How does radioactive decay affect our lives?

In particular, radioactive decay is the decay of an unstable element or isotope. This radiation is distinct from light, which is electromagnetic radiation. The particles that are released during radioactive decay are alpha, beta, or gamma particles, which are classified as "ionizing radiation" along with a portion of the visible spectrum.

When you eat a banana, which is a good source of potassium, you probably come into contact with radioactive decay most often when you eat a banana. However, part of the potassium in bananas is unstable, as Potassium 40 has a half-life of 1.251 x 10^9 years, which is a long time compared to your life. As a result, you probably won't have to worry too much about eating bananas!

High frequencies of light carry enough energy to affect the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in your cells, sometimes causing that cell and its "offspring" to become malignant cancer cells, which can lead to cases of Melanoma among other things. As a result, you should probably be more concerned about ionizing radiation overall.

The only light that can cause this is light with energy greater than that of visible light, so you don't have to worry about standing in front of your microwave, radio, or phone in your pocket because the radiation from these devices is completely safe—in fact, the radiation from the lamp in your room is more potent than that from these devices—as long as you wear sunscreen.

Radioactive decay is utilized in various beneficial applications such as medical imaging and cancer treatment. However, exposure to high levels of radioactive decay can pose health risks, leading to radiation sickness, DNA damage, and an increased risk of cancer. Managing radioactive materials and waste is crucial to minimize environmental and health impacts.