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atom now has one less electron, which results in the atom having more positive
than negative charges. An atom that does not have the same number of positive &
negative charges is called an ion. The process of ionization is illustrated below;
This "freed" electron can potentially cause damage to living cells or DNA. The
damage can be repaired from small amounts of radiation, however if enough
radiation is imparted, biological damage can occur. The biological damage can
include the death of the cell, mutation of the DNA, or preventing the cell from
reproducing.
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