Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. The main dangers related to nuclear power arise from the effects of radiation. This radiation consists of subatomic particles traveling at or near the speed of light. These high-energy particles can penetrate deep inside the human body and other organisms where they can cause damage to cells and initiate cancer or cause genetic diseases in offspring. Large doses of ionizing radiation in a short period of time causes radiation sickness, a collection of health effects that usually occur only within several months of exposure. Learn more about the acute radiation syndrome, its symptoms, effects on the human body and diseases related to it, as well as some of the worst nuclear accidents in the following pages.