Which radiation type is primarily concerned with shallow tissue exposure?

The correct choice, beta radiation, is primarily concerned with shallow tissue exposure due to its relatively low penetration ability compared to other radiation types. Beta particles, which are high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons emitted by certain types of radioactive decay, have a limited range and can be stopped by a few millimeters of tissue or a thin layer of material.

When beta radiation interacts with human tissue, it tends to deposit its energy in the outer layers, particularly affecting the skin and potentially causing damage to shallow tissues. This characteristic makes beta radiation a significant concern in scenarios where skin contamination or exposure occurs, as the effects are concentrated in the shallow layers of the skin rather than penetrating deeper tissues.

In contrast, other types of radiation have different penetration abilities: alpha particles are less penetrating and pose a higher risk when ingested or inhaled but do not affect shallow tissue in external exposure situations; gamma radiation has very high penetration ability, affecting deeper tissues but not specifically targeting shallow layers; neutron radiation interacts with tissues differently and is generally more concerning for deep tissue exposure due to its high energy and ability to penetrate biological matter extensively.