Radiation And Health

The millions of Japanese people are now facing their worst fear, the unseen and silent threat of radiation.

The millions of Japanese people are now facing their worst fear, the unseen and silent threat of radiation.

The human body is made up of many different organs, which are made up of specialized cells. Ionizing radiation will destroy the normal function of these cells.

Once exposed to small quantities of radiation the body can heal the damaged area. However, if a damaged cell is required function prior to this, the cell will either perform incorrectly, or incompletely, or be powerless to perform at all.
Altered cells may be unable to reproduce themselves, or may do so at an uncontrolled rate. This can bring about cancer.

Altered cells may be unable to reproduce themselves, or may do so at an uncontrolled rate. This can bring about cancer.

Known as the hemopoietic system, blood creating cells are the most sensitive biological indicator of radiation exposure.

The blood's lymphocyte cell count will be lowered when a person is exposed to approximately 100 rems, leaving the victim more susceptible to infection. This is classed as low level radiation sickness.

Certain parts of the body are more specifically affected by exposure to different types of radiation. The thyroid gland is susceptible to radioactive iodine, which can destroy all, or part of the thyroid. By taking potassium iodide the effects can be lowered.

Exposure of 200 rems or higher can result in rapid loss of hair, besides damage to the intestinal tract lining, causing nausea, bloody vomiting and diarrhoea.

A person exposed to 500 rems of radiation is likely to die without medical assistance.

Non-reproducing brain cells are damaged with exposure of 5,000 rems or greater. There would be instant damage to small blood vessels and possibly heart failure and eventual death if the exposure is between 1,000 5,000 rems.

When the central nervous system is exposed to 5000 rems or more, there can be damage to cells. Symptoms can include coma, loss of coordination, confusion, convulsions and shock. Scientists now say that death under these conditions is not caused by actual radiation damage to the nervous system, but from complications caused by internal bleeding, fluid and pressure build-up on the brain.

The early symptoms of radiation sickness mimic those of flu and may go undetected unless a blood count is performed. Data from Hiroshima and Nagaski shows that symptoms may persist for up to 10 years and may also have an increased long-term risk of leukaemia and lymphoma.