ABSTRACT
The electromagnetic spectrum encompasses all forms of radiant energy. The following table (Table 13.1) lists the various components and their wavelengths in decreasing order.
Ionizing radiation, that portion of the spectrum that can cause serious cell damage, includes all wavelengths of 1000 Å or less (Table 13.1). Ionizing radiation, by stripping electrons from molecules as it passes through tissues, produces ionized species of everything from H2O to macromolecules like DNA. These ionized species are unstable and reactive, and can produce dramatic disruptions in cell function including mutation.
