Radiation is defined as the process of emission and propagation of energy in the form of waves, particles or rays. Radiation is used as a therapy for treating cancers and tumors. But these treatments have long term side effects. The department of oncology and radiotherapy uses radiation. Not just human beings, the environment also faces the side effects of radiation.
What is Radiation?
Radiation is defined as the emission of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves. These can be in the form of gamma radiation, radio waves, heat waves or particle radiation which includes alpha and beta radiation. The other form of radiation is gravitational radiation. There side effects of radiation on human begins.
Radiation may affect living things by damaging the cells that make up the living organism. The effects of radiation on a cell are random. That is, the same type and amount of radiation could strike the same cell many times and have a different effect, including no effect, each time.
Learn more about the types of radiation here.
Classification of Radiation Effects
The effects faced by the human body due to radiation is classified into two categories:
- Threshold effects
- Non-threshold effects
Threshold Effects:
It occurs when levels of radiation exposure are tens, hundreds, or thousands of times higher than the background, and usually when the exposure is over a very short time, such as a few minutes. They do not occur when doses of radiation are smaller than the threshold value.
Non-threshold Effects:
It can occur at any level of radiation exposure. However, the risk of harmful health effects of radiation generally increases the amount of radiation absorbed. The most studied non-threshold effect is cancer. Studies are somewhat complicated by the facts that most cancers are not caused by radiation, exposure to a particular dose may cause cancer in one person but not in another, and cancer often doesn’t appear until many years after the exposure
Effects of Radiation on Human Body
The side effects of radiation cause ionization of atoms which affects the molecules of the human body which further affects the cells, tissues, organs, and the whole body. Following are the body parts that are most commonly affected by the radiation:
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Hair
When the radiation exposure is more than 200 rems, the hair loss becomes quick and it occurs in clumps.
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Brain
When the radiation exposure is more than 5000 rems, the nerve cells and small blood vessels get affected resulting in complete damage of the brain.
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Thyroid
The thyroid gland is likely to get damaged due to the presence of a sufficient amount of radioactive iodine. But the intake of potassium iodide can reduce the effects of radiation.
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Blood System
When the radiation exposure is around 100rems, the first symptom is the fall in lymphocyte count. The other symptoms are mild radiation sickness and flu.
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Heart
When the radiation exposure is between 1000 and 5000 rems, the small blood vessels in the heart start to rupture resulting in heart failure.
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Reproductive Tract
The reproductive tract can be easily damaged as the cells get divided rapidly and the exposure required for the side effects is less than 200 rems. Prolonged exposure can result in radiation sickness making the victim sterile.
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