Biologic Damage to Tissue

The most sensitive human cells to ionizing radiation are blood cells, a whole body dose
of 0.25 Gy will begin to show depletion of blood cells, they may repopulate within weeks
for a small dose of radiation at least less than 1 Gy, for amounts more than 1 Gy a longer
amount of time will be needed if permanent damage to stem cells has not occurred. There
are many different types of blood cells, erythrocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils,
granulocytes and thrombocytes.

Cell Dose Recovery

Erythrocyte 0.25 Gy 1 week
Lymphocyte 0.25 Gy Shortly after radiation
0.5-1 Gy Several months
Neutrophil 0.5 Gy A few months
Granulocyte Varying dose 2 months
Thrombocyte >0.5 Gy 2 months

Epithelial tissue is the next most sensitive type of tissue. These cells comprise a number
of organs and undergo mitosis often. The organ systems comprised of epithelial cells are
skin and hair, mucous linings, intestines, pulmonary alveoli, and blood and lymphatic
vessel lining.

Cell Dose Recovery

Skin 4 - >40 Gy 2 hours 6 weeks
Digestive tract 7-15 Gy 3-5 days

Immature reproductive cells are sensitive to radiation while mature reproductive cells are
less sensitive.

Cell Dose Recovery

Immature spermatogonia 0.1 Gy A few months
2 Gy 12 months
5-6 Gy Permanent damage
Immature ova 0.1 Gy 30 days to expel ova
Mature ova 2 Gy Temporary sterility
0.1-20 Gy (fractioned) Tolerated
5 Gy Permanent damage

Because muscle tissue does not divide often it is not as radiosensitive.

Nervous tissue cells do not divide and therefore are also not as radiosensitive. Adult
nerve cells are less sensitive than fetal nerve cells. If exposed to a certain threshold of
radiation the nerve cells may become impaired but still function.

Cell Dose Recovery

Fetal neuron 0.1 Sv fetal EqD 4% chance of mental
retardation
Adult neuron >50 Gy Death