In our time, dying from radiation seems unlikely, and yet such a danger exists. Radiation protection requires certain precautions. The destruction of body cells that occurs when interacting with a radioactive object contributes to the development of many dangerous diseases.
Humans are exposed to background radiation quite often. The sun, marble, granite, radon gases - they all serve as sources, but their effect on the body is insignificant. Unfortunately, there are situations in which the risk of exposure to radiation is quite high and knowledge of the rules of radiation protection can save lives. Preventive measures consist of observing 3 postulates that will help minimize the harmful effects of radiation exposure : time, obstacles and distance.
Time will protect against radiation
This is more likely not protection, but an actual reduction in the time spent at the source of radiation. The less time a person is near a radiation source, the less harm it will cause to health. This method of protection was used, for example, during the liquidation of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Liquidators of the consequences of an explosion at a nuclear power plant had only a few minutes to do their work in the affected area and return to safe territory. Exceeding the time led to an increase in the level of radiation and could be the beginning of the development of radiation sickness and other consequences that radiation can cause.
Purification from radionuclides and heavy metals - general recommendations:
Heavy metals and radionuclides are dangerous because they are poorly excreted from the body. They have a nerve-paralytic effect, affect the activity of enzymes, impair the functioning of the digestive system, and destroy the body's antioxidant system, which protects it from aging. It has been established that of all non-drug treatments for diseases caused by radiation injuries, the most effective are high-quality nutrition and periodic fasting. The recommendations below can be used by those living in high radiation environments. Traditional medicine believes that the most effective and efficient means of cleansing the body from the effects of radiation is therapeutic fasting (see Fasting ). As the main food of people who have received some dose of radiation, products containing coarse fiber are recommended, which have the ability to enter into chemical compounds with toxins and form new, less toxic substances that are easily removed from the body. If you want to protect yourself from radionuclides, make sure that your daily diet always includes almonds, corn, lentils, apples, oats, buckwheat, barley, beans, pumpkin, cabbage, brown rice, carrots, radishes (grate in the morning, eat in the evening, and vice versa). Before consumption, vegetables and fruits must be peeled to a depth of 0.5 cm, and at least 3 leaves must be removed from cabbage, since most of the heavy metals and pesticides accumulate in the top layer of the fruit. In vegetables, these substances accumulate in the core. The absorption of cesium-137 is prevented by the consumption of foods containing large amounts of potassium (beets, dried apricots, apricots, nuts, unpeeled potatoes); the absorption of other radionuclides is weakened by pomegranates, raisins, black currants, cranberries, nuts, garlic, onions, beets, parsley, as well as squid and seaweed. It is recommended to drink decoctions of prunes, nettles, juices with coloring pigments, and natural red wine. Be sure to include dairy products in your diet: cottage cheese, cream, sour cream, butter. The calcium contained in them reduces the accumulation of radioactive strontium, and the cottage cheese is cleared of radioactive elements (hundreds of times compared to milk), since they remain in the whey. The oil contains no harmful elements at all. Among meat products, it is better to eat pork and poultry. Methionine, found in dairy products, meat and fish, is necessary for the removal of radionuclides. However, it is better to limit meat consumption, especially beef, which contains the largest amount of radionuclides. You should also avoid cutlets, since minced meat contains ichor, and when frying, radionuclides remain in the food. When boiling meat, be sure to drain the first broth. Do not starve your body: 265 ml of water passing through the kidneys removes 1 gram from the body. harmful substances. The kidneys never stop working, but in order for them to do it, they must be constantly supplied with water. Drink clean water in small portions 2-3 hours after meals and finish doing this 30 minutes before your next meal. It is also recommended to drink decoctions of flax, prunes, nettles, laxative herbs, juices with dye pigments (grape, pomegranate, natural wine); if the liver is absolutely healthy, you can drink alcohol and vodka in small quantities. Preference should be given to juices with pulp. They adsorb various substances well and contribute to the accelerated removal of radionuclides. Before meals you need to take activated carbon (1-4 tablets). You can make your own activated carbon. Break the walnut shell and grind it to a powder. Pour the powder into a saucepan and place on low heat (without water). When the shell begins to burn and charcoal appears, keep the pan on the fire for 15 minutes. Then remove and cool. Before using coal, it must be crushed to a powdery state and sifted through a sieve. Mix the resulting charcoal with water (the water should turn black). Drink 2 tablespoons of this water every 15 minutes, bringing the volume of liquid drunk to 400 ml. In parallel with drinking water, you need to do enemas, using from 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of coal per 1 liter of water. Garlic, onions, cottage cheese, viburnum berries and gooseberries have the greatest ability to absorb radioactive elements. Vegetable oil, cottage cheese, calcium tablets, and alcohol have anti-radiation effects. Products that are hazardous to health in conditions of increased radiation: coffee, jellied meat, bones, bone fat, cherries, plums, apricots, beef, boiled eggs (strontium contained in the shell turns into protein when cooked). It is better to make scrambled eggs from eggs. Periodic complete abstinence from eating helps rid the human body even of severe radiation complications. This remedy gave good results in the treatment of patients with severe acute radiation sickness who were directly affected by the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. As a result of fasting, the rhythm of cell division slows down, the hereditary apparatus and its enzymatic system activate processes to restore nucleic acids (acids of the hereditary apparatus - DNA and RNA). As a result, damaged cells do not die, but are restored (they begin to divide normally and perform their functions). Periodic fasting also helps restore the protective functions of cells, organs and systems against radiation damage. This is extremely important for people living in conditions of constant exposure to radionuclides that are in the environment and contained in food products. And finally, as a result of fasting, the mechanisms for removing from the body all those substances that interfere with its normal functioning are improved: radionuclides, nitrates, pesticides, heavy metals and other poisons and waste (see Fasting). The most effective domestic drug that removes heavy metals from the body is Zosterin. It was obtained by R. Ovodova from the sea grass zostera. The product actively attracts, retains, and then removes heavy metal ions and other industrial toxins even from the bone systems. The drug Befungin has a similar effect. Chaga is considered an effective cleansing agent. Pour 1 tablespoon of powdered mushroom into a glass of hot water. Leave for half an hour, adding a pinch of soda. Take 3 times during the day in between meals. This product also dissolves salt deposits well. But herbalists warn that chaga tea should never be drunk with sugar.
