How does radiation poisoning kill you, and why does it sometimes take weeks?

Question

How does radiation poisoning kill you, and why does it sometimes take weeks?

In: 223

Answer 1

Radiation releases energy that damages the “code” inside of your cells (DNA). Those cells fail to reproduce – or reproduce incorrectly – and with nothing to replace your old cells as they die, your body literally falls apart, like an old wood board rotting because it’s no longer part of a living tree that can grow new wood cells.

This is why radiation poisoning is a particularly gruesome way to die.