Radiation Sickness/Radiation Poisoning,Are Potential Effects in Japan Now?

As news of a yet another explosion at the Japanese Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant makes headlines, many are asking about the potential effects of radiation exposure. Radiation from nuclear power plants is considered ionizing radiation, the type that can cause harm to human tissue. Exposure to signifiant levels of ionizing radiation (occurring in one large dose, or a successive amount of small doses) can cause what is called radiation sickness or radiation poisoning.

The symptoms of such exposure can range from mild to severe. They include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, weakness, diarrhea, bruising, dehydration, hair loss, skin burns, ulcers, bloody stools, bleeding from the nose and mouth, and even sloughing off of skin. Treatment usually involves decontamination – the removal of as much radioactive particles on the outside of your body as possible. Removing your clothing will usually eliminate approximately 90% of particles and washing the skin with soap and water will remove even more. If needed, various oral and injection treatments can be given for damaged bone marrow and internal organs. Chemicals such as iodine, DTPA and Prussian Blue can help extract and remove radioactive particles from the body. Some patients who have severely damaged bone marrows, which compromises one’s ability to make blood, may require blood transfusions. Although treatment can often be more complex, hopefully, this will give you a basic understanding of the subject matter.

Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.