Ionizing radiation: Ionizing radiation is high-energy radiation that has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, leading to ionization. Examples include X-rays, gamma rays, and certain types of nuclear particles.
Background radiation: Background radiation refers to the low-level ionizing radiation that exists naturally in our environment from sources such as cosmic rays, radon gas, and radioactive materials in soil and rocks.
Radioactive decay: Radioactive decay is the process by which unstable atomic nuclei spontaneously break down over time, releasing various forms of ionizing radiation. It occurs in radioactive substances such as uranium or plutonium.