Sources of ionizing radiation (IR) and their biological effects. An interdisciplinary view, from the physics to cell and molecular biology.

FAVANT JOSE LUIS; LEONEL MONDRAGON ; MARTINEZ MARIGNAC VERONICA L

Clinical Cancer Investigation Journal

Wolters Kluwer - Medknow Publications Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd

Lugar: Mumbai; Año: 2019 vol. 8 p. 129 - 138

2278-1668

The Ionizing Radiation Sources (IR), is a well-recognized physical risk for living beings for all exposure ranges to them. From the time of the discovery of artificial sources of IR as X-rays and the profusion of its use, and the discovery of existence of Natural Sources, IR implementation in health services was presented as a cause and effect, and as an originator factor of nonspecific lesions where are included cancers of various types which can appear many years later. For a better understanding of the subject it is necessary to have clear concepts and Units of physical dosimetry, for to correlate them with the observable Biological Effects. At low doses and low dose rates of the order of values of the Natural Fund, there is a general opinion that there are no damages (Stochastics) for those who receive them, even in the population with sufficient knowledge. Since the terrorist attack of NYC, Security are increasingly concerned that IR sources can be used by terrorists, but paradoxically the controls that are carried out involve the use of a large number of X-ray equipment to scan the people. The medical management of IR overexposure requires appropriate estimation of the biological dose to aid the treating physician. One of our component in high proportion are the water molecules, whose interaction with the IR cause its own Radiolysis that then exerts indirect actions, (Late effects). The indirect mechanisms of action of IR on the cells, is to produce Free Radicals: Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species. These substances are very oxidants and capable of causing alterations in other neighboring molecules. Evaluation of Damage at different levels today it is possible to assess damage (from a person going through tissue, cellular, to molecular levels). On the other hand, there are mechanisms for scavengers of damage and free radicals. Is also necessary to investigate the properties of radioprotective and radiomigant natural agents to prevention the damage.