Question

Question #93563

Answer 1

Mostly, it is the energy possessed by the radiation that causes the danger.

Explanation:

Radiation of all sorts (alpha, beta and gamma) possess large amounts of energy. As it penetrates the skin or the tissues beneath the skin, the energy of the radiation is absorbed by molecules in this tissue. The energy can cause chemical changes to occur in the molecules of that tissue which generally leads burns, and to mutations in the cells which can ultimately become cancerous.

Gamma radiation is particularly penetrating in tissue and generally will do the greatest damage.

Check out this page for more information:

https://chem.libretexts.org/Core/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry/Nuclear_Chemistry/Radioactivity/The_Effects_of_Radiation_on_Matter