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Acute Radiation Syndrome – Causes and Evaluation

Acute radiation syndrome occurs when exposed to extensive ionizing radiation, more than 0.1Gy within a very short period, rather in less than an hour. Radioactive exposure could be through inhalation of radioactive minerals into your lungs.

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Causes and Evaluation of Acute Radiation Syndrome

New York (USA), June 27, 2013

Causes of Acute Radiation Syndrome

Acute radiation syndrome occurs when exposed to extensive ionizing radiation, more than 0.1Gy within a very short period, rather in less than an hour. Such radiation occurs due to human errors in nuclear reactor, solar flare during interplanetary travel, radiotherapy accidents, nuclear explosions, escape of radioactive waste, and similar incidents. In spaceflights beyond low Earth orbit, galactic cosmic radiation or GCR and solar particle event or SPE radiation takes place. Astronauts remain well protected against such possible radiation.

Evaluation of Acute Radiation Syndrome

Radiation exposure is measured in units of roentgens. If total body exposure is 100 roentgens/rad or 1 Gy, it leads to acute radiation syndrome. If total body exposure is 400 roentgens/rad or 4 Gy, it is extremely serious and could cause death due to acute radiation syndrome within a month. If total body exposure is 100,000 roentgens/rad or 1000 Gy, you lose consciousness immediately and death occurs within an hour.

Radioactive exposure could be through inhalation of radioactive minerals into your lungs. This eventually leads to cancer and other diseases. If you eat contaminated food like milk, meat, fish, and plants or drink contaminated water, it causes slight radiation. Such radiation damages body tissue, which could cause cancer later in life. However, if radiation exposure is due to explosion or accident, radiation is very high and extensive.

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