Nuclear safety
An introduction to nuclear safety.
It has long been known that very high doses of radiation can cause death through the destruction of body tissues and that lower doses can increase the risk of cancer and may lead to genetic damage. It is probably because of the association of radiation with nuclear weapons and with cancer that it inspires fear in many people. More is probably known, however, about the effects of radiation than almost any other environmental agent.
It is not generally appreciated that we are all inescapably exposed to natural radiation arising from sources such as cosmic rays, rocks and soil, building materials and natural radioactivity in the food we eat. The average person in the UK normally receives more than 85% of his or her annual radiation dose from their surroundings, although there is a wide variation.
We’re upgrading our contact centre to make it quicker and easier for you to speak to the right member of our team.
From Thursday, 30 to Friday, 31 October, our phone lines will be temporarily unavailable while we upgrade our systems. For any urgent enquiries during this time, please email membership@theiet.org and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
From Monday, 3 November, we’re moving to one central phone number for all enquiries - which will be 0333 049 9123. This change will make it easier to reach the right team quickly and improve your experience.
Thank you for your patience as we improve how we connect with you.