The determining factors in the degree of radiation sickness are the type of exposure, the exposed parts of the body, the duration of exposure, the strength of the radiation, and how much your body has absorbed. The cells in your body that are most sensitive to radiation include the lining of your stomach and intestinal tract, and the cells found in your bone marrow that produce new blood cells. The degree of exposure guides the presentation of symptoms. Initial symptoms involving the gastrointestinal tract can appear within ten minutes. If the skin was directly exposed or contaminated, redness, rash, and burning can begin almost immediately.
Nausea and vomiting Headache Fever Dizziness Disorientation Weakness and fatigue Hair loss Bloody vomit and stools Infections and poor wound healing Low blood pressure
Mild severity is exposure to radiation that resulted in a body absorption of 1 to 2 gray units (Gy). Moderate severity results after exposure that causes the body to absorb 2 to 6 Gy. Severe exposure results in an absorbed level measured at 6 to 9 Gy. Very severe exposure is absorption at 10 Gy or higher. Doctors can gauge the absorbed dose by measuring the time between exposure and the first signs of nausea and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting that begins within ten minutes of exposure is considered very severe exposure. Mild exposure involves the onset of nausea and vomiting within six hours.
Different types of radiation are measured using different units, and to further complicate things, the country you are in may use yet a different unit. In the United States, absorbed radiation is measured in units called a gray, abbreviated as Gy, in rads, or in rem. Generally conversions are as follows: 1 Gy is equal to 100 rads, and 1 rad is equal to 1 rem. The rem equivalent for different types of radiation is not always expressed as just described. The information provided here includes basic conversion factors.
Acute radiation sickness only occurs with irradiation. It is possible to have come into direct contact and also have experienced irradiation. Radiation contamination results in absorption of radioactive material through the skin and transportation to the bone marrow where it can result in health problems such as cancer.
Natural disasters, like earthquakes or hurricanes, could potentially damage the integrity of a nuclear facility causing a localized release of potentially dangerous radiation; although this type of structural damage is unlikely. An act of war that involves the use of a nuclear weapon could cause widespread exposure leading to radiation sickness. A terrorist attack using dirty bombs could cause radiation sickness to people in the immediate vicinity. Space travel has risks related to radiation exposure. While possible, it is highly unlikely that exposure from equipment used for medical purposes could lead to the development of radiation sickness. Nuclear energy is all around us. Safeguards are in place to protect the public from accidental exposure.
The two forms of radiation are ionizing and nonionizing. The four most common types of radioactive emissions include alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, and X rays.
Ionizing radiation is also used to safely create a chest x ray or a CT scan. Exposure to radiation for use as a diagnostic aid, such as x rays and CT scans, has no clear limit. According to guidelines published by the multidisciplinary field of study known as nondestructive testing, or NDT, 0. 05 rem per year is recommended as a limit for exposure created by the use of medical equipment. There may be limits set by your doctor or determined by your illness if you are routinely exposed to radiation as a method of treatment for a disease, such as cancer.
Common food items, such as wheat flour, white potatoes, pork, fruits and vegetables, poultry, and eggs, are irradiated with nonionizing radiation as a last step before appearing in your grocery store. [9] X Research source Major well-respected agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Medical Association support the procedures used to irradiate foods to help control bacteria and parasites that may be dangerous if consumed. Your smoke detector protects you from fire by constantly emitting a low level of nonionizing radiation. The presence of smoke blocks the stream and tells your smoke detector to sound the alarm.
Alpha particles do not travel very far and have trouble passing through anything with substance. Alpha particles release all their energy in a small area. Alpha particles have trouble penetrating the skin, but if they penetrate the skin, then they can do a lot of damage, killing nearby tissues and cells. Beta particles can travel farther than alpha particles, but still have trouble penetrating through skin or layers of clothing. Beta particles are similar to alpha particles in that they can do more harm to the body if they are on the inside. Gamma rays travel at the speed of light and penetrate through materials and skin tissue much easier. Gamma rays are the most dangerous form of radiation. X rays also travel at the speed of light and can penetrate through skin. This is what makes them useful in diagnostic medicine and some industrial applications.
If you think you have been exposed to a dose of radiation, remove all clothing and materials you were wearing at the time and place them in a plastic bag. Wash your body with soap and water as soon as possible. Do not scrub the skin. That may cause irritation or break the skin which can lead to systemic absorption of any remaining radiation from the surface of the skin.
The goals for treatment for radiation sickness include avoiding any further contamination, treat the most immediate life-threatening problems, reduce symptoms, and manage pain. Those who experience mild to moderate exposure and receive treatment often have a full recovery. For a person who survives the radiation exposure, the blood cells will begin to replenish themselves after four to five weeks. Severe and very severe exposure results in death ranging from two days to two weeks following exposure. In most cases, the cause of death from radiation sickness is due to internal bleeding and infections.
Antibiotics are prescribed to treat infections that more commonly occur in people with radiation sickness. Since the bone marrow is sensitive to radiation, you be given certain medications that promote the growth of blood cells. Treatments may include the use of blood products, colony stimulating factors, bone marrow transplant, and stem cell transplant as indicated. In some cases, blood and/or platelet transfusions may help to repair the damaged bone marrow. Those receiving treatment are usually kept separate from others to help prevent infection. Visitation is sometimes limited to reduce the change of contamination with infectious agents. Medications are available to help manage internal organ damage, depending on the specific types of radiation particles or emissions involved.
Examples of supportive care include aggressive pain management and medications provided for ongoing symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Pastoral care and psychological counseling may be available.
A single, rapid, large dose of radiation to the entire body can be fatal. Exposure to the same dose spread over a period of weeks or months can be treated with a good survival rate. Animal studies show that severe irradiation can result in birth defects caused by irradiated reproductive cells. While it is possible that radiation sickness can cause problems with developing ova, sperm, and genetic alterations, these effects in humans have not been demonstrated.
Workers that are exposed to radiation as a part of their jobs are often required to wear badges that keep track of a cumulative dose. Workers are not allowed to remain in a situation of risk once they have reached the company or government limitations, unless there is a declared state of emergency. Standards for radiation exposure in the workplace in the United States set limits at 5 rem per year. In situations of emergency, those levels are raised to 25 rem per year, which is still considered within the range of safe exposure. [16] X Research source As your body recovers from radiation exposure, it is possible to return to that same work environment. There are no guidelines and little evidence to suggest that there may be future health risks associated with such repeated exposures.
