The products of radioactive decay that 'fly away' are collectively referred to as radiation. Because of the possibility that radiation is harmful to life, special attention is paid to this topic. See an Introduction to Radiation Physics [local] (3 pages) for information about the physical phenomena. See an Introduction to Health Physics [local] (2 pages) for a discussion of the health effects. Radiation safety [local] is an important are of concern (3 pages). Because they often deal with radiation, protective measures are taken in laboratories. This is especially important for scientists. Try your hand at a radiation safety exam [local].

The Environmental Health and Safety site at Northeastern University includes valuable training materials.