Could people become immune to radiation if we have been exposed to the small amount of it?

Question

Coming from the Post-Soviet Union country it was common for young soldiers to go to secret missions and protect the radioactive places with code names.

Many people had to serve at Chernobyl, my 18 years old grandpa served at City 40 along with other young soldiers from the Soviet Union, in 1957, and while he was not affected and lived to 82, and we are all perfectly healthy as well, he was still exposed to the small dosage of it.

I wonder if it is possible to have the immunity to the light radiation if your ancestor was exposed to it.

theothersider · Accepted Answer

No, Radiation is not a substance like cyanide or alchohal. Things that are radioactive produce extremely energetic particles that penetrate into your cells and damage them. High doses of radiation can strip the chromosomes right out of your body blow bits and pieces of your DNA off and cause the break down of the connection of individual cells. I mean look no further than areas around nuclear disasters. Most die from cancers while most produce offspring with sever genetic abnormalities. due to these damaging effects. When you do ingest Radioactive particles. Stontium-90 for example replaced the calcium in your bones because your body treats it like calcium the radioactive particles then damage your bones ( look up the radium girls) and just in case I am not being completely clear. this is a picture of a man from the 1930(ish) when they used to put little bits of radiation (radium) into everything. we used to put radiation into medicine... this is the result.

Adaeva · Accepted Answer

It doesn't work that way. You cannot become immune. It is cumulative.

normalice · Accepted Answer

Yes. We are already immune to some radiation because life on earth developed entirely under the background radiation of the universe.

But it isn't something that can be accomplished in just a few generations. Not even if selective breeding is invoked. Radiation is a whole different thing to adapt to than, say, a slightly faster predator or whatever. Then only reason we adapted to background radiation is because it was here from the start. Like gravity. Could life adapt to zero gravity? Unlikely. Or at least not quickly. We have too many ways around natural adaption for it to be a fast process.

NamerOfStars · Accepted Answer

No. You can Mithridatize yourself against certain specific toxins by training your body to not respond in such a way that an overreaction kills you. Radiation works by destabilizing cell structure, and eventually, genetic integrity. That's less like a poison and more like a punch in the nose.

Kaneki05 · Answer

Theoretically radioactive aliens could exist. And theoretically humans could evolve so much that radiation don't effect ourselves.
But as the way things are now? Nope.
And if your talking resistant I mean we already are in many ways such as sun radiation oh it will and can kill you overtime but humans have adapted to live, get old and die before the sun really effects us. Unless your the unlucky ones who gets skin cancer.

Grond21 · Answer

There are certain places that have naturally higher levels of radiation, and the people who live there have a greater immunity to it. It's not perfect immunity, but it is slightly better than the average human.

BeMuse · Answer

We're all exposed to radiation every day... The type of radiation you want to stay clear of is Ionizing radiation because it removing electrons from atoms. That tends to destroy your DNA and cells. If you are exposed to a large enough dose, you die.

Goforit1010 · Answer

No, you can't. Radiation doesn't work that way. Additionally, the more often and longer you're exposed, the radiation is cumulative on your body. Radiation does NOT decay very fast at all. Thats why aircraft have protective shielding between the internal cabinets and the outer metal.

ChiTown33 · Answer

Maybe your grandpa was just a superhero and was just really low-key about it. 😆

LadiesFavoriteToy · Answer

umm no... sorry. I work in the nuclear field and radiation hurts your dna on the actual cellular level strips off coding.

Panzer21 · Answer

Nope, radiation doesn't work that way. Burning your hand on the stove doesn't make you resistant to fire. Basically the same with radiation. Your body can filter out a little bit thats all.

jahaims · Answer

Your cells would have to be able to repair theirselves faster than they are damage. Probably not possible without technological intervention. You would need some type of nano bot to repair the damage done.

MrTaboo · Answer

We could. But, not like you're thinking. The only way people have gotten protected from sun radiation is through generations. As much as a white person will try and live in sunny areas. They will not become black. Same with other radiations types.

It'll kill of the weaker ones and the ones that servive will produce stronger children. And so on and so on.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

Immunity is not possible. Radiation causes ''damage'' to the DNA; it's not the same as a virus or bacteria attack on our bodies.

josephinelcajon · Answer

No any and all exposure has a effect on you and even a tiny dose over long periods can effect you! Seek medical help!

TommyMountainFigure · Answer

Well there are small amounts of low level radiation in coffee, but if you're talking about being immune to it in large doses? Nope no chance.

exitseven · Answer

Natural selection does not work like that. If you have a partial immunity to radiation it is because you were born that way and not because your ancestors were exposed.

Bklynbadboy12 · Answer

You will never be immune but you will develop a tolerance to it

OddBeMe · Answer

Doubftul. Radiation is a cell destroyer, like cancer…in my obvi limited medical experience.

Yuuibtony · Answer

Don't know cute woman

Agape93 · Answer

Nope

In_Trance · Answer

No...

fireforeffect · Answer

Nope.

Could people become immune to radiation if we have been exposed to the small amount of it?

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Would covering the soil with stretch tape or anything waterproof be effective as a protection against radioactive fallout?

Could people become immune to radiation if we have been exposed to the small amount of it?

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Would covering the soil with stretch tape or anything waterproof be effective as a protection against radioactive fallout?

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