Which type of radiation is associated with whole-body exposure?

• A. Alpha radiation
• B. Gamma radiation
• C. Beta radiation
• D. Ultraviolet radiation

Answer: (B)

Whole-body exposure happens when radiation can reach and deposit energy throughout the entire body from an external source. The type that does this best is gamma radiation because it is highly penetrating and passes through the body with little attenuation, delivering energy to tissues all along its path. This leads to a dose distributed across the whole body.

Alpha particles are heavy and stop quickly in just a few millimeters of tissue or on the skin, so they cause local damage rather than whole-body exposure. Beta particles penetrate more than alpha but still have limited range, typically affecting the skin and outer tissues rather than the entire body. Ultraviolet radiation mainly affects the skin’s surface and does not reach deep tissues, so it’s not associated with whole-body exposure.