1 Module 2 Health and Medical Effects

2 Health and Medical Effects Terminal Objective: DESCRIBE the indicators, signs, and symptoms of exposure to radiation.

3 Enabling Objectives: 1.LIST the major sources of natural background and man-made radiation. 2.STATE the average annual dose to the general population from natural background and man-made sources of radiation. 3.DESCRIBE the purposes of radiation dose limits and the guidance for emergency doses. Health and Medical Effects

4 Enabling Objectives (continued): 4.DESCRIBE acute radiation dose and chronic radiation dose and the possible effects of each. 5.STATE the routes of entry by which radioactive material can enter the body. Health and Medical Effects

5 Sources of Natural Background Radiation Cosmic Radiation Sources in the Human Body Sources in the Earth’s Crust Radon

6 Cosmic Radiation Cosmic radiation comes from the sun and outer space. At sea level, the average annual cosmic radiation dose is about 26 mrem per year. The higher the elevation, the higher the dose of cosmic radiation. The exposure increases about 1 mrem per year for every 100 feet up in altitude.

7 Terrestrial Radiation Sources in the Earth ’ s Crust Ground, rocks, soil, and sand Sources – natural radioactive elements of radium, uranium, thorium, and potassium

Terrestrial Radiation average in continental US: 28 mrem per year Terrestrial Radiation average in continental U.S.: 28 mrem per year mrem per year

9 Internal Sources of Natural Background Radiation Sources in the human body Food and water in trace amounts Naturally occurring radioactive materials deposited in our bodies Combined exposure from internal sources – radioactive dose of about 40 mrem per year

10 Radon (Gas) formed from the radioactive decay of uranium in the soil Can collect in basements Emits alpha radiation

11 Man-Made Sources of Radiation Tobacco products Medical radiation Building materials Domestic water supply

12 Sources of Radiation NATURAL BACKGROUND mrem/year Cosmic Radiation26 Terrestrial (Earth’s crust)28 Internal Sources (body)40 Radon 200 MAN-MADE SOURCES mrem/year Smoking (Tobacco Products) 1300 Medical X-rays 40 Medical Diagnosis and Therapy14 Building Materials 7 Domestic Water Supply 5

13 Sources of Radiation Total of natural background and man-made sources for the average American (non-smoker): 360 mrem per year (about 1 mrem per day) Average due to smoking cigarettes (1 pack a day): 1300 mrem per year (about 3 mrem per pack) Round-trip airline flight across the U.S.: about 5 mrem

14 Other Minor Contributors of Radiation Atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons Consumer products Industrial causes

15 Biological Effects

16 Effects of Radiation on Cells Atoms Molecules Cells Tissues and Organs Body

17 Effects of Radiation on Cells (cont.) Some cells are more sensitive: Blood Cells that form sperm Intestinal tract Hair follicles

18 Effects on Cells Exposed to Ionizing Radiation No damage Repair and operate normally Damaged and operate abnormally Cells die

19 InhalationIngestion Biological Pathways Puncture or InjectionAbsorption

20 Acute vs. Chronic Radiation Doses Acute Large dose Short time Chronic Small doses Long time

21 Acute Radiation Dose Exposure to high doses of radiation over a short period of time (minutes, hours, days)

22 Biological Effects of Radiation Exposure Damage in exposed individual No proven cases of genetic damage to humans passed on to future children Survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: genetic mutations in their children no higher than the general population

23 Factors Affecting Cell Damage Total dose Dose rate Type of radiation Area of the body Cell sensitivity Individual sensitivity General state of health

24 Acute Radiation Effects Dose Less than 50,000 mrem No symptoms Between 50,000 and 100,000 mrem Temporary lowering of white cell count Between 100,000 and 200,000 mrem Hours Later: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea No permanent disability

25 Acute Radiation Effects Dose (continued) Between 200,000 and 450,000 mrem Vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss 200,000 mrem lethal for 5% people in 60 days 450,000 mrem Lethal Dose 50% in 60 days LD 50/60 600,000 mrem Death for most people

26 Radiation Burns Chernobyl Firefighter Bronze-coloring, “tanning” of the skin Cloth Red-coloring, Swelling, Blistering Victim from the country of Georgia

27 Radiation Burns – Gamma and Beta Radiation

28 Beta Burns from Contamination

29 Beta Burns on Foot

30 Beta Burns from Radioactive Fallout Healing Skin, 30 Days after Burn

31 Purpura (bleeding under the skin)

32 Hair Loss

33 Casualties from a Nuclear Detonation

34 Effects of Nuclear Detonation Thermal (flash) injuries from thermal pulse Shock wave injuries, collapsed buildings Radiation burns and sickness Injuries from fires External/internal contamination Long-term effects

35 Eye Injury from Nuclear Blast

36 Flash Burns Thermal Pulse Injury from Nuclear Blast

37 Genetic Damage No proven cases of genetic damage to humans passed on to future children Survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki medically studied. Genetic mutations in their children no higher than the general population

38 Dose (mrem)Percent 1, , , , , Acute Exposure and Fatal Cancer

39 Fatal Cancer Risk Estimates (Example) 10,000 mrem dose – extra 0.8% 1,000 survivors receive 10,000 mrem – estimated 8 extra cancer deaths 200 cancer deaths from other causes 208 total cancer deaths

40 Chronic Radiation Dose Risks A small amount of ionizing radiation received over a long period of time (months, years) Small increase in cancer risk

41 Potential Effects of Chronic Radiation Dose Biological effects from chronic doses of radiation may occur in: Exposed individual Future children of the exposed individual

42 Risk in Perspective Somatic health effects (primarily cancer) observed only at doses more than 10,000 mrem Risk below this dose is speculative

43 Estimated Loss of Life Expectancy from Health Risks Estimated Days Lost Smoking one pack a day2250 Being 25% overweight 777 Agricultural accidents 320 Construction accidents 227 Automobile accidents 207 Chronic Radiation (1000 mrem per year from 18 to 65) 51 All industry 50 Chronic Radiation (100 mrem per year for 70 years) 10 Medical radiation 6

44 EPA Guidelines for Emergency Procedures Dose Limit: Maximum radiation dose that a responder is allowed to receive. Purpose of Dose Limit: Allow responders to perform emergency actions, yet keep risk as low as possible

45 EPA Guidelines for Emergency Procedures* (expected only once in a lifetime) * Minors and pregnant females have much lower limits Dose limit Emergency Activity Performed Condition 5,000 mremAll activities All activities during emergency 10,000 mrem Protecting major property Where lower dose not practicable 25,000 mrem Lifesaving or protection of large populations Where lower dose not practicable More than 25,000 mrem Lifesaving or protection of large populations Only on a volunteer basis to persons fully aware of the risks involved.

46 Health and Medical Effects 1.If there are low-level radiation readings, what are the possible sources of radiation? 2.How much radiation do you receive daily? 3.If there is radiation from the explosion, could it get onto or into your body? 4.What happens if radiation gets into the body?

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