Health Physics

Health Physics is a field of science concerned with radiation safety. The term "health physics" refers to the protection of human beings and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation, while ensuring the beneficial uses of radiation are exploited.

Overview

The field of Health Physics involves many disciplines. It includes the study of applied physics, biochemistry, biological science, chemistry, physics, epidemiology, and environmental science. The health physicist generally works in research or operational capacities dealing with radiation safety.

History

The discipline of health physics has its origins in the Manhattan Project in the 1940s. The project's health physicists were tasked with ensuring worker safety during the development of the atomic bomb. Today, health physics encompasses a much broader scope, including the protection of workers in the nuclear power industry, hospitals, and any other environment where radiation may be a hazard.

Principles

The principles of health physics are based on three key concepts: time, distance, and shielding. By limiting exposure time, maximizing distance from the radiation source, and using appropriate shielding, exposure to radiation can be minimized.

Applications

Health physics is applied in a variety of settings, including medical facilities, research institutions, nuclear power plants, regulatory agencies, and industries involving radioactive materials.

See also

• Radiation protection
• Radiation therapy
• Nuclear medicine
• Radiobiology
• Medical physics

External links

• Health Physics Society

Health Physics Resources
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