Font Size
BOOKLET to Provide Basic Information Regarding Health Effects of Radiation (3rd edition)

Whole-body Exposure and Local Exposure

Whole-body Exposure and Local Exposure_Figure

Radiation exposure at levels exceeding 100 mGy at one time may cause effects on the human body due to cell deaths. Organs highly sensitive to radiation are more likely to be affected with a small amount of radiation.

As the testes in which cells are dividing actively are highly sensitive to radiation, even low doses of radiation at the levels of 100 to 150 mGy temporarily decrease the number of sperm and cause transient sterility. Bone marrow is also highly sensitive to radiation and lymphocytes in blood may decrease due to exposure to radiation even less than 1,000 mGy (= 1 Gy). However, these effects are naturally subdued.

On the other hand, clinical symptoms may appear that require clinical care after exposure to radiation of more than 2,000 mGy at one time.

In the case of local exposure, disorders appear in the exposed organs.

(Related to p.88 of Vol. 1, "Damage and Repair of DNA")

  • Included in this reference material on March 31, 2013
  • Updated on March 31, 2019
Back to Top