About Radiation Effects on the Body

High levels of radiation can do a great deal of damage to the human body, according to AtomicArchive.com. Radiation sickness can lead to a breakdown of cell structures, which affects each part of the body differently.

Hair

• Loss of hair in clumps occurs at radiation levels over 200 rems.

Brain

• The brain is not directly affected by radiation until it hits 5,000 rems. It does kill small blood vessels and nerves, which may cause seizures or death.

Thyroid

• The thyroid gland can be destroyed by too much radioactive iodine. The effects of radioactive iodine can be lessened by consuming potassium iodide.

Heart

• High levels of radiation damage small blood vessels, which could cause heart failure and death.

Gastrointestinal Tract

• High levels of radiation damage the intestinal tract. This can lead to diarrhea, nausea, and bloody vomiting. Exposure to more than 200 rems of radiation will start the tract's damage.

Reproductive Health

• Reproductive tract cells divide rapidly, which leaves them more susceptible to radiation's ill effects than other parts of the body. Radiation sickness can lead to sterility.