What would radiation do to a human?

Exposure to very high levels of radiation, such as being close to an atomic blast, can cause acute health effects such as skin burns and acute radiation syndrome (“radiation sickness”). It can also result in long-term health effects such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

How does radiation cause cell death?

Radiation damage to the cell can be caused by the direct or indirect action of radiation on the DNA molecules. In the direct action, the radiation hits the DNA molecule directly, disrupting the molecular structure. Such structural change leads to cell damage or even cell death.

Which organs are most sensitive to radiation?

Radiation in high doses can be dangerous no matter what, but some parts of the body are more sensitive than others. The most sensitive parts of the human body are the lymphoid organs, bone marrow, blood, testes, ovaries and intestines, according to the Collaboration for Nondestructive Testing[1].

What organs are affected by radiation?

Let’s do a head-to-toe walk-through to investigate how high doses of radiation can damage the human body.

• Brain. Nerve cells (neurons) and brain blood vessels can die, leading to seizures.
• Eyes. Radiation exposure increases the risk of cataracts.
• Thyroid.
• Lungs.
• Heart.
• GI tract.
• Reproductive organs.
• Skin.

What tissue is most resistant to radiation?

The differentiated fixed postmitotic cells are the most radioresistant. This class includes the long-lived neurons, skeletal muscle cells and erythrocytes. Carcinogenesis is the most important late effect of ionizing radiation.

What is the biggest cause of radiation?

By far the largest source of natural radiation exposure comes from varying amounts of uranium and thorium in the soil around the world. The radiation exposure due to cosmic rays is very dependent on altitude, and slightly on latitude: people who travel by air, thereby, increase their exposure to radiation.