Radiation poisoning is the common name for what the US Center for Disease Control classifies as Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS). The condition is caused by excessive exposure to ionizing radiation, which can permanently affect cells in the body. Most people are not exposed to sufficient levels of radiation in daily life to cause ARS, but those who work with radioactive materials or who are subjected to a single high dose of radiation have a higher level of risk of acquiring ARS poisoning. radiation.
Scientists conducting early experiments with radioactive materials in the late 19th century discovered radiation poisoning. Nikolai Tesla, a famous inventor and scientist, described the burns he received after exposing his hands to early X-ray technology. Famed scientist Marie Curie dedicated her life to understanding radiation and its uses, and she died of cancer believed to be caused by constant exposure to radiation.
Although the dangers of working with radioactive materials were clear in the 1940s, the world was not exposed to the true destructive possibilities of ARS until the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Some experts suggest that radiation poisoning accounts for nearly the 20% of all people killed as a result of the bombings. Continuing studies in the decades since have shown a jump in cancers and other associated diseases attributed to radiation exposure.
Typical symptoms of radiation poisoning begin with severe nausea and vomiting. If a person is exposed to a single high dose of radiation, these symptoms can begin within hours. Fever and fatigue usually follow, followed by possible hair loss, diarrhea or blood in the stool and urine, dizziness, and a drop in blood pressure. In cases of severe exposure, death occurs in about half of all cases.
People exposed to low doses of radiation over a long period of time, such as biochemical workers, may be more likely to develop other illnesses caused by chronic radiation sickness. Often those with chronic exposure will have a significantly increased risk of cancers and tumors. Radiation sickness damages cells, tissues, and organs, as well as the immune system, putting the entire body at risk for possible future illness.
Unfortunately, there are still no treatments that can cure radiation sickness. Although some drugs are currently undergoing government trials for combating effects, current treatment simply eases the pain of victims and tries to prevent infection or further problems. It is possible to recover from radiation sickness, but the probability of survival depends on the level of exposure and personal health, and does not guarantee the safety of developing radiation-associated cancers due to cell damage.