As the ever present world threat of radiation grows with increasing nuclear development, we must know about the threats of radiation. There are three types of radiation, they include: non-ionizing, ionizing, and electromagnetic. Out of these three, it is Ionizing radiation that poses a great threat to us.
Within several months of exposure to high amounts of ionizing radiation, Acute radiation syndrome (ARS), or radiation poisoning will occur. Smaller doses result in gastrointestinal effects such as nausea and vomiting and symptoms related to falling blood counts such as infection and bleeding. Larger doses can result in neurological effects and rapid death. High doses also cause significant internal harm, and this includes 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. For survivors of initial radiation, 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. Radiation exposure also increases the probability of genetic damage. Reduces production of blood platelets, which aid blood clotting, also occurs so victims of radiation sickness are also vulnerable to hemorrhaging.
There is currently no effective medical treatment available for potentially fatal radiation doses. Current medical science has no way of telling the difference between people who have received fatal doses and others who received less radiation and can be saved. Treatment for the ones that can be saved includes blood transfusions, antibiotics, and bone-marrow transplants. Bone-marrow transplants rejuvenate the supply of white blood cells which was affected by the radiation. Once a person receives a fatal dosage of radiation, death occurs within two to fourteen days.
