Radiation energy: natural and artificial radioactivity, ionizing and exciting radiation Tathianna Cristina Cavalheiro Buonocore, Ana Isabel Brito de Oliveira, Daiane Santos Farias, Fernando Augusto Martinez, Gabriela Evangelista da Silva, Tais Cristina Lezo, Ana Beatriz Carollo Rocha-Lima

Abstract

The radioactivity was one of the great discoveries of humanity. Actually, the potential use of radiation can bring us great advantages with its application in many areas, such as medicine and industry. On the other hand, the bad use of this form of energy can also cause bad consequences to all species, because of the biological effects. Therefore, it’s necessary to aware people over the radiation, evidencing the positive advances that the use of radiation allows, but also the consequences to the human health and the importance of the safe use, in favor of human health and the environment. This paper proposes an analysis from different aspects from radiation and explains its main characteristics so that we can understand the effects, risks and benefits of the radioactivity for the human being. The purpose of this review is to provide information on the fundamental characteristics of radiation and its effects on nature. The methodology used was the bibliographic research and the survey of the aspects of radiation in didactic and specific literature.