What Are the Early Signs of Nuclear Radiation Exposure and How to Counter It?

As soon as Jordan Peele takes a sip of the coffee, we see a mysterious mushroom cloud in the sky. Almost instantly, screams fill the air, followed by sirens. People panic, scream, and scramble for shelter. It’s instant chaos.

He takes one look outside and slowly returns the sugar-free sweetener he had reached for. He grabs the sugar bottle and helps himself to a generous amount of sugar. Almost too generous.

Submission.

Man, there is always that one Key & Peele video that you have not watched.

Recent reports of a nuclear leak in Pakistan have understandably sparked concern, especially given the ongoing military tensions in the region.

For many, the word “nuclear” immediately brings to mind some of the most harrowing events in history, like the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 or the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The long-term consequences of those events, both physical and psychological, still affect generations today.

Let’s break down what exactly makes nuclear radiation so dangerous.

To begin with, the tiny particles released from atmospheric nuclear weapons can travel far and wide. This means even people far from the source can be exposed to small but harmful traces of radioactive elements.

Take Plutonium-239, for example. It’s one of the key materials used in nuclear warheads, and it doesn’t just vanish over time; it stays hazardous for more than 24,000 years. Just one gram released into the air could potentially affect millions of people.

Other radioactive substances can be just as harmful:

• Iodine-131 can increase the risk of thyroid cancer.

• Caesium-137 often accumulates in muscles, damaging cells and DNA around it.

• Strontium-90 tends to target bones and teeth.

• Uranium-235 can affect vital organs like the lungs, liver, and bones.

So, how do people end up with radiation poisoning? It usually happens in one of the following ways:

• Being near a nuclear explosion

• Handling radioactive materials without protection

• Eating or drinking food and water that’s been contaminated

The closer someone is to a radiation source, the greater the health risks become.

While the news of any nuclear leak is troubling, understanding the science behind radiation helps us stay informed, and that’s the first step toward safety. If you're living in or near affected regions, it's always a good idea to stay updated through trusted news sources and follow safety guidelines issued by local authorities.

Just the word “radiation” can feel a little unsettling. And for good reason. It has the power to affect our bodies in serious ways, depending on how much we’re exposed to and for how long.

Some effects might show up soon after exposure, while others might not appear for years. They can range from something mild, like skin irritation, to more serious consequences such as cancer or, in extreme cases, even death.

Radiation exposure isn’t something to take lightly.

So, what determines how harmful radiation can be? Several key factors come into play:

• How much radiation your body absorbs (also called the dose)

• What type of radiation is it

• How you were exposed (through the skin, by inhaling, or ingesting it)

• How long did the exposure last

To make sense of it all, scientists use special units to measure radiation doses - Gray (Gy) and rads. If a person absorbs more than 0.7 Gy (or 70 rads), they could start to experience radiation poisoning.

Symptoms can begin at even lower levels. A dose of 0.3 Gy (30 rads) can trigger mild symptoms like nausea or fatigue. That might sound like a small number, but to put it in perspective, 0.75 Gy is roughly equivalent to 18,000 chest X-rays delivered all at once.

For someone to suffer from radiation poisoning, one of three things usually needs to happen:

• The radiation must reach your internal organs.

• A large portion of your body must be exposed.

• And the exposure happens quickly, often within minutes.

While that might sound scary, it’s important to remember that such intense exposures are rare. Most people will never experience radiation poisoning in their lifetime.

But understanding how it works helps us be prepared, informed, and mindful - especially in the event of nuclear accidents or emergencies.

Being exposed to high levels of radiation can also increase your risk of serious health problems down the road, like cancer or heart disease.

For example, studies have shown that leukaemia, a type of blood cancer, can develop within two years of radiation exposure. Cancerous tumours usually take longer, often 10 years or more, to show up.

To understand these risks better, scientists studied around 94,000 survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. Among those who developed leukaemia, about one-third of the cases were linked directly to radiation exposure.

The aftermath of Chernobyl also tells a powerful story. Children and teens living near the explosion site had thyroid cancer rates nearly 100 times higher than expected.

Your cancer risk rises with higher doses of radiation. For instance:

• A dose between 0.005 and 0.1 Gy may increase your risk by 2%

• But with doses over two Gy, the risk can jump by more than 60%

Radiation’s effects may take years to unfold, but understanding the risks now can help us take better precautions for the future.

Symptoms of radiation poisoning can start showing up soon after exposure and can include:

• Nausea and vomiting

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Fatigue or weakness

• Vomiting blood

• Diarrhoea

• Rectal bleeding

• Hair loss

• Confusion

• Fever

• Infections

• Skin redness, swelling, itching and other skin problems

These symptoms can appear within minutes to hours, depending on the amount of exposure. The more radiation is absorbed, the more severe the symptoms can become, and in some cases, they can worsen over the following days or weeks.

If a nuclear event occurs, decontaminating quickly is crucial. Acting fast can greatly reduce the amount of radiation your body absorbs.

In fact, simply removing your outer clothing can lower your exposure by up to 80%. Washing with warm, soapy water helps remove most of the radioactive particles from your skin.

Here’s what you should do:

• Take off your clothes before entering your home

• Avoid touching your face, and don’t eat, drink, chew gum, or smoke until you’ve cleaned up

• Shower with warm water and soap

• Gently blow your nose, clean your eyelids, and wipe your ears

• Put on clean clothes

• Rinse out the shower afterwards

• Stay updated by listening to official public health announcements

If you’re caught in a radiation emergency, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones:

• Get inside a sturdy building as quickly as possible

• Shut and lock all doors and windows

• Head to the centre or basement of the building, away from the outside walls

• Bring pets indoors if you’re home

• Stay inside and keep doors and windows sealed

• Shower or wipe your skin with a damp cloth if you’ve been outside

• Drink bottled water and eat only sealed, packaged food

• Stay tuned to emergency broadcasts for instructions

Staying calm and acting quickly can make all the difference. Knowing what to do ahead of time is the best way to stay safe.

A nuclear emergency is one of the most serious threats we could face, both to our health and to life as we know it. While it may seem unlikely, it’s not impossible.

That’s why it’s so important for all of us to know what to do if such a situation ever arises. Being informed, following official safety guidance, and staying indoors can make a life-saving difference.

Preparation might not prevent the event, but it can absolutely protect you and your loved ones if it ever happens.

Q. Does iodine treat radiation poisoning?

A. Iodine doesn’t help treat radiation poisoning, but it may help prevent your thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive iodine, which can increase your risk of thyroid cancer. More than 6,000 children developed thyroid cancer after the Chernobyl explosion.

It’s recommended that all children and females exposed to high levels of radiation be offered potassium iodine supplements.

Q. Can cancer treatments cause radiation poisoning?

A. The amount of radiation used in cancer treatments isn’t enough to cause radiation poisoning. But it can still cause side effects. For example, radiation to your brain can cause cognitive effects that may not show up for more than 6 months after treatment.

Q. Can you survive radiation poisoning?

A. It’s possible to survive radiation poisoning. Your chances of survival decrease with increasing doses of radiation.

Q. Did people die of radiation poisoning in Chernobyl?

A. According to the World Nuclear Association, two Chernobyl plant workers died directly from the explosion, and 28 other people died within a few weeks from exposure to very high amounts of radiation.