What are the effects of radiological exposure?
The following is taken from the Department of Energy’s Biological Effects of Radiation manual and is part of the Radiation Worker Training. 4.2.1 Acute dose… An acute radiation dose is defined as a large dose (10 rad or greater to the whole body) delivered during a short period of time (on the order of a few days at most). If large enough, it may result in effects which are observable within a period of hours or weeks. Acute doses can cause a pattern of clearly identifiable sysptoms (syndromes). These conditions are referred to ain general a Acute Rediation Syndrome. Radiation sickness symptomes are apparent folloing acute doses >100rad. Acute whole body doses of >450rad my result in a statistical expectation that 50% of the population exposed will die within 60 days without medical attention. As with most illnesses, the specific symptoms, the therapy that a doctor might prescribe, and the prospects for recovery vary from one person to another and are generally dependent on the age a
