Topic: Decline of the West
In the news report cited in my last post, there is talk of “elevated levels” of radiation being emitted from one of Japan’s damaged nuclear reactors. But just what does “elevated” mean?
Here are some hard facts and numbers bearing on the subject of radiation sickness. A radiation dose of 100 rem (roentgen equivalent in man—a standard exposure measurement) over a period of less than a week would cause radiation sickness in half of people exposed. Some 50% of people exposed to 450 rem over a period of a day or two would die within 30 days. A dose of 1,500 rem would kill nearly everybody exposed within 10 days.
Radiation sickness damages internal organs, especially the circulatory system. Its symptoms include internal and external hemorrhaging, immune system damage, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, ulcers, hair loss, sterility, miscarriages, thyroid gland damage, fever, and liver damage. Death from radiation sickness is usually caused by damage to blood cells and the circulatory system. Radiation sickness can also cause fatal complications in persons with other injuries, or cause death from minor diseases because of damage to the immune system.
See here for more information on radiation effects.
Obviously, if there had already been a widespread, catastrophic release of radioactive matter from one of those damaged reactors—sufficient, say to deliver a dose of 300-500 rem over a short period of time—the effects would be showing up now. Hundreds if not thousands of people would be exhibiting the symptoms of radiation sickness. Clearly, this hasn’t happened so far. The situation is serious, no doubt about it. But let’s see what happens before we succumb to a psychological meltdown.
