Question

iv. read and answer the questions
in january of 1963, a child removed a cobalt - 60 source from a buried waste site in china and took it home. six family members were exposed to radiation over 5 - 9 days, and an uncle was exposed for 9 hours during an overnight stay.
three family members showed signs of radiation poisoning within 8 days. the child and a brother died with 12 days. one brother, aged 20, was left sterile. the uncle had to have a leg amputated 5 years later.

1. if the child had brought home an alpha radiation emitter, what would you have expected to have happened to the family?

Explanation:

Alpha - radiation has low penetration power. It can be stopped by a sheet of paper or the outer layer of human skin. However, if an alpha - emitter is ingested or inhaled, it can cause significant damage to internal tissues as it is highly ionizing. In this case, if the family did not inhale or ingest the alpha - emitter, external exposure would likely cause little harm. But if there was ingestion or inhalation, internal organs could be severely damaged, leading to radiation - related health issues such as tissue damage, cell mutation, and in severe cases, cancer or organ failure.

Answer:

If the family did not inhale or ingest the alpha - emitter, external exposure would likely cause little harm. If there was ingestion or inhalation, internal organs could be severely damaged, leading to radiation - related health issues like tissue damage, cell mutation, cancer, or organ failure.