Introduction
Radiation poisoning, also known as acute radiation syndrome or radiation sickness, produces severe health effects on a person's body. The condition is caused by the high dose exposure of the radioactive particles that enter the body and damage the internal organs.
Radiation poisoning also causes severe damage to the bone marrow, stomach, intestines, and blood vessels which can have fatal and life-threatening effects on a person. Radiation poisoning occurs mainly due to radiation therapy in medical practice, atomic bombing, or explosions in nuclear power plants producing large amounts of radiation or radioactive particles. Low-level exposure during x-rays does not usually cause high levels of exposure.
What Are the Symptoms Caused by Radiation Poisoning?
The symptoms caused by radiation poisoning are as follows:
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Vomiting and nausea.
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Dehydration.
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Diarrhea with blood in the stool.
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Fever.
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Headache.
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Confusion.
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Fainting.
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Fatigue.
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Weakness.
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Nose bleeding.
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Disorientation.
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Dizziness.
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Inflammation, tenderness, and bleeding in the exposed area.
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Gastrointestinal ulcers.
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Skin burns and bruises on the skin are caused due to radiation exposure.
What Is the Source of Radiation Poisoning?
Radiation poisoning can occur from various sources, such as:
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High-dose radiation hazards or accidents in the nuclear industries.
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Nuclear power plant explosion.
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Increased radiation exposure during medical treatments.
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Nuclear weapon explosion.
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Detonation of some radioactive devices.
What Are the Harmful Health Effects Caused by Radiation Poisoning?
The harmful effects caused by radiation poisoning are as follows:
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Chromosomal damage.
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Radiation causes bone marrow damage and decreases white blood cell production.
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Radiation can affect the nerve cells and blood vessels in the brain and cause severe seizures and death of a person.
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Hair loss also occurs due to high radiation exposure.
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Radiation affects the thyroid gland because the gland readily absorbs the radioactive iodine.
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High-dose exposure also affects the heart causing damage to blood vessels and heart failure or death of a person.
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Radiation also affects the cells of the reproductive tract and can make a person sterile over long-term exposure.
How Can We Diagnose Radiation Poisoning?
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Blood Tests - The doctor does regular blood tests frequently to detect the DNA changes and radiation particles in the white blood cells. Blood tests help determine the dose exposure and the effects on a person's bone marrow. Radiation poisoning can be diagnosed in the following ways:
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Dosimeters - It is a device used to measure the absorbed radiation dose. A dosimeter helps diagnose the level of exposure if it has been exposed to some radiation as that of an affected person.
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Symptoms - Vomiting helps to detect exposure levels, and the shorter the time between exposure and onset of vomiting, the higher the radiation dose exposure. This symptom is an excellent screening tool for radiation poisoning diagnosis. Other signs and symptoms also help the doctor to make an accurate diagnosis.
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Known Exposure - The duration and distance of exposure to a person can diagnose the severity of radiation poisoning.
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Type of Radiation - Identifying the type of radiation exposure or radioactive in accidental or attack situations can help treat the person better for radiation poisoning.
How Can We Manage or Treat Radiation Poisoning?
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Decontamination - This is done by removing external sources or contaminants, such as shoes and clothes, to minimize further exposure to radioactive particles and by discarding them properly. Washing hands and exposed skin areas properly also helps eliminate these elements. Further, this also helps reduce contamination risk through ingestion or inhalation.
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Supportive Treatment is given to treat symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, or fever caused by radiation poisoning.
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Internal Decontamination Treatment - Radioactive particles affect the internal organs in the body of a person and can be treated in the following ways:
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Prussian Blue - It is also known as radiogardase, and this dye can bind to radioactive particles such as thallium and cesium and causes the excretion of these elements through feces. Prussian blue causes the speedy elimination of the radioactive substance in the body to minimize the amount of cell absorption.
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Potassium Iodide - Such as Losat, ThyroShield is nonradioactive iodine. However, during radioactive exposure, the thyroid gland readily absorbs the radiation iodine and later gets cleaned from the body via urine excretion. Therefore, potassium iodide can help the thyroid from absorbing the radioactive iodine by filling the space mainly within a day of radioactive exposure.
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Diethylenetriamine (DTPA) - This substance binds to the body's radioactive particles and helps eliminate them through urine. DTPA helps to reduce radiation exposure in the body.
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Treatment for Bone Marrow Damage - The doctor can treat the effects of radiation particles on bone marrow with a protein (granulocyte colon-stimulating factor), which helps grow white blood cells in the body. The doctor treats severe bone marrow damage with red blood cells and platelet transfusion.
How Can We Prevent Radiation Poisoning?
People can prevent radiation poisoning in the following ways:
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A person working in high radioactive exposure areas should wear protective gear and a dosimeter to measure the radiation exposure.
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People should avoid frequent unnecessary exposure to radiation, such as CT scans and MRIs. In addition, the lab personnel should weather lead aprons while working in these radiation areas.
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In case of radiation explosion or emergency, try to move away from the source of exposure or stay in place, closing the doors and windows to prevent disclosure.
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People should shut down air conditioners and heating equipment to prevent contamination of the inside air with the radiation particles.
Conclusion
Radiation poisoning caused by large doses of ionizing radiation affects humans and other species and usually occurs due to one extensive exposure in a short time. The exposure can occur intentionally (by radiation therapy to treat a disease) or through the accidental explosion of nuclear power plants.
Various radioactive safety measures are taken to prevent such incidents, and the radiation safety authorities formulate proper radiation safety guidelines and protocols. Therefore, people working in high-radiation areas should protect themselves from unnecessary exposure. In addition, they must consult the doctor if any symptoms of radiation poisoning occur.
