What Is the Minimum Lethal Dose of Radiation for Humans?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the complexities of determining the minimum temperatures that could lead to death from freezing or burning, emphasizing that various factors must be considered. Key points include the necessity of specifying the conditions, such as the medium (air or water), duration of exposure, and the individual’s physical characteristics like mass and medical history. It is noted that people have survived extreme temperatures, such as -200°C, if only a small body part is exposed for a brief period. The conversation highlights that prolonged exposure to high humidity and temperatures around 110°F can be lethal due to heat-related illnesses. Additionally, extreme scenarios are presented, such as exposure to 5000°F or -450°F, where survival is contingent on the extent of exposure and body coverage. The discussion also touches on radiation exposure levels, providing context for lethal doses and comparing them to everyday exposure rates. Overall, the conversation underscores the need for specific parameters to accurately assess the risks of temperature-related fatalities.
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What are the miminum temperatures that any part of your body would have to be exposed to in order for you to definetly, 100% chance freeze or burn to death?/die as a result of?
 
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For how long?
Temperatue of what? Air? Water?
How much of their body?
Who is the subject? What is their mass? Medical history?

People have been exposed to -200C temperatures and lived - if it was just their hand and just for a few seconds.

C'mon - there is absolutely no way to answer this question without a great deal more input.
 
You need to rephrase your question.

You will die from prolonged unprotected exposure to ~110F at 100% RH because your core temp will rise due to the fact that sweating does not cool the skin, for example. People die in saunas or steam baths like this all the time. They stay too long, overheat and die.

What exactly are you after?

Anybody can come up with:
burn to death: unprotected whole body @5000F for 30 seconds
freeze solid: unprotected whole body @-450F for 30 seconds


You could have your hand in 5000F for 30 seconds and still survive - minus a hand. It would cauterize. Ditto hand in liquid nitrogen for 30 seconds. If you contained bleeding after your hand cracked off.
 
What level of whole body radiation exposure/poisioning will kill you?
 
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