

The only practical method of measuring the intensity of radiation at that time was by noting the degree of brightness induced in a fluorescent screen. The first noted injuries from radiation exposure came before the beginning of the 20th century. Within a year, these newly discovered rays were used for both diagnosis and limited therapy.
HEALTH PHYSICS JOBS SKIN
Within months after Wilhelm Roentgen discovered x rays in 1895, three men experimenting with the x-ray tube noticed skin irritations. The slide presentation Careers in Health Physics is available for use in giving talks and workshops. The health physics profession is diverse and one of the most interesting and rewarding fields of scientific endeavor.ĭownload a brochure on health physics and View a Career Video Prominent among scientists is the health physicist, who controls the beneficial use of radiation while protecting workers and the public from potential hazards. Many industries, medical facilities, defense plants, and research laboratories demand professionals who understand radiation hazards and their prevention and control. This special attention helps minimize the potential for unnecessary irradiation of individuals or environmental contamination.

Care must be taken with nuclear reactors, nuclear weapons, high-energy particle accelerators, x-ray machines, and radionuclides used in biomedical research and therapy.

But when used in large quantity or in an unsafe way, radiation can harm living organisms. For decades, radiation has been beneficial to humans, from treating cancer to generating electrical power.
