How is radioactivity taken into the body?

Answer 1

It may be inhaled if the radioactive material is airborn, or it may be ingested with contaminated food or water.

Generally speaking, it is the alpha radiation which is taken into the body in this manner, through radioactive isotopes of minerals.

Answer 2

Radioactivity is taken into the body in three ways:
1.Inhalation (breathing it in if it is in gaseous form)
2.Ingestion ( through the mouth, or if it administered as a drug by injection)
3.Absorption (through the skin).

This is called "Internal Exposure". Internal Exposure can be prevented by taking precautions such as wearing gloves and lab coats, not eating, drinking or smoking when working with radioactive material, using a hood for volatile compounds, etc. Internal Exposure is usually through "Unsealed sources" of radiation, such as liquids, powders, etc.

One can also get an "External Exposure" even if the source is outside the body. This is true of gamma emitters and X-rays, etc..

Answer 3

Alpha radiation is the most dangerous form which is most likely to kill you, as it is the higest ionising form of radiation (it mutates and screws things up- kills cells that it comes into contact with).. Generally it is low-penetrating, so it cannot break your skin, but it can be breathed in or can get in cuts, mucus glands, etc. Or if you eat/drink contaminated produce..

Beta can break past your skin but it isn't as ionising or damaging to you as alpha. It doesn't mutate cells particularly.

Gamma radiation passes through you as though you weren't there (it does it all the time), it is the lowest ionising form of radiation, but in events such as nuclear explosions a mass powerful burst of gamma radiation is sent out, enough to microwave and fry most things unfortunate enough to be in its way.