Radiation poisoning
Radiation poisoning, also called "radiation sickness", is damage to the (human or other animal) body from excessive exposure to ionizing radiation. The term is generally used to refer to acute problems caused by a large dosage of radiation in a short period. Many of the symptoms of radiation poisoning occurs as ionizing radiation interferes with cell division. This especially causes problems with rapidly dividing cells, such as intestinal cells.The symptoms of radiation sickness become more serious (and the chance to survive less) with increasing dosage of radiation the body is exposed to. The dosage is nowadays usually stated in Sv. 1 Sv equals 100 rem or 100 rad.
The symptoms of radiation poisoning include skin burns, fainting, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and at extremely high dosages, death. An extremely high dose of radiation to the whole body, such as 100 Sv (10,000 remss) in a short period will cause unconsciousness and death as nerve cells are destroyed. A smaller dosage will cause immediate severe illness, but the victim will appear to recover, only to die within days as the rapidly dividing intestinal cells fail. Exposure to 5 Sv (500 remss) in a short period is fatal within a few days in approximately half the cases. If the victim survives the next few weeks, he or she is likely to recover, but will face an increased chance of cancer.
Chronic exposure to radiation can lead to leukemia and other cancers. Ironically, the ability of radiation to disturb cell division is also used to treat cancer. See radiotherapy.
Radiation poisoning can result from accidental exposure to natural or industrial radiation sources. People working with radioactive materials often wear film "badges" to monitor their total exposure to radiation.
Radiation poisoning caused illness and death after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and downwind of the atmospheric testing of the '50s, and was a major concern after the Chernobyl reactor accident.
According to PD documents, the following information can be given (note that, for obvious reasons, there has been no intesive testing under laboraty conditions, so symptoms may vary with different people):
5 - 20 rad (0.05 - 0.2 Sv) No symptoms. Likely long-term consequences: Cancer, mutation of genetic material.
20 - 50 rad (0.2 - 0.5 Sv) No noticeable symptoms. Number of erythrocytes is decreasing temporarily.
50 - 100 rad (0.5 - 1 Sv) Light radiation sickness with headache and increased risk of infection. Temporary male sterility is possible.
100 - 200 rad (1 - 2 Sv) light radiation poisoning, 10% fatality after 30 days (LD1010/30). Typical symptoms include light to medium nausea (50% probability at 200 rad), with occasional vomiting, beginning 3-6 hours after irridation and lasting for up to one day. This is followed by a 10-14 day anastasis, after which light symptoms like general illness, anorexia and fatigue (50% probability at 200 rad). The convalescence is reduced and there is an increased risk of infection. Temporary male sterility is common.
200 - 300 rad (2 - 3 Sv) severe radiation poisoning, 35% fatality after 30 days (LD3535/30). Nausea is common (100% at 300 rad), 50% risk of vomiting is reached at 280 rad. Those symptoms start 1-6 hours after irridation and last for 1-2 days. After that, there is an 7-14 day anastasis, after which the following symptoms appear: loss of hair all over the body (50% probability at 300 rad), fatigue and general illness. There is a massive loss of leukocytes, rapidly increasing the risk of infection. Permanent female sterility is possible. Convalescence takes one to several months.
300 - 400 rad (3 - 4 Sv) severe radiation poisoning, 50% fatality after 30 days (LD5050/30). Nausea is common (100% at 300 rad), 50% risk of comiting is readched at 280 rad. Those symptoms start 1-6 hours after irridation and last for 1-2 days. After that, there is an 7-14 day anastasis, after which the following symptoms appear loss of hair all over the body (50% probability at 300 rad) fatigue, general illness, diarrhea (50% probability at 300 rad) and uncontrollable bleeding in the mouth, under the skin and in the kidneys (50% probablity at 400 rad). There is a massive loss of leukocytes, rapidly increasing the risk of infection. There is a risk of permament female sterility. Convalesces takes one to several months.
400 - 600 rad (4 - 6 Sv) acute radiation poisoning, 60% fatality after 30 days (LD6060/30). Fatality is increasing step by step from about 60% at 450 rad to 90% at 600 rad (unless there is intense medical care). Symptoms start half an hour to two hours after irridation and last for up to 2 days. After that, there is an 7-14 day anastasis, after which generally the same symptoms appear like with a 300-400 rad irridation, with increased intensity. Female sterility is common at this point. Convalescence takes several months to a year. Main reasons for death (in general 2-12 weeks after irridation) are infections and internal bleeding.
600 - 1000 rad (6 - 10 Sv) acute radiation poisoning, 100% fatality after 14 days (LD100100/14). Chance of survival depends on intense medical care. The bone marrow is nearly or completely destroyed, so a bone marrow transplantation is required. Gastric and intestinal tissue is severely damaged. Symptoms start 15 to 30 minutes after irridation and last for up to 2 days. After that, there is and 5-10 anastasis, after which the person dies of an infection or internal bleeding. If there was convalescence, it would take several years and probably never be complete.
1000 - 2000 rad (10 - 20 Sv) acute radiation poisoning, 100% fatality after 7 days (LD100100/7). A dose that high leads to spontaneous symptoms after 5 to 30 minutes. After immediate nausea caused by direct activation of chemo rezeptors in the brain by the irridation and strong fatigue, there is a phase of several days of comparable well-being, called "walking ghost phase". After that, cell death in the gastric and intestinal tissue, causing massive diarrhea, intestinal bleeding and loss of water, leads to water-electrolyte imbalance. Death sets in with delirium and coma by breakdown of circulation. Death is inevitable, the only help that can be given is pain therapy.
2000 - 3000 rad (20 - 30 Sv) acute radiation poisoning, 100% fatality after 3 days (LD100100/3). A dose that high leads to spontaneous symptoms after 5 to 30 minutes. After immediate nausea caused by direct activation of chemo rezeptors in the brain by irridation and strong fatigue, there is a phase of several hours of comparable well-being, called "walking ghost phase". After that, cell death in the gastric and intestinal tissue, causing massive diarrhea, intestinal bleeding and loss of water, leads to water-electrolyte imbalance. Death sets in with delirium and coma by breakdown of circulation. Death is inevitable, the only help that can be given is pain therapy.
more than 5000 rad (>50 Sv). Immediate disorientation and coma in seconds or minutes. Death sets in after a few hours by total collapse of nervous system.
more than 8000 rad (>80 Sv). U.S. military forces expect immediate death at a dose above 8000 rad.
See also Radiation.