what does radiation poisoning mean?

Answer 1

Radiation sickness/poisoning is illness and symptoms resulting from excessive exposure to radiation. Exposure may be accidental or intentional (as in radiation therapy ). The term also includes the side effects of exposure to radiation.
Radiation sickness is generally associated with acute exposure and has a characteristic set of symptoms that appear in an orderly fashion. Chronic exposure is usually associated with delayed medical problems such as cancer and premature aging, which may happen over a long period of time.
The severity of symptoms and illness depends on the type and amount of radiation, the duration of the exposure, and the body areas exposed. Symptoms of radiation sickness usually do not occur immediately following exposure.
Symptoms may include:
*Nausea and vomiting
*Diarrhea
*Skin burns (redness, blistering )
*Weakness, fatigue, exhaustion, fainting
*Dehydration
*Inflammation of exposed areas (redness, tenderness, swelling, bleeding)
*Hair loss
*Ulceration of the oral mucosa
*Ulceration of the esophagus, stomach or intestines
*Vomiting blood
*Bloody stool
*Bleeding from the nose , mouth, gums, and rectum
*Bruising
*Sloughing of skin
*Open sores on the skin

Answer 2

Radiation poisoning, also called "radiation sickness", is a form of damage to organ tissue due to excessive exposure to ionizing radiation. The term is generally used to refer to acute problems caused by a large dosage of radiation in a short period. Many of the symptoms of radiation poisoning occur as ionizing radiation interferes with cell division. This interference allows for treatment of cancer cells; such cells are among the fastest-dividing in the body, and will be killed by a radiation dose that adjacent normal cells are likely to survive.

Answer 3

Just that -- poisoning by radiation. Anything that you can inhale, ingest, or absorb that can kill you is a poison, and certain types of radiation can be absorbed by the human body and can do all sorts of damage (e.g., cell mutations, tissue damage, cancerous growths, etc.)

Answer 4

It usually refers to the body either absorbing or ingesting a radioactive element in some quantity that causes damage to various organs or tissue.

There are many radioactive isotopes that, when ingested can harm or kill the person.