If by 2012 a solar storm occurs, a large one. You must get out. The
radiation storm could begin in 15 minutes. The first step to take is to
protect the hips, this may be key to surviving a solar storm. Other
sensitive areas are the shoulders, spine, thighs, sternum and skull.
Why a list of body
parts so strange?
The bones of these areas contain marrow, the
"blood factory" of our body. The delicate cells that form the
bone marrow are particularly vulnerable to solar storms; a high dose of solar
protons flowing through the body may destroy them. And marrow cells to
generate a continuous stream of new blood cells, a person could run out of
blood within a week. Would require a bone marrow transplant. So to
survive a solar storm, the first priority must be to protect our bone
marrow.
The best solution is to take cover, entering a radiation shelter. But if
the shelter is too far to reach on time, wearing a spacesuit with enhanced
radiation shielding in the bone marrow-rich areas, shoulders, hips, spine, etc.
This could mean the difference between life and death.
A layer of only a 1 cm thickness of a plastic-like material called polyethylene
could prevent serious diseases that occur as a result of radiation. "This
would be enough to keep intact the hematological system, except in the case of
the worst outbreaks," says Cucinotta. If it survives only 5% of
marrow cells, bone marrow regenerate and the person could survive without
transplantation.
An astronaut for example, could, despite being so protected, develop health
problems in the long term: cancer, cataracts and other diseases. "No
spacesuit can stop all solar protons," says Cucinotta. But if the blood
supply is interrupted, the astronaut will also survive, enough to not have to
worry about the long term.
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