Radiation is everywhere: in sunlight and sound waves, in rocks and soil - it even occurs naturally within the human body.

Studies performed by the EPA show that the higher doses of radiation a person is exposed to, the greater their chance of developing a cancer, but that the risks of radiation exposure will vary from person to person. These studies also show that the radiation exposure only increases the chance of a cancer; it does not increase the likelihood that the cancer will be serious.

Delayed complications from radiation occur from six months to several years after the radiation exposure and may be cumulative. Although radiation is a natural aspect of sunlight and sound waves, man-made radiation sources such as X-rays, certain cancer treatments and nuclear power plants are the more frequent sources of harmful exposure to radiation and can fall under laws covering workplace injuries.

Employees working in a hospital negligent in monitoring X-ray machines and other medical devices that emit radiation for leaks or problems may be exposed to harmful levels of radiation over time, which can lead to serious cancers and other problems years later. Similarly, employees of nuclear power plants and food-irradiation plants are potentially at risk for injuries sustained from exposure to radiation above safe levels.

Inhabitants of an area close to a source of improperly disposed of radioactive wastes may be at risk for injuries caused by long-term exposure to this radiation. Waste from mining, various industrial processes, scientific research and nuclear medicine, as well as from nuclear power generation, all have the potential to be dangerously radioactive, as does the equipment used in the manufacture of the waste. If radioactive waste is not isolated properly from the population it can easily contaminate water supplies, soil and the air. All of these negligent actions of the employers of these facilities can be held legally liable for damages caused to their employees.

Radiation is a silent force that is undetectable without specialized equipment and is linked to genetic defects, DNA mutations and cancer. A form of energy that moves and extremely high speeds as waves or particles, accumulated radiation exposure causes acute, sub-acute and delayed complications.

Acute radiation injuries, also known as radiation sickness, manifest quickly within several months after ionizing radiation exposure and typically involve the reproductive or mitotic death of multiple cells in the body caused by damage to cellular DNA. Typical symptoms include: vomiting and nausea, infections, bleeding disorders, neurological problems and rapid death. Sub-acute radiation injuries are injuries isolated only to one or a few organ systems, such as radiation-induced pneumonia developed several months after a radiation treatment for lung cancer.

If you have been the victim of an injury caused by exposure to radiation, it is important to contact a personal injury lawyer quickly to discuss your options. If your health problems were indeed caused by radiation exposure and can be linked to a negligent company or individual, the guilty parties are legally responsible for your compensation.