Effects of Radiation

We all should be in earnest prayer for the people of Japan as they face exposure to radiation in the wake of last week's earthquake there. As the situation deteriorates, there is deep concern about the leakage of radioactive material into the environment.

The severity of exposure depends on how much radiation is released, how concentrated it is, how close a person is to the leak, and how long they are exposed to it.

Symptoms of radiation exposure are often first detected in the intestinal area. People who are exposed may feel mild to severe nausea. They may experience cramping in the abdomen. Sometimes they experience diarrhea and vomiting.

People who experience high amounts of radiation experience all of the above including the destruction of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, which can be fatal.

Also, exposure to radiation affects the thyroid gland, which is critical. Contaminated iodine is released into the environment and when it hits the body, it concentrates in the thyroid, which can cause cancer.

Perhaps you heard on the news that people who lived near the nuclear power plant in Japan were given iodine. This is because if your body ingests "safe" iodine, that is, iodine that is not contaminated with radiation, your thyroid will absorb the "clean" iodine and there won't be room to absorb the contaminated iodine.

During the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, there were cases of fatal thyroid cancer for many years after the incident. Tragically, many of those victims were children.

Scientists later discovered the children were not exposed to radioactive iodine directly in the wake of the disaster. Instead, they ate food, mainly beef, from cows who had grazed on grass where radioactive iodine had fallen.

So now we know not to eat anything in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant after any type of leak, even in the far vicinity because the wind can carry it. And in Japan, the winds are high.

Lastly, radiation affects the bone marrow, which is located in the innermost part of your bones. Many different types of cells are produced in the bone marrow. Exposure to radiation can disturb the manufacture of these critical cells, which is manifested in symptoms such as bleeding and infection.

People who are overexposed to high amounts of radiation in a short period of time are stricken with what's known as Acute Radiation Syndrome, or ARS. Most people do not recover from this and die an agonizing death within a few months of exposure.

Thankfully, emergency officials in Japan has the foresight to evacuate everyone, even the news media, from the area surrounding the nuclear power plant.

We need to pray for those dear people. Nothing is impossible with God!