By their very nature, the effects of radiation are extremely harmful to any living organism. Even a small dose of radiation is enough to start cellular reactions in the body, leading to cancer and genetic damage. More often, however, a person exposed to radiation runs the risk of dying within days of fatal contact. The consequences of radiation in large doses are terrible: damage to organs, destruction of the body from the inside and natural death.
Irradiation level
In the case of severe exposure, damage occurs in the first days after the incident. Radionuclides accumulate in the body due to the action of metabolism. They replace natural atoms and thus change the structure of cells. When radionuclides decay, chemical isotopes appear that destroy the molecules of the human body. Another feature of irradiation is that its result may not affect the organ that was first hit. If we are talking about a small contact, then the consequences of radiation in the form of oncological diseases make themselves felt many years later. Such an incubation period can stretch for decades.
However, sometimesThe effect of irradiation affects not just years, but generations. This happens when the effects of radiation leave an imprint on the genetic code. He, in turn, affects the offspring generated by a young irradiated organism. This result manifests itself in the form of hereditary diseases. They can be passed on not only to children, but also to grandchildren, as well as to subsequent generations of the family.
Acute and long-term effects
The rapidly manifesting effects of radiation on humans are otherwise called acute. They are easy to identify. But long-term results are much more difficult to determine. Very often, in the first time after irradiation, they do not give themselves away. In this case, as a rule, irreversible changes occur at the cellular level. Such transformations are not noticeable either to the person himself or to physicians. In addition, they cannot be "detected" by special equipment, which does not in the least reduce the threat to he alth.
It is also important that the consequences of radiation for a person may depend on the individual characteristics of the organism. This is especially true for long-term factors. Experts still cannot accurately determine the level of radiation required for the occurrence of oncological diseases. Theoretically, a small dose is sufficient for this. Each person has his own repair mechanism, which is responsible for cleaning from radiation. However, in the case of a large dose, anyone faces a mortal threat.
He alth impact
BIn laboratory conditions, the effects of radiation on animals and humans are studied on the basis of material obtained from the analysis of the numerous results of the use of radiation therapy for medical purposes. It is used in the fight against cancer and tumors. Such therapy harms malignant products in the same way that uncontrolled radiation hits living human tissues.
The results of many years of research show that each organ reacts to radiation to varying degrees. The most vulnerable parts of the human body are the spinal cord and circulatory system. At the same time, they have a remarkable ability to regenerate.
Harm to eyesight and reproductive system
There are other serious consequences of radiation for humans. Photos of radiation victims show that the eyes are another risk area for infection. They are highly sensitive to radiation. In this regard, the most fragile part of the organs of vision is the lens. When dying, the cells lose their transparency. Because of this, areas of turbidity first appear, and then cataracts occur. Its last stage is final blindness.
Also, the dangerous consequences of radiation for the human body are a blow to the reproductive system. Indeed, just a single small irradiation of the testes can lead to sterility. These organs are an important exception in the human body. If other parts of the body can more easily tolerate a dose of radiation divided into severalreceptions than in one contact, then the opposite is true with the reproductive system. In this regard, another important feature is the ratio of female and male organisms. The ovaries are noticeably more resistant to radiation than the testes.
Threats to children
The harm caused by radiation to an adult, in the case of a child's body, grows several times. A small irradiation of cartilaginous tissues is enough, and bone growth will stop. Over time, this anomaly becomes the cause of violations in the development of the skeleton. It is logical that the younger the child, the more dangerous radiation is for his bones. Another vulnerable organ is the brain. Even when radiation therapy is used to treat cancer, children often lose their memory and the ability to think clearly. Radiation in uncontrolled amounts further enhances this dangerous effect.
Consequences for pregnancy
Speaking of children, it is impossible not to mention how radiation affects the fetus inside the mother's body. During pregnancy, the most vulnerable is the period from 8 to 15 weeks. At this time, the formation of the cerebral cortex occurs. If the mother is exposed during this period, there is a danger that the child will be born with serious mental disabilities. For such a fatal effect, even excessive exposure to conventional X-rays is enough.
Genetic mutations
Of all the effects of radiation exposure, genetic disorders are the least studied. In general, theycan be divided into two groups. The first is a change in the structure or number of chromosomes. The second is mutations within the genes themselves. They can also be divided into dominant (in the first generation) and recessive (in subsequent ones). Depending on a variety of factors, some of which are not exactly understood by science, any of these genetic disorders can lead to hereditary diseases. At the same time, in some cases, these mutations remain unmanifested.
The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of the Second World War gave a lot of material for the study of this problem. A significant number of residents of the surrounding areas survived the deadly attack. However, all these people received a dose of radiation. The consequences of that irradiation were echoed on the offspring of those who fell into the zone of the initial defeat in 1945. In particular, the number of children born with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities has increased.
Man-made radioactivity
The main danger to humans and other living organisms, coming from the radiation factor, is the so-called. technogenic radioactivity. It arises as a result of human economic activity. In the 20th century, people learned how to redistribute and concentrate radionuclides and thus noticeably change the natural radioactive background.
To human factors, to a lesser extent, include the extraction and burning of natural resources, the use of aviation. However, the most dangerous radiation threat comes from the use of nuclear weapons, as well asdevelopment of the nuclear industry and energy. The most tragic accidents involving the exposure of many people are caused by accidents at such infrastructure facilities. So, since 1986, the name of the city of Chernobyl has become a household name all over the world. Its tragic history has forced the world community to reconsider its attitude towards nuclear energy.
Irradiation and animals
In modern science, the effects of radiation on animals are studied within the framework of a special discipline - radiobiology. In general, the results of irradiation for tetrapods are similar to those experienced by humans. Radiation primarily affects the immune system. Biological barriers that prevent infections from penetrating the body are destroyed, which reduces the number of leukocytes in the blood, the skin loses its bactericidal properties, etc.
With the increase in the degree of exposure, the consequences of contact with radiation are becoming more fatal. In the worst case, the body is defenseless against exogenous infections and harmful microflora. A lethal dose of radiation leads to death within the first week. The young die faster. Death can occur not only after direct exposure, but also after eating contaminated food or water. This relationship shows that the consequences of radiation for nature are no less dangerous than for animals or people.
