About Radiation
Radiation is energy given off by atoms and is all around us. We are exposed to radiation every day from natural sources like soil, rocks, and the sun. We are also exposed to radiation from man-made sources like medical X-rays and smoke detectors. Radiation exposure can come from many sources including X-rays, radioactive materials, nuclear power plants, and radioactive waste sites like Hanford.
The Office of Radiation Protection protects and improves the health of people in Washington State by ensuring exposure to radiation is as low as reasonably achievable.
Radiation Protection in Washington
The Office of Radiation Protection in Washington works to protect the health and safety of people in Washington from unnecessary exposure to radiation.
Explore Radiation Topics - Nuclear energy, radiation emergencies, radon, Hanford, and more.
Environmental Sciences - Monitors radiation in the air, water, soils, and foods.
Radioactive Air Emissions - Enforces federal and state radioactive air emission laws.
Radioactive Materials - Licenses and inspects radioactive materials used in industry, research, healthcare.
Radiological Emergency Preparedness - Coordinates actions to protect the public from radiation emergencies.
Waste Management - Licenses and regulates low-level radioactive waste disposal, uranium millsites, and waste processors.
X-Ray - Registration and licensing for machine-generated sources of radiation.