Why is gamma radiation used to kill bacteria instead of Alpha?

Gamma irradiation is a physical/chemical means of sterilization, because it kills bacteria by breaking down bacterial DNA, inhibiting bacterial division. Energy of gamma rays passes through the equipment, disrupting the pathogens that cause contamination.

How can gamma radiation cause cellular damage?

Gamma rays can pass completely through the human body; as they pass through, they can cause ionizations that damage tissue and DNA.

How does ionizing radiation kill bacteria?

The ionizing radiation sends enough energy into the bacterial or mold cells in the food to break chemical bonds. This damages the pathogens enough for them to die or no longer multiply, which reduces illness or spoilage.

Why are gamma rays so dangerous?

The extremely high energy of gamma rays allows them to penetrate just about anything. They can even pass through bones and teeth. This makes gamma rays very dangerous. They can destroy living cells, produce gene mutations, and cause cancer.

How are gamma rays used in hospitals?

Uses in Medicine Gamma rays are widely used in medicine and specifically in the area of oncology to treat malignant and cancerous tumors during a process called gamma knife surgery. In this type of treatment, concentrated beams of gamma rays are directed at tumors in order to kill cancerous cells.

How are gamma rays used?

Gamma rays are ionizing electromagnetic radiation, obtained by the decay of an atomic nucleus. Gamma rays are more penetrating, in matter, and can damage living cells to a great extent. Gamma rays are used in medicine (radiotherapy), industry (sterilization and disinfection) and the nuclear industry.

How do gamma rays damage DNA?

Gamma radiation is well recognized as a potent carcinogen due to its potential of oxidative damage (Toule, 1987; Morgan et al., 1996). It causes a variety of lesions in DNA including single- and double-strand breaks, DNA-protein cross-links, oxidized bases and abasic sites (Cadet et al., 1999; UNSCEAR, 2000a).

How do gamma rays cause mutations?

The data suggests that producing one double-strand break in DNA by ionizing radiation causes a two-fold increase in both lethality and mutation frequency.

How does non ionizing radiation kill microbes?

Ionizing radiation is the use of short wavelength, high-intensity radiation to destroy microorganisms. Non-ionizing radiation uses longer wavelength and lower energy. As a result, non-ionizing radiation loses the ability to penetrate substances, and can only be used for sterilizing surfaces.

How does gamma radiation affect the environment?

The stratospheric ozone protects living organisms from harmful radiation. Gamma radiation is high-frequency rays consisting of high-energy protons that penetrate the cell and cause ionization. Ionization of plant cells causes disruption of the normal processes of the cell ultimately affecting crop yield.

What stops a gamma particle?

Gamma Radiation Gamma waves can be stopped by a thick or dense enough layer material, with high atomic number materials such as lead or depleted uranium being the most effective form of shielding.