cannot penetrate dense bone or tissues, it can still
pose a serious risk by having an impact on the nervous system, as well as by harming and burning
skin tissues, eyes, and causing nausea or disorientation, depending on the amount of energy the
body is exposed to. Ultrasound, MRI, and optical imaging are examples of non-ionizing radiation. This
indicates that non-ionizing radiation has significant effects on the body, posing a risk to health and
limiting the use of various non-ionizing radiation technologies. (NSHCS, 2021)
Health and safety risk of non-ionising radiation technology:
Non-ionizing radiation poses two primary concerns that could threaten people's health and safety.
Thermal effects are therefore one of the key risks associated with non-ionizing radiation. This is
because this type of radiation has the potential to harm tissues since it may heat up cells in the body.
Over time, this will result in burns, tissue damage, and other major health problems. However, this
will depend on the frequency of the electromagnetic spectrum. As a result, the body's exposure to
radiation has another consequence. This is due to the possibility that long-term exposure to
non-ionizing radiation may have negative effects on health, including tiredness and sleep difficulties
as well as headaches. This suggests that prolonged exposure to nonionizing radiation will raise the
likelihood of developing certain cancers.
An example of non-ionizing radiation is ultrasound and MRI, which enables non-invasive diagnostic
imaging and treatment. As a result, it may have certain potential health and safety issues that need
to be recognised and addressed. For Example, ultrasound which uses high-frequency sound waves to
create images of the body’s internal organs and tissues. However, prolonged exposure will cause
heating and tissue damage, which will burn the skin and harm other tissues in the body. Similar to
this, MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio wave to provide a detailed picture of the inner
structure of the body. As a result, using this technology has certain potential hazards, such as the
likelihood that powerful magnetic fields might damage tissues and interfere with medical devices
including pacemakers. (Sc.edu, 2023)
, Side effects of non-ionising radiation technology:
Non-ionizing radiation can have a number of negative effects that can seriously harm people's
health. This is due to the fact that various types of ultrasound will have different side effects, such as
the transvaginal scan, which includes inserting an ultrasound probe into the vagina and checks for
ovarian cysts, fibroids, pelvic discomfort, and irregular bleeding. As a result, the procedure may cause
the patient to experience pain or discomfort. Additionally, endoscopic ultrasound, which requires
inserting into the patient's rectum or oesophagus, is used to investigate conditions including
pancreatitis, cysts, heart analysis, cancer detection, and glasstone detection. After the procedure, it
may result in side effects such as discomfort, a sore throat, abdominal pain, infections, or vomiting.
Furthermore, MRI can also result in mild headaches, dizziness, and claustrophobia, as well as allergic
responses to the contrast dye. Additionally, patients with metal implants such as peacemaker cannot
undergo MRIs because of the dangers of powerful magnetic fields. Therefore, before undertaking any
medical operation, it is crucial to assess the advantages and potential hazards. (CDC, 2015)
Limitation of non-ionising radiation technology:
Non-ionizing radiation has a variety of limitations that may have an impact on its usefulness in
various applications. This is due to the fact that non-ionizing radiation methods often have lesser
resolution than ionising radiation techniques, such X-rays. For instance, MRI has a lesser resolution
than CT scans, which might make it more challenging to distinguish between small internal structures
of the body. Furthermore, the cost of the procedure for non-ionizing radiation technologies can be
high. For instance, MRI equipment are expensive to acquire and operate, which limits their
availability in a number of hospitals. Non-ionizing radiation technologies can also take a lot of time.
For instance, doing an MRI scan might take up to an hour, and analysing the results can take several
hours or even days. Therefore, non-ionising radiation is typically considered as harmless, however
there are certain risks associated to its use. For instance, MRI may not be safe for persons who have
certain metal implants and ultrasound may heat up tissues or can even cause cancer when exposed
to intense radiation. This is because the MRI can be loud as the coils are turned on and off, which
might frighten or stop patients from having the treatment. Hence, a qualified operator will also be
needed to produce precise results with non-ionizing radiation. (CDC, 2021)
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