Radiation poisoning

Radiation poisoning, also called "radiation sickness", is a form of damage to organic tissue due to 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 occur as ionizing radiation interferes with cell division. This interference causes particular problems for cells that normally divide rapidly, such as those lining the gastrointestinal tract. Likewise, this is one reason for the effectiveness of radiotherapy in treating cancer — cancer cells are among the fastest-dividing in the body, and will be killed by a radiation dose that adjacent normal cells are likely to survive.

Prevention and treatment

The best prevention for radiation sickness is to minimize human exposure to high levels of ionizing radiation. The use of radionucleotides in science and industry is strictly regulated in most countries (in the U.S. by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission). In the event of an accidental or deliberate release of radioactive material, evacuation or sheltering in place are the recommended measures. During the height of the cold war, fallout shelters were identified in many urban areas.

Related Topics:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Sheltering in place - Cold war - Fallout shelter

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Potassium iodide (KI), administered orally, may be used to protect the thyroid from ingested radioactive iodine in the event of an accident or terrorist attack at a nuclear power plant, or the detonation a nuclear explosive. KI would not be effective against a dirty bomb unless the bomb happened to contain radioactive iodine.

Related Topics:
Potassium iodide - Thyroid - Radioactive iodine - Nuclear explosive - Dirty bomb

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