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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffRadiation is the energy released from atoms as either a wave or a tiny particle of matter. Radiation sickness is caused by exposure to a high dose of radiation, such as a high dose of radiation received during an industrial accident. Common exposures to low-dose radiation, such as X-ray examinations, do not cause radiation sickness.
Sources of high-dose radiation
Possible sources of high-dose radiation include the following:
- An accident at a nuclear industrial facility
- An attack on a nuclear industrial facility
- Detonation of a small radioactive device
- Detonation of a conventional explosive device that disperses radioactive material (dirty bomb)
- Detonation of a standard nuclear weapon
Radiation sickness occurs when high-energy radiation damages or destroys certain cells in your body. Regions of the body most vulnerable to high-energy radiation are cells in the lining of your intestinal tract, including your stomach, and the blood cell-producing cells of bone marrow.
- Upton AC. Radiation injury. In: Goldman L, et al., eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/190749348-4/972374138/1492/93.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50023-9--cesec10_713. Accessed March 23, 2010.
- Colwell CB, et al. Radiation injuries. In: Marx JA, et al., eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00144-4&uniq=190749348&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&sid=972411702. Accessed March 23, 2010.
- Siegel D. Preparation for terrorist threats: Radiation injury. Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine. 2009;10:136.
- Bushberg JT. Radiation exposure and contamination. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://merck.com/mmpe/sec21/ch317/ch317a.html#CHDCIEIA. Accessed March 23, 2010.
- Ferri FF, et al. Radiation exposure. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/190749348-10/972432685/2088/550.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00027-7--s0170_11313. Accessed March 23, 2010.
- Vetter RJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 3, 2010.
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