DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) Practice Exam

Which of the following is not a type of ionizing radiation?

1. Ultraviolet radiation

2. Gamma rays

3. Xrays

4. Cosmic rays

The correct answer is: Ultraviolet radiation

Ultraviolet radiation is not considered a type of ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, thus creating ions. This includes forms of radiation such as gamma rays, X-rays, and cosmic rays, which possess high energy levels capable of ionization. In contrast, ultraviolet radiation, while it has the potential to cause chemical changes and can be harmful, does not have the same ionizing capability as the other types listed. It primarily acts on the outer layers of skin and can cause damage, but its energy level is not sufficient to ionize atoms in the same way that gamma rays, X-rays, and cosmic rays do. Understanding these differences is crucial for safety in environments where ionizing radiation is present, such as in medical imaging or radiation therapy.