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How does radiation cause cancer in the human body? What is the science behind this?
The impact of radiation on human health has always been an important topic explored by the medical and scientific communities. Especially with the advancement of radiation technology, more and more medical applications such as radiation therapy are showing positive effects. However, the potential harm caused by radiation, especially the cancer-inducing effects, cannot be ignored. What is the mechanism by which radiation causes cancer in the human body?
Many studies have shown that the effects of radiation trigger cancer through genetic mutations in cells, which develop over many years of latency after exposure to radiation.
First, it is important to understand the types of radiation and how they affect it. Radiation is divided into two categories based on its effect on the human body: ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation can cause direct damage to cells, while the effects of non-ionizing radiation are usually mild. Clinically, ionizing radiation is commonly seen in X-ray images, CT scans, and radiation therapy. Unfortunately, when ionizing radiation attacks a cell's DNA, it can cause mutations that can lead to the development of cancer.
When we talk about radiation causing cancer, the most commonly used theories are "stochastic effects" and "deterministic effects." Stochastic effects mean that the risk of being affected by radiation increases with increasing dose, but the severity of the effects does not depend on the dose; in contrast, deterministic effects appear after a certain dose threshold is exceeded and increase as the dose increases. The severity increases with increasing dose.
Stochastic effects can be implicated in the development of cancer, genetic diseases, and other health problems, and their occurrence often requires large-scale epidemiological studies to explore.
Cancer caused by radiation usually has no obvious symptoms and the incubation period can last for years or even decades. Research shows, for example, that a history of exposure to X-rays can lead to an increased risk of cancer decades later. According to some reports, the relationship between radiation damage and cancer is complex, and further research is needed to confirm the specific effects at different doses.
Research also shows that the harm of radiation is particularly obvious to pregnant women and fetuses. The fetus is more sensitive to external stimuli in the early stages of development. Excessive radiation effects can cause miscarriage, structural birth defects and even intellectual disability. This is especially true in post-World War II studies of survivors of the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These data not only help understand the biological effects of radiation but also provide guidance for current health care decisions.
Research has found that the impact of radiation during pregnancy may significantly increase the mother's risk of developing breast cancer in the future, which has triggered widespread discussion on radiological examinations for pregnant women.
To quantify the health effects of radiation, the scientific community uses dosimetry to precisely measure the radiation dose humans receive. This system helps medical professionals evaluate the safety and effectiveness of radiation treatments. According to the International Commission on Radiological Protection, even cumulative exposure to external radiation needs to be monitored with careful dose management.
In the history of radiation research, early experiments focused on acute reactions in the human body. With the advancement of science and technology, research on the genetic level has gradually emerged, and scientists have begun to realize the potential impact of genetic mutations caused by radiation on the entire population. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of radiation's effects, dose management, and research methods are critical to reducing future health risks.
In summary, the process of radiation causing cancer in the human body is a complex biological phenomenon involving the interaction of various cells and genes. Future research will not only help us understand this process more clearly, but also provide a scientific basis for preventing health risks caused by radiation. However, is this knowledge sufficient to reduce the risk of radiation to which we are inadvertently exposed in our daily lives?
