Which type of radiation has high penetrating ability, shielding with lead, steel, and concrete, hazard highest due to penetrating ability and common occurrence in organs, and is found very common throughout the plant?

• A. Beta
• B. Gamma
• C. Neutron
• D. Rem (millirem)

Answer: (B)

Understanding how radiation interacts with matter explains why gamma rays are especially concerning in a plant setting. Gamma rays are high-energy photons with no charge, so they interact weakly with matter and can travel long distances through air, people, and walls. Because of this penetrating power, shielding must be dense—lead, steel, or thick concrete—to reduce exposure. The hazard is high precisely because these photons can originate from many isotopes and travel through the body, making gamma radiation common and detectable throughout the plant. Beta particles are charged and shielded easily by skin or lightweight material, not needing dense barriers; neutrons require different shielding like hydrogenous materials, and rem (millirem) is a dose unit, not a type of radiation. Therefore, gamma radiation best fits the description.