Effects of radiation in our body

• 0 - 5 rem received in a short period or over a long period is safe—we don’t expect observable health effects.
• 5 - 10 rem received in a short period or over a long period is safe—we don’t expect observable health effects. At this level, an effect is either nonexistent or too small to observe.
• 10 - 50 rem received in a short period or over a long period—we don’t expect observable health effects although above 10 rem your chances of getting cancer are slightly increased. We may also see short-term blood cell decreases for doses of about 50 rem received in a matter of minutes.
• 50 - 100 rem received in a short period will likely cause some observable health effects and received over a long period will increase your chances of getting cancer. Above 50 rem we may see some changes in blood cells, but the blood system quickly recovers.
• 100 - 200 rem received in a short period will cause nausea and fatigue. 100 - 200 rem received over a long period will increase your chances of getting cancer.
• 200 - 300 rem received in a short period will cause nausea and vomiting within 24-48 hours. Medical attention should be sought.
• 300 - 500 rem received in a short period will cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea within hours. Loss of hair and appetite occurs within a week. Medical attention must be sought for survival; half of the people exposed to radiation at this level will die if they receive no medical attention.
• 500 - 1,200 rem in a short period will likely lead to death within a few days.
• >10,000 rem in a short period will lead to death within a few hours.

The health effects listed above are for a radiation dose to the entire body. If the radiation is given to a smaller area of the body, there are other effects that may occur, but illness or death is not expected unless noted:

• 40 rem or more locally to the eyes can cause cataracts.
• 100 rem - 500 rem or more can cause hair loss for a section of the body that has hair.
• 200 rem or more locally to the skin can cause skin reddening (similar to a sunburn).
• 1,000 rem or more can cause a breakdown of the intestinal lining, leading to internal bleeding, which can lead to illness and death when the dose is to the abdomen.
• >1,500 rem or more locally to the skin can cause skin reddening and blistering.