Too Much Radiation, Like Too Much of Anything, is Harmful.
Most radiation comes to us from the sun and from cosmic radiation -- so that people at higher elevations like Colorado and adjacent Rocky Mountain States receive more than those who live at sea level. However, a lot of radiation also comes from the soil and rocks around us. Granite and marble have background levels of radioactivity. A relatively small additional amount comes from our man-made technology.
Too much radiation, like too much of anything, is harmful.We know about this harm from research and from accidents, and from the effects of the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan in 1945. The effects can range from mild gastrointestinal problems (such as nausea and vomiting) to changes in the blood, to damage to the central nervous system.
Too little radiation, likewise, is also harmful.The world's flora and fauna, including human beings, have grown up in a radioactive environment. We know from research in which organisms have been shielded from everyday radiation that their growth is stunted. We also know it from comparing populations that receive different levels of radiation because of their location. Often, the populations receiving the most radiation are healthier and suffer fewer cancers. In between these extremes, it is usual to protect workers when they work in industries that use sources of radiation.
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