What is Radiation?
RADIATION is energy in the form of moving waves or streams of particles. This energy can be high-frequency, such as X-rays or cosmic rays from outer space, or low-frequency, such as microwaves and radio waves. This range of energy makes up the electromagnetic spectrum and is divided into two main types of radiation: ionizing and non-ionizing.

Non-ionizing radiation does not possess enough energy to create charged atoms or molecules, called ions. Ionizing radiation, on the other hand, does possess sufficient energy to create ions. Ions can be harmful to your body, but they can also be used for many beneficial purposes.

QUICK FACTS
Ionizing radiation is higher-energy radiation that is capable of removing electrons from atoms as it passes through matter (such as air, water, or living tissue). Examples include alpha particles, gamma rays, X-rays, and neutrons.

Non-ionizing radiation is radiation of lower energy than ionizing radiation; it does not possess enough energy to produce ions. Examples include visible light, infrared, and radio waves.

Sources of radiation
We live on a planet where we are exposed to natural background radiation. Radioactive materials are present in the soil, rocks, the air we breathe, the water we drink, and even in our bodies. These sources of natural radiation make up the bulk of the total radiation we are exposed to every day. We are also exposed to artificial radiation from various sources, such as nuclear medicine – which uses radioactive material to diagnose and treat cancer, the nuclear fuel cycle, as well as commercial products such as smoke detectors.

Putting radiation doses into perspective
The health effects of radiation are well understood. Since the early 20th century, radiation’s effects have been studied in depth, in both the laboratory and among human populations. Because of the known health risks of radiation, it must be carefully used and strictly controlled. A balance must be struck between radiation’s societal benefits and the risks that radiation poses to people and the environment.

Generally speaking, a dose is a quantity we use when we talk about the potential health effects of radiation. An effective dose takes into account the type of radiation you’ve been exposed to and the organs in your body which have been exposed. It is expressed using the unit “sievert” or more commonly “millisievert” (mSv), which is 1,000 times smaller.

EPA partners with IAEA to ensure Guyana has regulations on radiation safety and protection.
As Guyana continues to rapidly develop, the demands on the Environmental Protection Agency are becoming greater. From the oil-and-gas sector to a massive boom in construction and infrastructural development, the agency has recognised the critical need to strengthen its human capital to better achieve its mandate of effective management of the environment.

Guyana is a member of IAEA
Guyana became a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2015 and has been benefitting from several regional initiatives. As part of the project’s 2019 implementation, the EPA coordinated a four-day workshop on the Search and Recovery of Radioactive Orphan Sources. Participants were drawn from; the Environmental Protection Agency, Civil Defense Commission, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Revenue Authority, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, University of Guyana, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Puran Brothers Waste Disposal Service, CEVONS Waste Management and Sand Dip Waste Disposal Services. The workshop was facilitated by four (4) international experts from the IAEA.

This proved a pathway for several other training and capacity building for officers both at the EPA and other state agencies such as the Ministry of Health and the Civil Defence Commission.

The role of the EPA in radiation management
The EPA under the Environmental Protection Act and Regulations currently regulates the import, transport, storage, and use of sealed radiation sources. To date, the agency has authorised the use of sealed sources in gold mining, health, oil, and gas exploration as well as beverage production. In 2017, the IAEA assisted Guyana in commencing work on developing a National Source Inventory. The agency is moving towards adherence to the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources to improve access and effective management of radioactive Sources.
https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-is-radiation