Why is radiation that is inhaled by the body more harmful than radiation that isn't?

Question

Is it because the ionisation that occurs inside the body more harmful?

10 points for best answer! Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Radiation, if inhaled as you are asking, is in a particulate form.  This allows it to collect in our lungs and it will have the effect of accumulating.  Once inhaled, our bodies have trouble getting rid of it and so over time the amount adds up, increasing the continuous exposure.  The same type of radiation on the outside of the body is temporary and does not increase in strength from the accumulation since we can remove ourselves from it.

Answer 2

You can not inhale radiation, that's like inhaling light. The radioactive particles that produce radiation can be inhaled. Apart from the fact that those particles on your skin can be washed off and even apart from the fact that 50% of the radiation produced by particles on the skin is radiated away from you while radiation produced inside you has a 100% chance of hitting you, it's about the quality of your skin. Our skin is armored against a certain dose of radiation because we've been walking in the sun as long as humans have walked the earth. Your insides however have never had the need to armor themselves against radiation. It's like lighting a fire inside a safe.