Nuclear Radiation: What you need to know

Cute illustrations but scary information yet we have to know more about RADIATION via GMA News!






What is radiation?


Radiation is energy given off by matter in the form of rays or high-speed particles. There are many kinds of radiation and not all of them are dangerous.


Heat and light are actually types of radiation that humans can see and feel. However, there are other types that we can’t detect. One of these is particle or “nuclear" radiation, which is used in nuclear power plants.


The Japan earthquake and tsunami damaged many structures, including the Tokyo Electric Power Company’s nuclear power facility in Fukushima Prefecture on the coast of northeastern Japan.


In particular, the cooling facilities of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors 1-4 have been damaged, making it difficult to close down the facilities entirely.


Rumors quickly spread that the nuclear radiation leaking from these reactors would reach the Philippines, where a spurious text message on Monday, March 14, sowed panic and confusion on the matter.


GMA News Online has created this document to answer some frequently asked questions and quell unfounded fears about the events currently unfolding in Fukushima, Japan.


For the complete article, visit GMA News Website.

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