Radiation sources are useful tools in clinical applications, as well as biomedical investigations.
Such research includes studies of basic cellular mechanisms, disease processes from the molecular to the whole organism level, genetic processes, and interactions of radiation with biological entities. At an even more immediate level, the routine diagnosis and treatment of diseases often depend upon the use of ionizing radiation. Thus, this extremely useful tool needs to be incorporated into campus activities in such a manner that maximum benefit is achieved while potential hazard is reduced to the minimum achievable level. The setting and execution of guidelines for radiation protection are based upon an underlying philosophy in which two factors are of prime importance. First is the assumption that there is no radiation dose so small that it does not involve some degree of risk.