Recently, the nuclear sewage incident has received widespread attention from the whole society, and various remarks about nuclear radiation have filled the ears of the public, causing people to worry about food safety and health, and many people talk about "nuclear" color change.
However, the wrong protection concept not only cannot help us fight nuclear radiation, but may even outweigh the loss and damage our health! In this issue, let's take a look at the scientific approach to nuclear radiation.
Get out of the anti-nuclear misunderstanding
In previous articles, we have popularized the relevant knowledge of nuclear radiation in detail. In short, nuclear sewage contains a variety of radionuclides, if directly irradiated to the human body (external radiation) or radioactive substances inhaled through the air, food or water sources ingested (internal radiation), will cause harm to the health of tissues and organs.
Concerned about the safety of salt supplies, many people choose to stock up on iodized salt after the nuclear sewage incident, believing that it will help protect against radiation.
However, on the one hand, the official department has said that the domestic supply of edible salt is sufficient, and the main source is not affected by nuclear pollution, so there is no need to panic, let alone follow the example of hoarding salt; On the other hand, the role of iodized salt is to prevent iodine deficiency diseases, in which the iodine content is low, can not achieve the effect of radiation prevention, excessive intake of salt is easy to increase the burden on the heart and kidneys, induce hypertension and other diseases, the gain is not worth the loss!
(Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and others debunked rumors)
To scientifically avoid nuclear radiation damage, we should start from its invasion methods - external radiation and internal radiation, so as to achieve both internal and external "protection" and effective resistance.
Scientific protection not close, no contact, less exposure
1. Keep away from radioactive sources and shorten exposure time
In the vicinity of a radioactive source, the intensity of radiation decays rapidly with distance, so travel to the source and surrounding areas should be avoided.
At the same time, nuclear radiation will accumulate with the duration of exposure, and the possibility of direct exposure to radiation should be reduced by avoiding the flow of goods from radioactive sources and radiation-affected areas.
2. Shielding is used to isolate nuclear radiation
Shielding is one of the important measures to protect against radiation, and shielding materials mainly prevent α, β, γ rays and neutrons. Among them, α, β rays have weak penetration ability, easy to be absorbed, and can be blocked by using materials with smaller thicknesses.
γ rays and neutron energies are high, strong penetrating ability, common shielding materials are concrete, iron, lead, etc., these materials can absorb or reflect radiation, thereby reducing the radiation dose to the human body. Therefore, corresponding bunkers or buildings can be relied on to block nuclear radiation.
(Penetration ability of different ray particles)
3. Do not consume food related to nuclear contamination
Including prohibiting eating food and drinking water in nuclear pollution control areas, and not eating food that has flowed in from nuclear-contaminated areas and may have been contaminated with radioactive substances, its radioactivity level may have exceeded the safe range, and once ingested, it will be enriched in the body, which is easy to cause excessive internal radiation doses and harm human health.
The effects of nuclear radiation on human health are mainly reflected in DNA damage, free radical accumulation, apoptosis and abnormal function [4], in addition to avoiding exposure to nuclear radiation and its pollutants as much as possible, understanding effective protective measures, enhancing the body's resistance to nuclear radiation-related damage, and assisting us to maintain our health.
Improve personal health, enhance immune ability, maintain healthy homeostasis
In daily life, how to strengthen resistance in the face of lower doses of radiation or related injuries?
We can find answers from raw materials that have the ability to reduce free radicals, antioxidants, repair DNA damage, etc., such as:
aloe
Aloe vera gel contains more than 200 substances, of which polysaccharides play an important role.
Many studies at home and abroad have shown that aloe vera polysaccharides can protect DNA and resist radiation-induced radioactive damage; In mouse experiments, it was found that administration 30-90 minutes before irradiation had a significant protective effect against radiation damage, mainly related to improving immune function, promoting or inducing the role of related cytokines, and protecting hematopoietic tissues.
Studies have also shown that aloe vera gel may alleviate the severity of radiation symptoms through antioxidant and repair of body cells, especially gastrointestinal damage.
