Radiation Therapy: Effects on Health & the Environment

Radiation therapy offers both advantages and disadvantages in oncology. Understanding the effects of gamma radiation on the body and the broader environment helps patients weigh the impact of their treatment.

Gamma Radiation Effects

Published Aug,14 2017 | By Kirstin Hendrickson

Gamma radiation is a form of nuclear radiation produced by certain radioactive elements as they decay. In particular, gamma radiation is ionizing radiation, meaning that it is sufficiently energetic to break bonds in genetic material, structural components of cells and other biological molecules.