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How do X-Rays affect living tissue?
Through ionization or excitation, x-rays can disrupt molecular bonds. Depending upon the molecules affected, ionization or excitation may cause repairable or non-repairable cellular damage.
The mechanism for cellular damage is dependant on the energy of the incident radiation. X-Rays are considered a poor mechanism for direct action on critical cell organelles. X-Rays are harmful more through indirect action, for example, by the creation of free radicals.
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