Radiation: Key risks to health

Overview

People are exposed both to natural radiation, for example ultraviolet radiation and radon, and to radiation generated by human activities. Radioactive sources (emitting for example X-rays) are used in medicine for diagnosis and treatment, and in research, industry and nuclear energy production. Other forms of radiation include electromagnetic fields emitted by electricity, by devices such as mobile phones, lasers, and LED lamps, and also by the sun. To protect people from overexposure to radiation, the health sector should engage further with other sectors tasked with managing these sources.