What Effect Does Radiation Have on the Human Body?

Many people are concerned at the moment as we watch the nuclear reactor in Japan keenly to see whether or not a disaster can be prevented. Brave souls are risking their future health by subjecting themselves to potentially high levels of radiation in order to safe guard the planet from a nuclear catastrophe.

In the meantime, questions are being asked about what a safe level of radiation is, and how to recognise symptoms of radiation sickness. Currently, the majority of the human race is at very low risk from the Japanese reactor according to the governments, and we wait to see what unfolds. We are all exposed to levels of radiation in our daily lives. It comes from rocks, walls, the earth, the sun, and anything that is warmer than 0 degrees emits radiation. In very low doses of radiation sickness, the body will react with sickness and diarrhoea, and sometimes loss of hair.

In higher doses of radiation sickness, that is, greater exposure to the radiation, the body reacts in the following ways:

Hair- hair clumps fall out and rapid loss occurs.

Brain- nerve cells and blood vessels can die, leading to seizures and death .

Eyes- increased levels of radiation can lead to cataracts.

Thyroid- radioactive iodine can destroy thyroid function and lead to cancer.

Lungs- lung damage and cancer.

Heart- damaged cells in the blood vessels that feed the heart would reduce cardiac function, and could cause heart failure and death .

Blood- in the early stages, radiation sickness can look like flu. White blood cell count is reduced and this can lead to increased infections and possibly leukemia.

Gastrointestinal tract- vomiting and diarrhoea.

Reproductive Organs- eggs and sperm can die, leading to sterility.

Skin- burns and skin lesions.

Evidently, excess radiation is not good for us. It affects a large proportion of our systems, and it does so by destroying cells, which leaves the body in a weakened state. In order to keep this in perspective, the levels of radiation that we would need to be exposed to for harm to be done are fairly significant, for example a nuclear explosion or accident. It is important to ensure that you protect yourself and to avoid excessive radiation wherever possible. X-rays and scanners use radiation - avoid being near them too often if you can.

We watch and wait for the situation to unfold. We hope that no harm will come to humans, animals or the planet. We watch in gratitude as those workers do their best to avert a radiation leak. We ask that they be safe and we send them our love and prayers.

Written by Caroline Nettle

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