Causative Agent: A total body exposure of one hundred roentgens of radiation will cause radiation sickness. Although some medical devices expose you to radiation, the gray levels of radiation are tiny and will not cause radiation sickness. There are a few sources that can lead to sufficiently high exposure to radioactive radiation. One of these sources concerns accidents or attacks involving nuclear installations. The other is accidents or being the target of radioactive or nuclear weapons and devices, this includes the use of a conventional explosive device that disperses radioactive material, known as a dirty bomb. Historical information: Back in 1902, when Marie and Pierre Curie isolated the radioactive element radium, people did not understand the effects of radiation on the body at all. During the years 1941 to 1945, more and more studies were carried out on the use of radioactive materials in bombs, but very little was done to study the effects of this radiation. It was only after the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan that serious consideration was given to studying the effects of radioactive materials on humans. Japanese actress Midori Naka, who was in Hiroshima at the time of the bombing, was the first incident of radiation poisoning to be studied in depth. His death, on August 24, 1945, was the first to be officially caused by radiation poisoning, at which point it was called atomic bomb disease. Transmission/how it is acquired: When discussing radiation sickness, we must first define what radiation is. Radiation is defined as the energy released by atoms. This released energy is either a wave or a tiny particle of matter called x-rays or gamma rays. Exposure to X-rays or gamma rays is measured in units of ...... middle of paper ......t feces. Due to its elimination through feces, it reduces the amount of radiation that cells can absorb. DTPA binds to metals in the elements plutonium, americium, and curium and expels them from the body in urine, also reducing the total amount of radiation absorbed by the body's cells. External radiation usually takes the form of burns and is treated the same as any other burn. Prevention: The only way to prevent radiation sickness is to avoid radiation. Possible use in biological warfare: Radiation sickness is only caused by radioactive elements and is considered nuclear warfare if used in warfare due to the radioactive elements. Works Cited http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/radiation-sickness/http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000026. http://www.hss.doe.gov/http://www.news-medical.net/health/Radiation-Poisoning-History.aspx