2 Effects of Radiation on the Human Body
Content
2 Effects
of Radiation on the Human Body
Hair follicles are very sensitive to radiation, and your treatments may cause you to lose your hair. Most patients
will notice hair loss within the treatment area about three weeks after the start of radiation. You may want to have
your hair cut short prior to starting radiation therapy. If you decide to wear a wig, you should shop before you
have hair loss in order to match color and style.
Hair loss may be temporary or permanent, depending on the amount of radiation received and other treatments
you may be receiving, such as chemotherapy. If your hair loss is temporary, it will probably re-grow about 3 to 6
months after your treatment is complete. You may notice that the re-growth of hair is thinner or a different texture.
(5 Thyroid
The certain body parts are more specifically affected by exposure to different types of radiation sources. The thyroid
gland is susceptible to radioactive iodine. In sufficient amounts, radioactive iodine can destroy all or part of the
thyroid. By taking potassium iodide, one can reduce the effects of exposure.
(6 Blood System
When a person is exposed to around 100 rems, the blood's lymphocyte cell count will be reduced, leaving the victim
more susceptible to infection. This is often refered to as mild radiation sickness. Early symptoms of radiation sickness
mimic those of flu and may go unnoticed unless a blood count is done.0020According to data from Hiroshima and
Nagaski, show that symptoms may persist for up to 10 years and may also have an increased long-term risk for
leukemia and lymphoma.
11Industry
Radioactive materials are used in industrial radiography, civil engineering, materials
analysis, measuring devices, process control in factories, oil and mineral exploration, and
checking oil and gas pipelines for leaks and weaknesses. These uses directly and
indirectly influence our everyday lives. For example, measuring devices containing
radioactive materials are used in tasks ranging from testing the moisture content of soils
during road construction, to measuring the thickness of paper and plastics during
manufacturing, to checking the height of fluid when filling bottles in factories.
Radioactive materials are even used in devices designed to detect explosives.
12Agriculture
In agriculture, radioactive materials are used to improve food crops, preserve food, and
control insect pests. They are also used to measure soil moisture content, erosion rates,
salinity, and the efficiency of fertiliser uptake in the soil.
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments_and_procedures/hic_Radiation_Th
erapy_for_Breast_Cancer/hic-radiation-therapy-side-effects-hair-loss
http://www.atomicarchive.com/Effects/radeffects.shtml
http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/radiation/around-us/uses-radiation.html
http://www.industry.gov.au/resource/RadioactiveWaste/RadiationandRadioactiveW
aste/Pages/Beneficialusesofradiation.aspx
of Radiation on the Human Body
Hair follicles are very sensitive to radiation, and your treatments may cause you to lose your hair. Most patients
will notice hair loss within the treatment area about three weeks after the start of radiation. You may want to have
your hair cut short prior to starting radiation therapy. If you decide to wear a wig, you should shop before you
have hair loss in order to match color and style.
Hair loss may be temporary or permanent, depending on the amount of radiation received and other treatments
you may be receiving, such as chemotherapy. If your hair loss is temporary, it will probably re-grow about 3 to 6
months after your treatment is complete. You may notice that the re-growth of hair is thinner or a different texture.
(5 Thyroid
The certain body parts are more specifically affected by exposure to different types of radiation sources. The thyroid
gland is susceptible to radioactive iodine. In sufficient amounts, radioactive iodine can destroy all or part of the
thyroid. By taking potassium iodide, one can reduce the effects of exposure.
(6 Blood System
When a person is exposed to around 100 rems, the blood's lymphocyte cell count will be reduced, leaving the victim
more susceptible to infection. This is often refered to as mild radiation sickness. Early symptoms of radiation sickness
mimic those of flu and may go unnoticed unless a blood count is done.0020According to data from Hiroshima and
Nagaski, show that symptoms may persist for up to 10 years and may also have an increased long-term risk for
leukemia and lymphoma.
11Industry
Radioactive materials are used in industrial radiography, civil engineering, materials
analysis, measuring devices, process control in factories, oil and mineral exploration, and
checking oil and gas pipelines for leaks and weaknesses. These uses directly and
indirectly influence our everyday lives. For example, measuring devices containing
radioactive materials are used in tasks ranging from testing the moisture content of soils
during road construction, to measuring the thickness of paper and plastics during
manufacturing, to checking the height of fluid when filling bottles in factories.
Radioactive materials are even used in devices designed to detect explosives.
12Agriculture
In agriculture, radioactive materials are used to improve food crops, preserve food, and
control insect pests. They are also used to measure soil moisture content, erosion rates,
salinity, and the efficiency of fertiliser uptake in the soil.
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments_and_procedures/hic_Radiation_Th
erapy_for_Breast_Cancer/hic-radiation-therapy-side-effects-hair-loss
http://www.atomicarchive.com/Effects/radeffects.shtml
http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/radiation/around-us/uses-radiation.html
http://www.industry.gov.au/resource/RadioactiveWaste/RadiationandRadioactiveW
aste/Pages/Beneficialusesofradiation.aspx
