Medicine and the bomb

The second of four articles on the medical aspects of nuclear explosions describes the acute radiation injuries and effects of early fallout. The radiation emitted at the point of explosion and from local fallout can produce potentially lethal radiation damage to man in the short term. The tissues most sensitive to radiation are lymphoid tissue, bone marrow, spleen, the male reproductive organs and the gastrointestinal tract; the symptoms and treatment of acute radiation sickness are discussed. If the dose of radiation is spread over weeks or months rather than hours or days, the body can tolerate higher doses of radiation because the cells start to recover while irradiation is continuing. Other hazards of fallout to man and domestic animals caught in fallout are beta-burns and internal irradiation due to ingestion of contaminated food and water. Possible protection measures against fallout are briefly discussed. (U.K.)