The Health Effects Of Nuclear Exposure:

The Health Effects Of Nuclear Exposure: Related Information:

The thought of nuclear warfare is a very frightening one for all of us, and even more frightening is the thought of how exposure to nuclear detonation can affect our health – assuming, of course, that it doesn’t kill us outright.

There are many short term and long term effects that come with exposure to nuclear warfare. The effects can be spread far and wide, and can continue to affect us and our families for generations. The obvious risk from exposure to nuclear warfare is immediate death. This can occur due to the blast from the explosion, from flying debris, from burning, and from vaporisation due to gamma rays.

If you do survive the blast then there are a number of ways in which you could be affected through internal and external exposure. These include:

External problems associated with exposure to nuclear explosions:

Skin reddening, rash, severe burns and peeling are all possible external effects. The severity of these effects will depend upon the level of exposure. Blindness is also a potential problem, and looking directly at the blast from a nuclear explosion can cause anything from temporary blindness to burning of the retina. Discolouration of the skin can also occur through radiodermatitis, where capillaries are broken down.

Internal problems associated with exposure to nuclear explosions:

The radiation from a nuclear explosion can cause a variety of internal problems as the radiation gets in to the system and can corrupt and kill cells. The extent of these problems can be dependant upon the levels of exposure. The effects can include:

Radiation sickness which can be identified by symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, fainting, dehydration, hair loss, loss of appetite and bleeding from the nose, mouth, rectum or gums.

Cancer can also result from radiation exposure. There is a latency period between exposure and onset of symptoms, so it may be a while before the affected person realises that they have cancer.

Birth Defects can also result from exposure to nuclear explosions. Exposure to pregnant mothers can result in the baby being born with physical or mental disabilities.

Other health issues that can be caused by exposure include:

• Infertility
• Anaemia
• Infections
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Haemorrhaging

The effects of being exposed to a nuclear explosion or radiation can be devastating on many levels. Those who aren’t killed immediately might suffer a long and agonising death as their internal organs slowly die off through radiation exposure. Cancers, infections and other internal problems can end up being the cause of death. And, the effects of the exposure can be passed on to future generations for years to come.

Depending on the levels of exposure, some people may experience both immediate and delayed effects, which can ultimately end in death through radiation or through a disease caused by the radiation. Some effects, such as external problems, will be obvious immediately following exposure. However, other ill-effects could not show themselves for many years. Even a smaller dose of radiation could cause enough damage to put you at increased risk of getting diseases such as cancer.