Basics of Radiation Protection

Course guarantor:

Aneta Smejkalová

Lecturer:

Aneta Smejkalová

Tutor:

Aneta Smejkalová

Supervisor:

Department of Dosimetry and Application of Ionizing Radiation

Synopsis:

The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the general principles of radiation protection. The main emphasis is put on basic mechanisms and concepts, in order to allow critical orientation in this field. The course provides answers to the cardinal questions: What is ionizing radiation (IR), where it comes from, whether and how it is dangerous for people, what is the meaning of protective units (Gray, Sievert), how to prevent malicious effect of IR and many others. The content of the lectures does not require any prior knowledge.

Requirements:

There are no prerequisities.

Syllabus of lectures:

1. What is ionizing radiation (IR) and where it comes from and how it interacts with matter?

2. Effect of IR on DNA, cells, organs, human subjects and ecosystem

3. How to measure ionizing radiation

4. Human exposure from external natural sources (cosmic radiation, radionuclides in the Earth's crust)

5. Human exposure from radionuclides incorporated in a human body (food, water, air ...)

6. Artificial sources of IR (nuclear power plants, industry) and waste

7. Usage of IR in medical diagnostics (x-ray diagnostics, computed tomography, mammography, ...)

8. Therapy using ionizing radiation

9. How are radioactive materials spread in the environment?

10. Impact of nuclear weapons tests and outcome of serious accidents

11. How to protect yourself from IR and radiation protection system (how it works)

12. How to make rough estimates (rule of thumb), issue of small doses, where to find credible information

Syllabus of tutorials:

Study Objective:

Knowledge:

The basics effects of ionizing radiation on living cells and the human body

Terms and units used in radiation protection

Skills:

General orientation of the student in radiation protection, units and concepts.

Study materials:

Note:

Time-table for winter semester 2024/2025:

	06:00–08:0008:00–10:0010:00–12:0012:00–14:0014:00–16:0016:00–18:0018:00–20:0020:00–22:0022:00–24:00
Mon
Tue	roomBR:210 Smejkalová A. 16:00–17:50 (lecture parallel1) Břehová 7
Wed
Thu
Fri

Time-table for summer semester 2024/2025:

Time-table is not available yet

The course is a part of the following study plans:

• Jaderné inženýrství - Aplikovaná fyzika ionizujícího záření (elective course)
• Radiologická technika (elective course)
• jaderné inženýrství - Radioaktivita v životním prostředí (elective course)
• Vyřazování jaderných zařízení z provozu (elective course)