To add, there is the minimum lethal dose that will kill by the action of the radiation itself, and higher doses kill more quickly. However, repeated smaller doses (smaller than the minimum lethal, but still very large) can also be deadly.
Lower doses can be deadly as well, causing (or significantly increasing the chances of) cancer or other major issues, and radiation burns in the lungs from inhaling ash can kill just by interfering with the lung function.
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