Chapter
Radiation and Its Biological Effects
History of radiation injury
1.
European pitchblende miners
a.
Miners with lung diseases known as early as 1500
bv.
Problem acute at end of the 19th century at pitchblende
mines at Joachimsthal
High incidence of lung cancer related to radon concentrations in poorly ventilated shafts
(1)
Up to 1939 nearly one half of total miners' deaths
resulted from lung cancer
(2)
Latent period for induction of lung cancer about seventeen years
Marly scientists working with ionizing radiation
a.
Radiation injury dates back to 1896, the year that Becquerel
discovered radioactivity
First known injuries from ionizing radiation skin burns on
hands of workers using X-ray machines
Radivm dial painters around period of World War I
a.
Injuries came from ingesting radium used in luminous paint
b.
Death sometimes occurred within about three years after
ingestion from severe anemia, hemorrhages and from infections, particularly of the bones of the jaw
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