What are the health hazards of nuclear pollution?
Sep 15, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, the health hazards of nuclear pollution include acute radiation sickness, increased risk of cancer, reproductive and genetic damage, immune system impairment, and organ dysfunction. The effects of nuclear pollution on the human body are dose-dependent and cumulative. Short-term exposure to high doses can cause immediate and severe harm, while long-term exposure to low doses is more likely to trigger chronic diseases.
Generally, the health hazards of nuclear pollution include acute radiation sickness, increased cancer risk, reproductive and genetic damage, immune system impairment, organ dysfunction, and others. A detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Acute Radiation Sickness
If high-energy radiation released from nuclear contamination leads to a large radiation dose within a short time, it may cause acute radiation sickness. Initial symptoms include gastrointestinal reactions such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, followed by a latent period. Later stages may involve bone marrow suppression and damage to skin and mucous membranes; severe cases can result in death from multiple organ failure.
2. Increased Cancer Risk
Long-term low-dose radiation exposure can damage cellular DNA, leading to accumulated gene mutations and an increased incidence of cancer. For example, iodine-131 tends to accumulate in the thyroid gland, potentially inducing thyroid cancer; strontium-90 deposits in bones, increasing the risk of bone cancer and leukemia.
3. Reproductive and Genetic Damage
Reproductive cells are highly sensitive to radiation. Nuclear contamination may lead to sperm malformation and decreased egg quality, causing infertility. If the DNA of reproductive cells is damaged, it may result in genetic mutations, increasing the risk of congenital diseases in offspring, such as malformations and intellectual disabilities.
4. Immune System Damage
Radiation can destroy immune cells such as lymphocytes and macrophages in the immune system, leading to impaired immune function. The body's resistance to pathogens significantly decreases, making individuals prone to recurrent bacterial and viral infections. Infections are difficult to control and may lead to life-threatening conditions such as sepsis in severe cases.
5. Organ Function Impairment
Different radioactive nuclides target and deposit in specific organs, causing specific damage: for example, plutonium-239 accumulates in the lungs, potentially causing pulmonary fibrosis and respiratory failure; cobalt-60 extensively damages the liver and kidneys, leading to abnormal liver and kidney function, with symptoms such as jaundice and proteinuria.
The harmful effects of nuclear pollution on the human body are dose-dependent and cumulative. Short-term high-dose exposure causes direct and severe damage, while long-term low-dose exposure easily triggers chronic diseases. Therefore, comprehensive radiation monitoring and protective measures are necessary to reduce exposure risks. If exposure is suspected, timely medical evaluation of radiation dose and necessary interventions are crucial.
