28th EURADOS Webinar: Radiological consequences of the attack with nuclear weapons

Overview

One of the main effects of a nuclear explosion is ionizing radiation, produced both directly during the explosion and later, as radioactive contamination of the environment. Taking shelter during the explosion and for several days afterward can significantly reduce the doses received and prevent death from acute radiation sickness. However, even the effects of lower doses raise serious concerns due to the potential long-term consequences of exposure, such as the development of malignancies or genetic effects in future generations. Based on over half a century of population studies of survivors of the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the estimated lifetime risk of death from leukemia is 0.9% per Sv, and for radiation-induced solid tumors, 5% per Sv - a relatively low figure considering the natural mortality rate from cancer, which in Europe is approximately 30%. The incidence of genetic mutations among children born to irradiated parents has been estimated at approximately 0.6% per 1 Sv, which is comparable to the natural background level for this type of mutation. No increase in cancer or other diseases has been observed in children conceived after exposure to radiation of one or both parents. The most vulnerable group are pregnant women between 8 and 15 weeks of gestation, in whom high exposure at around 1 Sv can lead to delays in mental development in about half of the children born.