What are the effects of radation on humans?
Radiation can cause burns, cancers, and death.
Although a dose of just 25 rems causes some detectable changes in blood, doses to near 100 rems usually have no immediate harmful effects. Doses above 100 rems cause the first signs of radiation sickness including:
o nausea
o vomiting
o headache
o some loss of white blood cells
Doses of 300 rems or more cause temporary hair loss, but also more significant internal harm, including damage to nerve cells and the cells that line the digestive tract. Severe loss of white blood cells, which are the body's main defense against infection, makes radiation victims highly vulnerable to disease. Radiation also reduces production of blood platelets, which aid blood clotting, so victims of radiation sickness are also vulnerable to hemorrhaging. Half of all people exposed to 450 rems die, and doses of 800 rems or more are always fatal. Besides the symptoms mentioned above, these people also suffer from fever and diarrhea. As of yet, there is no effective treatment--so death occurs within two to fourteen days.
In time, for survivors, diseases such as leukemia (cancer of the blood), lung cancer, thyroid cancer, breast cancer, and cancers of other organs can appear due to the radiation received.
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The effects of radiation on humans can vary depending on the dose and duration of exposure. To understand the effects of radiation, let's break it down into a few steps:
Step 1: Understand the types of radiation
Radiation can be of two types: ionizing and non-ionizing. Ionizing radiation has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, leading to the production of charged particles (ions) that can potentially cause damage to cells and DNA. Non-ionizing radiation has lower energy levels and does not have enough energy to break chemical bonds or ionize atoms.
Step 2: Assess the dose of radiation
The dose of radiation is typically measured in units called sieverts (Sv) or millisieverts (mSv). It represents the amount of energy deposited in the body by the radiation. Different sources of radiation have varying levels of intensity, and exposure can be measured over different periods of time, such as per day, per year, or lifetime.
Step 3: Understand short-term effects
High doses of radiation, such as those encountered during nuclear accidents or atomic bomb explosions, can cause acute effects. These effects might include severe radiation sickness, organ failure, or even death.
Step 4: Understand long-term effects
Long-term effects of radiation can occur from chronic low-level exposure or exposure to higher doses over longer periods. These effects usually take years to manifest and are more commonly associated with occupational exposure, medical procedures, or living near radioactive materials. They may include an increased risk of cancer, cataracts, cardiovascular diseases, and genetic mutations.
Step 5: Differentiate between deterministic and stochastic effects
Deterministic effects are directly related to the dose of radiation, meaning that a higher dose increases the severity of the effect. Examples include radiation burns and radiation sickness. Stochastic effects, on the other hand, are based on probability and do not have a specific threshold. They include cancer and genetic mutations, and their likelihood increases with higher doses of radiation.
It is important to note that the effects of radiation depend on several factors, including the type of radiation, duration of exposure, dose, and individual susceptibility. It is crucial to follow safety guidelines, regulations, and advice provided by radiation protection agencies to minimize the risks associated with radiation exposure.