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by radiation,
and,
although some specific effects
may be caused by one or a few events in the cell,
many are probably the combined results of numerous
such events.
Even if the effect of ionizing radiations upon cells
were known, it would not tell the entire story of the effect
upon the whole animal.
An organism such as a fish or a man
is an organization of specialized and interdependent cells.
As stated by Loutit (1959),
"Radiation damage to one organ
can disturb the functioning of another.
The cooperative
action of cells and tissues in a many-celled organism profoundly complicates the primary effects of radiation.
time,
Given
this action can also mitigate or reverse some of the
effects."
The biological effects of radiation depend upon the
total dose received by the organism and the length of time
in which the dose is administered.
The effects range from
death to physiological disturbances that are too slight to
be observed.
The damage that results from small doses is
the kind of damage to be expected from the addition of radioisotopes to the sea.
Depending upon the type of cell absorbing the