Natural radiation and risk

2000/04/25 Roa Zubia, Guillermo - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Genetika
• Anatomia/Fisiologia

Every second we go through the attack of 100 cosmic rays. By breathing, eating and drinking we introduce radioactive atoms. This is totally natural.

Radiation is made up of high-energy particles. Through the body, radiation can alter or damage the internal machinery of the cells. It can remove cells at high intensities. Only proteins and other molecules impaired at low intensities are replaced.

Genetic influence

The genetic code is heavily influenced by radiation. It can break the long strands of DNA. You can also leave ionized water remains on your way. When it acts on important genes, the death of this cell can occur. If a growth-related gene is destroyed, this cell can begin to unfold constantly and form a tumor.

Sheath cells have a DNA repair system. Even in the absence of radiation, they face the attack of free radicals occurring inside the cell. The cell itself, to some extent, is able to solve the errors and problems that occur. In addition, in some cases, the cell is "programmed" to commit suicide. Thus, they have an antitumor prevention system.

Some scientists say there is a minimal dose of radiation. Below this dose there is hardly a chance of cancer.

Others, however, consider that small radiation has a low chance of getting cancer, but it does. Note that radiation of different types has effects of different size. Beta particles are very effective and dangerous in small doses. A high dose of neutrons is required to be at risk and even higher for alpha particles.

Map of body resistance

On the other hand, each organ of the body has different radiation absorption capacity. For example, it is more dangerous to get a dose of radiation in the lungs than in the liver. This radiation absorption capacity is measured in each organ by a factor. The lungs have this factor twice as much as the liver.

What is clear is that receiving radiation at very high doses produces a genetic disaster that will include the following. This was due, for example, to the bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as to the accident of the Chenobyl plant.