Fatal dose of radiation is:
## Core Concept
The question tests understanding of radiation exposure and its effects on the human body, specifically the dose that can be fatal. Ionizing radiation can cause damage to living tissues, and exposure to a certain level can lead to acute radiation syndrome (ARS), which can be fatal.
## Why the Correct Answer is Right
The correct answer, , corresponds to a dose of 1000 rad or 10 Gy, which is considered a fatal dose for humans. At this level of exposure, damage to the bone marrow, gastrointestinal system, and central nervous system is severe, leading to bone marrow failure, gastrointestinal distress, and neurological symptoms, respectively. This dose range is associated with a high mortality rate due to the critical failure of these systems.
## Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect
* **Option A:** is a very low dose, equivalent to a typical chest X-ray, which does not cause significant biological damage and certainly not fatal.
* **Option B:** represents a moderate dose that could cause some symptoms of radiation sickness but is generally not fatal.
* **Option D:** is an extremely high dose, but doses above 10 Gy (1000 rad) also lead to severe damage; however, the LD50 (the dose lethal to 50% of the population) for humans without medical treatment is around 4-5 Gy, and doses much higher than 10 Gy are instantly fatal.
## Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact
A key point to remember is that the LD50 for humans, which is the dose of radiation that will be fatal for 50% of the exposed population, is approximately 4 to 5 Gy (400 to 500 rad) without medical intervention. Doses around and above 10 Gy significantly increase the likelihood of fatal outcomes.
## Correct Answer: C.