Radiation reproductive effects

Both patients and medical staff are understandably concerned about the health effects of exposure to radiation and radioactive contamination. There are two distinct types of radiation exposure, acute and chronic, and two primary exposure modes, radiation and radioactive contamination. Each exposure type and mode is slightly different and must be treated differently by medical staff (see Table 27.2). In addition, there are concerns about the reproductive effects of radiation exposure. In this section, these concerns will be discussed. 

For the sake of completeness, this chapter will also discuss the adverse reproductive effects of potential toxicants, such as ionizing radiation, pesticides and other organic environmental contaminants, as well as heavy metals, which are... 

Three studies of one mining population were located that equivocally associated reproductive effects in humans following inhalation exposure to uranium. The studies reported that male uranium miners were found to have more first-born female children than expected, suggesting that uranium s alpha radiation damaged the y-chromosomes of the miners (Muller et al. 1967 Waxweiler et al. 1981b Wiese 1981). In addition, it is not certain if the effect described is from exposure to uranium because the workers were also exposed to Rn, chlorine, hydrofluoric acid, lead sulfate, nickel, nitric acid and nitrogen oxides, silicon dioxide, and sulfuric acid (Dupree et al. 1987). 

Reproductive Effects. No significant effect on reproduction (birth rate, fertility, incidence of spontaneous abortion) was found in the Techa River populations following accidental consumption of radiostrontium (and other radionuclides) between 1949 and 1956. Parental gonadal radiation doses were primarily derived from external gamma radiation. No studies were located that addressed reproductive effects in vivo in humans following exposure to radioactive strontium by the inhalation or dermal routes. 

Cherry, N. 2000. Evidence that Electromagnetic Radiation is Genotoxic The Implications for the Epidemiology of Cancer and Cardiac, Neurological and Reproductive Effects. Canterbury, New Zealand Lincoln University. 

Another cumulative effect of radiation can be an irreversible alteration of DNA sequences. If part of a DNA molecule is ionized, its molecular chain may be broken. Chain breaks are repaired in the body, but after a serious rupture, the repaired unit may have a different sequence. This type of changed sequence is a genetic mutation. Altered DNA sequences in the reproductive organs are transmitted faithfully, thus passing on the genetic mutations to fiature generations. Because these effects are cumulative, individuals of childbearing age need to be especially carefial about radiation exposure. 

Initiation of long-term studies to establish sensitive indicators of radiation stress on individuals and communities, including effects on growth and reproduction (Templeton etal. 1971)... 

Although relatively high doses (4 6 kGy) are required to kill food-borne parasites, much lower doses are adequate to prevent their reproduction and maturation resulting in loss of infectivity. Table 6 summarizes the effect of ionizing radiation on the most important parasites that may be associated with fishery products and meats [38]. Thus the parasitic roundworm Trichinella spiralis, which causes trichinosis, the pork and beef tapeworms, the protozoon in pork responsible for toxoplasmois, and various flukes that infest fish, can be rendered noninfective by low-dose radiation treatment. Doses of... 

Will the effects of the radiation you receive be passed on to your children Only radiation received by your reproductive organs (testes in males and ovaries in females) has the potential of causing effects that might be passed on to future generations. All other radiation you receive is for your body only. 

It has been found that the effects of radiation on some vital tissues (bone marrow, spleen, blood and reproduction cells) are seen more quickly than on other tissues. Because these tissues grow faster than others, any type of damage in the cells can be easily and quickly transferred into new cells. All cells can be affected by this chain reaction. This can result in tumors, which explains the carcinogenic effect of radiation. 

DNA molecules may be modified by the unintentional addition or deletion of nucleotides or by substituting one nucleotide for another. The result is a mutation that is transmittable to offspring. Mutations can be induced by chemical substances. This is a major concern from a toxicological viewpoint because of the detrimental effects of many mutations and because substances that cause mutations often cause cancer as well. DNA malfunction may result in birth defects, and the failure to control cell reproduction results in cancer. Radiation from x-rays and radioactivity also disrupts DNA and may cause mutation. 

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