What kind of damage does gamma radiation cause?

Gamma radiation is a highly penetrating form of electromagnetic radiation that can pass through the human body and cause significant biological damage. Unlike other forms of radiation that might primarily affect the skin or localized areas, gamma radiation can impact tissues throughout the entire body, leading to whole body tissue damage.

This type of radiation can cause cellular damage at the molecular level, affecting DNA and leading to potential long-term effects such as cancer. Because gamma rays can penetrate deeply into the body, they have the capacity to harm organs and systems beyond just the skin, which is why whole body tissue damage is the most accurate description of the effects of gamma radiation.

Other types of damage mentioned, such as skin burns or respiratory issues, are more specific and typically associated with different forms of radiation exposure. Localized radiation sickness is also less representative of the broader systemic effects that gamma radiation can have, especially given its penetrating power. Thus, whole body tissue damage encompasses the full scope of harm that gamma radiation can inflict on biological systems.