An acute whole-body exposure greater than 50 Gy (5,000 rads) would cause which radiation syndrome?

An acute whole-body exposure greater than 50 Gy (5,000 rads) is associated with central nervous system (CNS) syndrome. This syndrome is characterized by early and severe symptoms that can manifest within minutes to hours following exposure. Symptoms typically include confusion, loss of consciousness, and neurological impairment, which are indicative of a significant impact on the central nervous system due to the high radiation dose. The rapid onset and the critical nature of the symptoms are what distinguish CNS syndrome from other forms of acute radiation syndromes.

While hematopoietic syndrome, gastrointestinal syndrome, and cardiovascular syndrome could occur with lower doses of radiation, their effects and timing differ significantly from those of CNS syndrome. Hematopoietic syndrome is typically seen with doses between 1 and 10 Gy and involves the bone marrow, gastrointestinal syndrome occurs with doses around 6 to 30 Gy, and cardiovascular syndrome usually presents in high-dose exposures but is not as immediate or as pronounced as CNS syndrome. Thus, the characteristics of CNS syndrome align with the effects expected at such high levels of radiation exposure.