Orders of magnitude (radiation) Orders of magnitude (radiation) Recognized effects of higher acute radiation doses are described in more detail in the article on radiation poisoning. Although the International System of Units (SI) defines the sievert (Sv) as the unit of radiation dose equivalent, chronic radiation levels and standards are still often given in units of millirems (mrem), where 1 mrem equals 1/1000 of a rem and 1 rem equals 0.01 Sv. Light radiation sickness begins at about 50–100 rad (0.5–1 gray (Gy), 0.5–1 Sv, 50–100 rem, 50,000–100,000 mrem). The following table includes some dosages for comparison purposes, using millisieverts (mSv) (one thousandth of
Treatment of infections after exposure to ionizing radiation in humans are available, almost all of the current information is based on animal research. Infections caused by ionizing radiation can be endogenous, originating from the oral and gastrointestinal bacterial flora, and exogenous, originating from breached skin following trauma. The organisms causing endogenous infections are generally gram negative bacilli such as Enterobacteriaceae (i.e. "Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus" spp. ), and "Pseudomonas aeruginosa." Exposure to higher doses of radiation is associated with systemic anaerobic infections due to gram negative bacilli and gram positive cocci. Fungal infections can also emerge in those that fail antimicrobial therapy and stay febrile for over