Children and Nuclear Radiation 413 - Health - Fitness

After nuclear crisis in Japan, people are very sensitive about nuclear radiation. ToLearn the radiation knowledge, the public need not to worry and too much pay attention.

In the strong earthquake in Japan, Fukushima nuclear happen radioactive substances leaking events. We still not clear how long the nuclear radionuclide emissions will last. Thus, it triggers concerns from all walks of life to a nuclear disaster. Having known about radiological knowledge, the public is entirely unnecessary worry and overly concerned.

1, radiation is everywhere

In nature, there is the radiation is everywhere and we have been under natural radiation, such as cosmic rays, air, water, soil and rock, even radioactive radiation in the food and isotopes for medical diagnosis and treatment, etc. So far, the human race has discovered 109 elements, about 1,800 kind of nuclide in 1800 nuclides, only 270 kinds are stable, and the rest of more than 1,500 kinds are unstable, are radioactive isotopes. Thus it is easy to understand why our environment is full of all kinds of radiation.

2, the children are more sensitive to nuclear radiation

Fukushima nuclear radiation main threat is radioactive iodine - 131 and cesium 137 floating in the air, they spread through winds, with long distance and wide range. The human body is easy to absorb, especially children are more sensitive. Iodine is quickly absorbed by thyroid. Half-life is short only 8 days, which will disappear with radioactive decay. Cesium is absorbed by muscle, the half-life in muscles are 30 years, which means it will stay in body until it is discharged by body. Inside body, these two elements of radiation may cause serious damage, which are mainly DNA. The children which inhale radioactive iodine may in 10 years or more years later suffer from thyroid cancer; the adults seem to have resistance. To estimate Fukushima nuclear disaster health risks, the Japanese authorities have monitored radioactive iodine in childrens thyroid in the worst polluted region.

3, do not abuse potassium iodide

The research of Chernobyl nuclear events shows, thyroid is one of the most vulnerable body organs, but we can take potassium iodide to protect. Children and infants are more vulnerable than adults to suffer from thyroid cancer because of radioactive iodine. In emergency situations, we let them take, can prevent radioactive iodine absorption, and help prevent the occurrence of thyroid cancer. But we must be under the guidance of a doctor to prevent and apply. Improper application has disadvantages in healthy body.

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