Alpha decay (alpha particles) are inert helium nucleus, the most massive particles.
Beta decay (beta particles) are electrons that move with an enormous speed. They are able to penetrate our body for a few
centimeters.
Gamma decay (gamma particles) consist of gamma ray quantum, which although are considered to be particles, represent at the
same time electromagnetic radiation such as sunlight, radio waves and x-rays. Their differences consists only of a big energy that
every gamma quantum carries. Gamma decay always spreads with the light velocity when other particles are not that speedy. In
comparison with alpha and beta particles, you need more materials such as concrete or lead in order to protect yourself from
gamma decay.
X-rays are electromagnetic radiation (just like gamma decay) but it has less energy. In everyday life, it is used only at medical
institutions.
Neutron radiation is an uncharged particle streams (neutrons). It occurs only in nuclear reactors.
Modern domestic dosimeters measure radiation in micro Sieverts per hour (mSv/h) and micro roentgen per hour (mcR/h).
The radiation dose absorbed by human’s body is measured in micro Sieverts and the radiation dose in the air at measurement spot is
measured in micro roentgen.
To estimate the radiation influence on the human body, the concept of equivalent dose is used. Equivalent dose is an amount of
energy absorbed by mass unit of biological tissue considering biological danger of this radiation type. The unit of measurement for
equivalent dose is the Sievert (Sv).
To estimate the influence of gamma decay which are the most absorbed radiation type and give most impute to human exposure,
the concept of air radiation dose is used. It has its own unit of measurement – roentgen (R).
There is no natural radiation background standard because radiation background depends on the region, district and amount of
radioactive particles that are found in objects around. For instance, radiation background at highlands is always higher than at low
land.
SOEKS EcoVisor F4 measures radiation in micro Sieverts per hour (mSv/h) and micro roentgen (mcR/h), where 0.01 mSv/h
corresponds to 1 mcR/h according to biological radiation effect.
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