In what ways is radiation harmful to living things?

Question

biological radiation

Answer 1

By the ionization of the cells, for one. Radiation strips electrons from atoms making up the molecular machinery of the cell; as you may realize, this can't be good. Structures lose form/lose function.

Answer 2

This was on my college test... lets see if I still remeber it.

There is a direct damage from ionizing radiation where bonds are broken by the ray.

there is also an indirect damage, where the radiation knowcks off an electron and "ionizes" water, the most abundant chemical in the cell. This causes a chain reaction of electrons jumping as molecules try to achieve a steady state again. The damage from this type of reaction is far more likely.

the last form of damage is from direct thermal generation. Heat denatures protein and dmage can occur.

Answer 3

It causes mutations in the genetic structure which may be fatal .