Radiation protection by distance
The most reliable way to protect yourself from radioactive radiation is to move away from the source of radiation as soon as possible. The distance depends on the radiation intensity, climatic conditions and terrain. For example, in the mountains the spread of radiation is noticeably less than on the plain, since mountains are a natural barrier to radiation and significantly reduce it. And when there is wind, you need to go against the wind, since most of the radioactive dust is spread with the help of the wind. And if possible, you can remove the radiation source to a safe area or for burial.
Stages of a nuclear explosion
Before talking about methods of protection against radiation radiation, it is necessary to understand the very essence of a nuclear explosion, what exactly threatens a person at this moment:
- Light and warmth. The first thing that can threaten a person at the moment of an explosion is a blinding flash of light and a powerful release of thermal energy . A person who is at the epicenter at this moment risks burning out in a few seconds. If you look at what is happening from afar, damage to the retina may occur.
- Shock wave. According to the laws of physics, light is followed by a sound wave. The power of the explosion is such that it will scatter everything in its path for several tens of kilometers. The average speed of the shock wave is about 18-20 km in 35 seconds.
- Primary radiation. Immediately at the moment of explosion, radiation is generated, consisting of gamma rays and neutron particles. These are the most dangerous rays for the human body. The damage distance corresponds to the range of the shock wave.
- Secondary radiation. Being far from the epicenter of the explosion, a person can avoid all previous dangers. But the next problem is secondary radiation, when radioactive particles are carried over long distances by wind, along with precipitation .
The threat of secondary radiation is determined by the direction of the wind after the explosion. However, it is almost impossible to predict this moment, since at different altitudes the direction may change.
Radiation protection with special means
In special cases, it is necessary to carry out protective activities in areas with increased background radiation. An example would be eliminating the consequences of an accident at nuclear power plants or working at industrial enterprises where there are sources of radioactive radiation. Being in such areas without using personal protective equipment is dangerous not only for health, but also for life. Personal radiation protection equipment has been developed especially for such cases. They are protective screens made of materials that block various types of radiation and special clothing.
Standardization of radiation exposure
Normalization of the level of ionizing radiation is associated with taking into account the nature of the impact of ionizing radiation on the human body. Since 1999, in our country it has complied with international standards. The regulation applies to both artificial and natural radiation. The main dose limits, maximum permissible concentrations of radioactive substances in the atmosphere, water, human organs and tissues, etc. are subject to regulation.
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Note 1
All persons who may be exposed to radiation are divided into three categories, depending on the relationship of their activities to the field of handling sources of ionizing radiation.
Requirements in the field of radiation safety concern regulated natural sources of radiation: radon isotopes and their decay products in the air of residential and industrial premises, gamma radiation from natural radionuclides included in construction products, natural radionuclides in drinking water, fertilizers and minerals.
In order to limit the release of production waste containing radionuclides into the surrounding atmosphere, water, and soil and the impact of this waste on people, zoning of areas surrounding hazardous industrial enterprises is used. If necessary, a sanitary protection zone and an observation zone will be organized.
Definition 1
A sanitary protection zone is an area surrounding a source of ionizing radiation, where the level of exposure of people during normal operation of this source may exceed the standard radiation dose for the population.
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Definition 2
Observation zone is a territory extending beyond the sanitary protection zone where radioactive emissions from a given enterprise may influence the health of the population living there.
Alpha radiation protection
Alpha particles penetrate into the tissues of the human body only to a shallow depth, damaging only the surface of the skin. External α-irradiation is not particularly dangerous. But the entry of these fairly massive particles into the body (with food, water or through damaged skin) is fraught with serious poisoning due to their strong ionizing effect, the formation of oxidizing agents, free hydrogen and oxygen. Rubber gloves and a regular respirator help protect a person from alpha radiation. cotton clothing, polyethylene raincoat, paper, plexiglass.
Beta radiation protection
It is more difficult to protect yourself from beta radiation than from alpha radiation. If beta radiation predominates in the contaminated area, then in order to protect the body from its harmful effects, a screen made of glass, aluminum sheet or plexiglass will be required. To protect against beta radiation from the respiratory system, a conventional respirator will no longer be suitable. For this you need a gas mask.
If you are in a brick or concrete building, with windows and doors tightly closed, you will be relatively safe from these two types of radiation. The situation will be more complicated with gamma radiation.
