Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A high dose of ionizing radiation is a significant amount of energy deposited in biological tissue, potentially causing severe cellular damage. It often leads to acute health effects and increases the risk of long-term consequences such as cancer.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
High doses of ionizing radiation can cause immediate symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and skin burns.
Radiation doses are measured in sieverts (Sv), with a high dose typically being greater than 1 Sv.
Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) is a potential consequence of exposure to high doses over a short period.
Medical treatments for high-dose radiation exposure may include the use of potassium iodide to block radioactive iodine uptake by the thyroid gland.
High doses can lead to deterministic effects, which have a threshold below which they do not occur.
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Related terms
Sievert (Sv): A unit that measures the effect of ionizing radiation on human tissue, accounting for both energy absorption and biological impact.
Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS): A serious illness caused by receiving a high dose of radiation in a short period. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and reduced white blood cell count.
Deterministic Effects: Health effects that increase in severity with higher doses and have a threshold level below which they do not occur.