What is a lethal dose of radiation from a single Exposure?
Studies of the 1945 atomic bombing at Hiroshima and Nagasaki show that 100 percent of victims whose bodies were exposed to 600,000 millirems (6,000 mSv) died from radiation. About 50 percent of victims who received 450,000 millirems (4,500 mSv) of radiation also died.
(Note: Rem is a unit of ionizing radiation equal to the amount that produces the same damage to humans as one roentgen of high-voltage x-rays. Source: MIT)
1 rem = 10 mSv (1 Sv = 100 rem)
Background Radiation in millirems per year (mrem/yr)
- Average background radiation (US): 300
- Higher altitudes (e.g, Denver): 400
“Safe Levels” of Radiation (U.S.)
Limits above natural background radiation levels (average 300 millirems per year) and medical radiation:
- Occupation Limit: Maximum of 5,000 (the limit for a worker using radiation)
- Average Natural Background: 300
[Note: Lifetime cumulative exposure should be limited to a person's age multiplied by 1,000 millirems, e.g., a 70-year-old person, 70,000 millirems.]
Adults
- Max single dose for an adult: 3,000
- Annual total dose: 5,000
Under 18
- Max single dose for a person aged under 18 years: 300 millirems (whole body equivalent)
- Annual total exposure: 500
Fetal Exposure
- Maximum limit for fetal exposure during gestation period: 50 millirems per month above background levels
Medical
- Single Chest X-ray (the whole body equivalent): 2 millirem
Air Travel
- Coast-to-coast US round trip flight: 12 millirems
*Note: Radiation dose of about 2,000 millisieverts (200,000 millirems) cause serious illness.
Some more info about radiation dosage. It's a tad misleading, because the dose you get from a chest xray depends on the operator, as well as your body size. The bigger the part, the more radiation needed to penetrate it and produce a viable image.
ReplyDeletewhat effects do sufferers experience during a fatal dose?
ReplyDeleteWell, when cellular DNA is damaged, when the cell goes to divide (like all cells in they body do, including nerve tissue, contrary to popular belief), apoptysis, or cell death, occurs. Things that are affected first are the GI tract and most mucous membranes. Skin blisters and sloughs off and death is due to entire system failure. If a person survives the initial dosage then most likely they'll die from malignancy, fluid loss, or secondary infection. I'll post a link about a guy who received one of the biggest doses ever.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cddc.vt.edu/host/atomic/accident/critical.html#cr052146
ReplyDeleteA good way to think of it is an extreme internal sunburn. You don't notice the sunburn when the damage is initially done. The pain and blistering occurs only after the cells try to divide. This is because the UV rays that burn you are a form of radiation.
ReplyDelete