Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 5.1
Acute Radiation Syndrome
(1 Gray (Gy)
=
100 rads; 1 centiGray (cGy)
=
1 rad)
Whole body radiation from external radiation or internal absorption
Subclinical range
Sublethal range
Lethal range
Phase of
Syndrome
Feature
0-100 rad or
cGy
100-200 rad
1-2 Gy
200-600 rad
2-6 Gy
600-800 rad
6-8 Gy
800-3000 rad
8-30 Gy
>3000 rad
>30Gy
Nausea,
vomiting
None
5-50%
50-100%
75-100%
90-100%
100%
Prodromal
Phase
Time of onset
3-6 hrs
2-4 hrs
1-2 hrs
<1hr
Minutes
Duration
<24 hrs
<24 hrs
<48 hrs
<48 hrs
N/A
Lymphocyte
count
Unaffected
Minimally
decreased
<1000 at 24 hr
<500 at 24hr
Decreases
within
Decreases
within hours
hours
CNS function
No
impairment
No impairment
Routine task
performance
Cognitive
impairment for
6-20 hrs
Simple and
routine task
performance
Cognitive
impairment
for >24 hrs
Rapid incapacitation, may have a
lucid interval of several hours
Latent Phase
(subclinical)
Absence of
Symptoms
>2wks
7-15 days
0-7 days
0-2 days
None
Acute
Radiation
Illness or
“Manifest
illness” phase
Signs and
symptoms
None
Moderate
leukopenia
Severe leukopenia, purpura,
hemorrhage
Pneumonia
Hair loss after 300 rad/3 Gy
Diarrhea
Fever
Electrolyte
Convulsions,
Ataxia,
Tremor,
Lethargy
distur-
bance
Time of onset
>2wks
2 days to 2 wks
1-3 days
Critical period
None
4-6 wks - Most potential for
effective medical intervention
2-14 days
1-48 hrs
Organ system None
Hematopoietic and respiratory
(mucosal) systems
GI tract Mucosal
systems
CNS
Hospitalization
% Duration
0
<5%
45-60 days
90%
60-90 days
100%
90
+
days
100%
weeks to months
100%
days to weeks
Mortality
None
Minimal
Low with
aggressive
therapy
High
Very high, significant neurological
symptoms indicate lethal dose