Rhodiola rosea extract
Its main component, salidroside, can reduce radiation-induced DNA damage to certain cells, improve cell function, and increase cell viability and survival in irradiated mice. At the same time, it can also enhance the radioprotective effect of Ex-RAD (a small molecule radiation protection agent) by improving antioxidant effect, removing reactive oxygen species, promoting hematopoietic recovery and DNA repair, and regulating apoptosis and repair signaling pathways.
In addition, studies have found that Rhodiola rosea root extract (RCE) can selectively protect skin cells from ionizing radiation without altering the ability of radiation to destroy cancer cells, and that RCE or its derivatives can be used as a new radiological control method.
ginseng
Ginseng extract can improve radiation-induced depletion of blood components, significantly reduce blood and liver lipid peroxidation levels, and reduce oxidative damage; It can also significantly reduce the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the liver induced by X-ray irradiation, and reduce the degree of apoptosis in irradiated tissues.
It has also been found that red ginseng extract can effectively weaken radiation-induced embryotoxicity in zebrafish models, and also has a certain preventive effect on radiation-induced bone loss in mice. Ginseng crude extract can reduce the accumulation of DNA damage, promote the repair of related cytokines, inhibit the mRNA expression of damage-related cytokines, and reduce apoptosis.
sea buckthorn
Sea buckthorn leaf extract contains polyphenols/flavonoids that protect mitochondrial and genomic DNA. Studies have also shown that it can reduce the nerve and oxidative damage caused by radiation, and has neuroprotective and cytoprotective effects.
According to research reports, pre-irradiation treatment of mice with sea buckthorn fruit fresh berry whole extract can protect their mitochondria from radiation-induced oxidative stress and maintain cell functional integrity.
radix astragali
Studies have shown that astragalus has a preventive effect on immune organ damage and peripheral cytopenia in mice with acute radiation injury.
Among them, flavonoids have a certain protective effect on the damage caused by radiation; Astragalus IV can significantly improve radiation-induced lung tissue damage and reduce radiation-induced apoptosis of brain cells. Astragalus polysaccharides can promote the growth of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by downregulating NF-kB signaling pathway-related proteins, and effectively reduce the damage of cell genome, DNA and cell chromosomes.
In addition to the above, there are studies that claim that traditional Chinese medicine preparations containing astragalus can be used to reduce radiation lung damage, relieve respiratory problems, and reduce the expression of inflammatory factors.
Ganoderma lucidum
Experiments have found that Ganoderma lucidum mycelium extract is helpful in preventing radiation-induced blood and genetic problems.
In addition, the total triterpenoids of Ganoderma lucidum isolate can effectively prevent DNA damage, reduce the formation of reactive oxygen species in cells after irradiation, enhance the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, and inhibit the apoptosis process.
At the same time, Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide, a secondary metabolite of Ganoderma lucidum, can improve the expression of relevant potential biomarkers and related metabolic pathways in the serum of radiation-induced mice, thereby playing a role in radiation protection.
Grape seeds
Experiments have shown that grape seed proanthocyanidins can protect white blood cells from radiation-induced damage and improve the survival rate of experimental mice after ionizing radiation.
In vitro experiments, grape seed proanthocyanidins can reduce radiation damage to normal cells by radiation. In addition, its combination with black fungus polysaccharides can improve the antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities of the body, and has a synergistic protective effect against radiation damage.
spirulina
Spirulina is rich in vitamins, minerals, β-carotene, chlorophyll, and unsaturated fatty acids. One study found that after a fixed daily intake of spirulina in the test animals for a period of time, the cesium-137 in the urine was reduced by nearly 50%, indicating that it can exert some radiation protection effect.
Studies have also shown that spirulina polysaccharides can stimulate white blood cells and bone marrow cells, restore peripheral blood and bone marrow hematopoietic cell activity in the γ-irradiated group and anemia mice; It can alleviate radiation-induced lung damage in mice to some extent.
The "nuclear sewage incident" is menacing, so that knowing oneself and the other party will not be chaotic. In this regard, we should keep abreast of official information and grasp the correct response methods; Do not get close or contact, and minimize the amount of internal and external radiation exposure as much as possible; Build good physical fitness, prevent and reduce its effects on health.
At the same time, with the deepening of research, it is believed that more prevention programs will appear in the near future, building a solid wall for our health. (Contributed by Perfect Bioscience Institute WeChat public account)