4 ms·
I have a hard time making sense of this. Would it mean 1 atom of Rn is always fatal for any individual? The fact that it accumulates in the body doesn't mean it
by gbin 6y ago
I have a hard time making sense of this. Would it mean 1 atom of Rn is always fatal for any individual?
The fact that it accumulates in the body doesn't mean it is fatal at any dose.
- saagarjha 6y agoNo, of course not, but Radon is highly radioactive and extremely small amounts are enough to measurably elevate your risk of cancer. We’re talking numbers like a few million molecules in a room.
- gmueckl 6y agoWe need to be more specific: Radon is a gas that goes through alpha decay. It is this specific combination that makes it dangerous. The gaseous form enables easy ingestion by breathing and alpha particles are extremely damaging at short ranges - sub-mm in solid matter. The dead outer skin layer is normally able to perfectly absorb alpha particles which make most emitters effectively harmless. Ingested alpha emitters are different as the emitted alpha particle enters living cells immediately. At that point it is a game of chance whether something gets destroyed or altered that is important for cell reproduction. Also, ingested radioactive emitters are impossible to remove from the human body.
- saagarjha 6y ago> Also, ingested radioactive emitters are impossible to remove from the human body. I think that’s only true for things we don’t metabolize?