Acute and Chronic Radiation Dose

DOE-HDBK-1130-98

Module 2 Biological Effects

Instructor's Notes

Damage to chromosomes and other cell

structures can be repaired. In fact, our

bodies repair a very large number of

chromosome breaks every day (References

7 and 10).

Cells are damaged and operate abnormally

Cell damage may not be repaired or may be

incompletely repaired. In that case, the cell

may not be able to function properly.

It is possible that a chromosome in the cell

nucleus could be damaged but not be

repaired correctly. If the cell continues to

reproduce, this is called a mutation and may

result in cancer.

Cells die as a result of the damage

At any given moment, thousands of our cells die

and are replaced by normal functioning cells.

However, the radiation damage to a cell may be

so extensive that the cell dies prematurely.

C. Acute and Chronic Radiation Dose

Potential biological effects depend on how much and how

fast a radiation dose is received. Radiation doses can be

grouped into two categories: acute and chronic dose.

Acute radiation doses

High doses of radiation received in a short period

EO5 Define the terms "acute

of time are called acute doses. The body's cell

dose" and "chronic dose."

repair mechanisms are not as effective for

damage caused by an acute dose.

After an acute dose to the whole body