It is not only radioactive, but it also continues to produce heat for many years and must be kept cool. As of now, scientists and government officials cannot agree on a safe way to store radioactive wastes for the hundreds or thousands of year's necessary for them to stop being a radiation hazard. Health effects of radiation Very high doses of radiation are deadly. A whole-body dose of 500 rem or more will kill most people within weeks. A dose of 100 rem can cause severe radiation sickness.
Radiation can also increase the incidence of cancer and cause defects in unborn children.
While scientists generally agree on what happens at high doses, they disagree over what happens when the doses get smaller and fall into the realm of low-level radiation. Depending on which theory an expert believes, he or she will evaluate the danger of low-level radiation exposure differently. Measuring radiation Radiation measurement is complex. It is difficult to understand and explain. To be as clear as possible, we have simplified some of the information.