Ionizing radiation has always been present in the natural environment. However, this radiation is not easily detected and since it also possesses high ionizing power and penetration strength, it constitutes a risk to human health when it is found outside of its acceptable limits. The adverse effects of ionizing radiation on human health need to be systematically monitored in order to prevent damage, overexposure, or even death. The detection of the radiation depends on its particular interaction with a sensitive material, and different types of detectors, in different physical states (solid, liquid or gas), are used to measure selective types of ionizing radiation. New materials such as organic semiconductors, for instance, are being targeted for research and as potential candidates for new perspectives on ionizing radiation sensing.
Part of the book: Evolution of Ionizing Radiation Research