Radiation: Effects on Humans

[liveonearth]

CANCERS PROVOKED BY EXPOSURE
acute leukemia most common
papillary carcinoma of the thyroid
osteogenic sarcoma

GENERAL
x rays and gamma rays
injury correlates with type of radiation, dose, and area exposed
DNA injury dt formation of hydroxyl free radicals
tissues most sensitive: lymphoid tissue, bone marrow, mucosa of GI, germinal tissue
least sensitive: bone, brain, muscle, skin

EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE
Hematopoietic: lymphopenia is 1st change, thrombocytopenia, bone marrow hypoplasia
Vasc: thrombosis early, fibrosis late, ischemic damage
Epidermal: erythema, edema, blistering (acute), radiodermatitis-->SCC (chronic)
GI: diarrhea (acute), adhesions-->bowel obstruction (chronic)

OTHER TYPES OF RADIATION
lasers-->burns
microwaves-->burns, cataracts, sterility
infrared-->bunrs, cataracts