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You know how radiation destroys blood cells in a matter of hours?
Acute radiation syndrome (ARS), also known as radiation sickness or radiation poisoning, is a range of health effects resulting from exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation over a short period of time. Symptoms usually begin within an hour of exposure and may last for several months. Early symptoms include nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. Initial symptoms may show signs of improvement in the following hours or weeks, but other symptoms may then develop, ultimately resulting in recovery or death.
ARS usually occurs when doses exceed 0.7 Gy (70 rad), which usually come from external sources and directly irradiate the body within minutes.
Sources of radiation may be accidental or intentional, and include nuclear reactors, cyclotrons, certain cancer treatment devices, and nuclear or radiological weapons. ARS can generally be divided into three types based on the dose: myeloid syndrome, gastrointestinal syndrome, and neurovascular syndrome. Myeloid syndrome occurs between 0.7 and 10 Gy, while neurovascular syndrome occurs at doses exceeding 50 Gy. The cells most affected are usually rapidly dividing cells. When the radiation dose is too high, DNA may be irreparably damaged.
Symptoms and signs
The symptoms and presentation of ARS are divided into three main types: hematologic syndrome, gastrointestinal syndrome, and neurovascular syndrome. The onset of these syndromes is usually triggered by a series of prodromal symptoms, and the higher the radiation dose, the shorter the time it takes for symptoms to appear.
Each syndrome requires specific tissues to be exposed to radiation for its onset; for example, gastrointestinal syndrome can only be observed when the gastrointestinal tract is irradiated.
Hematologic syndromes are characterized by a decrease in the number of blood cells, commonly referred to as aplastic anemia. This can lead to infection due to low white blood cell counts, bleeding due to insufficient platelets, and anemia due to low red blood cell counts. These changes can be detected by blood tests even at doses as low as 0.25 grays (25 rads), but at doses below 1 gray (100 rads), patients may not experience symptoms at all. Gastrointestinal symptoms often follow doses of 6-30 grays (600-3,000 rad) and manifest as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain.
Neurovascular syndrome usually occurs with doses exceeding 30 grays (3,000 rad) and may present with neurological symptoms of dizziness, headache, or decreased consciousness. In such cases, vomiting usually does not occur, and death almost always results, even with vigorous first aid.
Effects of RadiationThe health effects of different doses of radiation vary greatly. Based on data from the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the radiation dose absorbed is directly related to the severity of symptoms. These data show that the radiation dose received by people close to the center of the atomic bomb explosion is usually around 9.46 grays, which obviously poses a great threat to health.
Examples of skin changes include radiation skin syndrome (CRS), which can cause redness, swelling, and itching at the radiation site for a short period of time, followed by ulcers or blisters.
If the skin is exposed to high-energy beta particles, it may cause phenomena such as moist flaking, which was clearly observed in the Chernobyl incident. When exposed to high doses of radiation, the skin may experience long-term damage or even lifelong effects.
Prevention and protection
When it comes to radiation safety, there is a principle to follow called As Low As Possible (ALARA), which means that exposure to radiation should be avoided as much as possible. This includes the three elements of time, distance and shielding. The longer the exposure, the higher the dose, so work in a radiation environment should be completed as quickly as possible to reduce exposure.
In the event of a radiation disaster, medical and security personnel require mobile protective gear to safely assist with evacuations and other necessary public safety measures.
Radiation shielding usually relies on the presence of matter, any mass (such as lead, sand, or water) should be placed between the source and humans to reduce the radiation dose. However, such shielding facilities need to be specially designed according to needs, otherwise they may increase the risk of exposure to certain radiation.
Conclusion
In summary, the impact of acute radiation syndrome is far-reaching and dangerous, and the prevention and treatment measures for exposure still need to be studied and explored in depth. When faced with such a dangerous radiation environment, can we find more effective protective measures to protect ourselves and our families?
