Radiation is energy in motion. The simplest and well-known example of radiation is either light from sun or heat felt from the fire. Radiation can be either ionizing or non-ionizing in nature. Non-Ionizing radiation is the kind of radiation that does not have sufficient energy to remove an electron (ionize) from an atom (e.g., radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, lasers, ultraviolet light, radar etc.), whereas ionizing radiation is the radiation that has sufficient energy to eject electrons from atoms i.e. ionize atoms (e.g., alpha particles, beta particles, neutrons, gamma rays, and x-rays etc.).

We all know when the intensity of this light is higher (e.g., in summer) it has a potential to cause harm. When it is lower than a certain limit it is soothing and harmless. But during winter, we use fire to heat ourselves using radiation emanating from it because intensity of light (radiation) from sun becomes less. Therefore, radiation is similar to a drug that when taken in a right dose has more benefit than harm caused by it whereas an overdose may even cause serious health effects.

We live on earth’s surface and are practically in the ocean of radiation that reach us from either outer space after getting thoroughly filtered by earth’s atmosphere or from the material on earth or building walls/structures made of earthly materials that has higher percentage of naturally occurring radioactive materials. If we fly high up in the air, we can get higher radiation from cosmic source than we get on the ground level from the same source. If we are in a region where naturally radioactive materials are present on earth’s surface (such as beach sand material in coastal regions at some places or open mines) we may get a little higher background radiation than at those places where such materials are absent on earth’s surface. The energy deposited into our body due to normal natural background radiation is about 2.4 mSv/year.

Ionising radiation can be emitted from artificially produced radioactive sources (produced either in nuclear reactor) or from radiation generators (e.g. X-rays or accelerators). Such sources of ionising radiation have many societal applications in medical, industry and research.

AERB is concerned with ionizing radiation from nuclear sources (e.g. nuclear reactors, spent fuel stored at site, waste disposal facilities and activities including transport), radiation applications (involving use of radioactive sources and radiation generators) only. Radiation of other types from sources such as mobile tower, ultrasound/sonography machines, MRI equipment are not considered as ionizing radiations. Since AERB is responsible for regulating usage of ionizing radiations only, mobile towers, MRI equipment, ultrasound or sonography machine etc. do not come under regulatory purview of AERB.

AERB oversees the safety in use of radiation sources and facilities used for peaceful purposes such as power generation, medical, industrial and research applications. AERB exercises regulatory controls by developing regulations, licensing and regulatory oversight.