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In the healthcare context, radiation is often used for diagnostic purposes (such as X-rays and CT scans) and for therapeutic purposes (such as radiation therapy for cancer). It is important to carefully control and monitor exposure to radiation to minimize the risk of harm.
Radiation can be either ionizing or non-ionizing, depending on the amount of energy that it carries. Ionizing radiation has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, which can result in the formation of ions. This type of radiation can be harmful to living tissue and is potentially carcinogenic. Examples of ionizing radiation include X-rays, gamma rays, and cosmic rays.
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