radio active poisoning-to children

[robertpr007]

I'd like to exchange email [or here] with somebody who knows a bit about the effects of radio active poisoning with regards to passing illnesses and/or medical problems along to the children. Thanks

[Alexis14]

There are two types of effects: the short term, high level exposure and long term which is over many years. Children are more susceptible to radiation than adults. The short term is similiar to the effects that cancer patients receive after radiation treatment. There is weakness, nausea, and hair loss due to radiation poisoning. Also, burns, premature aging, and death within two months. Check www.epa.gov/radiation/understand/health_effects.htm for more.

One example of the long term effects on children is Chernobyl. A sad, sad story... because of the radiation, the children there are more likely to get cancer (i.e.- thyroid cancer) and pass the genetic mutations on to their children. There's an excellent article by Elizabeth Piper of the Boston Globe. It should be easy to do a search on it.

[Alexis14]

According to other sources, there are also the low level exposures which is said to have little effect.

[robertpr007]

Thanks MUCH! I will check that site and search on the article. I can find all kinds of information, but nothing about effects on children passed from the parents. If any...?

That's my major problem: does a parent with radiation induced cancer have a higher than normal possibility of passing it to the children? Or is it like lung cancer? Not passable? But possibly prone?

[Alexis14]

I read that there is a higher than normal possibility of the children getting some forms of cancer. In the case of Chernobyl, there was a higher incidence of thyroid cancer.

[Ravenlocks01]

I don't know if you still need this information, but here goes...

As I recall from articles I've read on the effects of Chernobyl, children born to cleanup workers and victims tend to show hyperactivity, inability to concentrate, they cry for no reason, etc. I don't recall reading that they're more likely to develop radiation-induced cancer if their parents have it - but I could be wrong.

Children who were in Chernobyl at the time of the accident have a heightened risk of thyroid cancer.

Sad how Chernobyl has become a testing ground for the effects of radiation.

If you're interested, I could probably get you a couple articles on hereditary effects from Russian sources.

[robertpr007]

Thanks much. Oddly enough, during a rewrite, I took out sections to tighten things up, and this part was reduced. My limited knowledge is enough to get by, as I'm going to concentrate on the parent's illness. I do know enough about that.

thanks