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Extreme radiation
This is following on from a question about radiation but, if you where to let yourself come to radiation everyday, eventually it would give you cancer. But lets say you stood in a room full of extremley radioactive materials, would you die instantly, get cancer within hours or just fall in a shuddering pile on the floor?
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It depends, in part, upon the type of radiation. There are different dangers associated with different types of radiation. For instance, you can stand in a room with a massive source of alpha radiation (in the form of a solid block) without suffering any ill-effects whatsoever. If, however, just a small number of microscopic alpha-emitting particles get into your lungs, you could be in big trouble. (This is because alpha-particles have low energy levels. If they strike your skin, they will be totally absorbed by the outer layer, which is comprised of dead tissue, so there will be no ill-effects. If, however, an alpha-emitting particle gets into your respiratory system, the radiation is absorbed by the live tissue on the surface of the lungs, leading to cell mutations).
It depends, in part, upon the type of radiation. There are different dangers associated with different types of radiation. For instance, you can stand in a room with a massive source of alpha radiation (in the form of a solid block) without suffering any ill-effects whatsoever. If, however, just a small number of microscopic alpha-emitting particles get into your lungs, you could be in big trouble. (This is because alpha-particles have low energy levels. If they strike your skin, they will be totally absorbed by the outer layer, which is comprised of dead tissue, so there will be no ill-effects. If, however, an alpha-emitting particle gets into your respiratory system, the radiation is absorbed by the live tissue on the surface of the lungs, leading to cell mutations).
The previous paragraph is intended to show that the answer might be more complex than you realised. Rather than bore you with the different effects of varying types of radiation, however, I'll give you the answer which would apply if you would apply if you were at the closest point of a nuclear explosion where you were not immediately killed or injured by the blast. This is that you would, fairly rapidly, start to exhibit the symptoms of 'radiation sickness'. In extreme cases, the symptoms might start to show within hours (although this would be most likely to be seen with those victims who had also received non-fatal blast injuries). The majority of people who had received massive doses of radiation would start to exhibit symptoms of radiation sickness within a few days. Death normally occurs within two to four weeks (although a much shorter life-expectancy would be forecast for someone who had received blast injuries together with a high-level exposure to radiation).
Anyone who manages to survive for the first month or two after their exposure to high levels of radiation is likely to make an initial recovery. However, there is a very high risk of cancer occurring in future years. The limited experience that scientists have, in relation to this, suggests that cancers are most likely to make their presence known between 10 and 15 years after the exposure to radiation.
This BBC link provides further information:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/medical_notes/461921.s tm
Chris
Anyone who manages to survive for the first month or two after their exposure to high levels of radiation is likely to make an initial recovery. However, there is a very high risk of cancer occurring in future years. The limited experience that scientists have, in relation to this, suggests that cancers are most likely to make their presence known between 10 and 15 years after the exposure to radiation.
This BBC link provides further information:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/medical_notes/461921.s tm
Chris
Hello Eurox,
Try this site - there is a lot of information. I have worked in cobalt irradiator and ion beam facilities on a couple of occasions. Even though all the interlocks were on, I had radiation meters and audible warning devices I think I was more scared in there than anywhere else - ever!
http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/nuclear/radevents/index. html
Read about how the stupid things people do....
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