Audeen W. Fentiman Joyce E. Meredith Ronald J. Veley Ionizing radiation is easy to detect, even in very small amounts. It can be measured using a number of different kinds of instruments. By measuring the amount of radiation present, people can identify sources of radiation and take the necessary steps to avoid them.
Ionizing radiation has the potential to damage living tissue.
If no radiation energy is absorbed, no damage is done. Radiation detection is, therefore, an important part of protecting people and the environment from radiation. This fact sheet defines radiation dose and the units in which dose is generally measured. It also describes some of the more common types of equipment used to detect radiation. As ionizing radiation passes through material, including living tissue, it interacts with atoms, transferring some of its energy during each interaction.