why are children more susceptible to the effects of ionizing radiation

Answer 1

Children are more susceptible to the effects of ionizing radiation for several reasons:

1. Their cells are rapidly dividing and growing, making them more vulnerable to damage from radiation compared to adults whose cells are dividing at a slower rate.
2. Children have a longer life expectancy, so they have more years for radiation-induced cancers or other radiation-related health effects to develop.
3. Children have a smaller body size, which means that the radiation dose received is more concentrated in specific tissues and organs, increasing the likelihood of damage.
4. Children have developing immune systems and are less able to repair and recover from radiation-induced damage compared to adults.
5. Children are more likely to be exposed to higher doses of radiation due to their higher likelihood of undergoing medical imaging procedures that involve ionizing radiation, such as x-rays.