Radiation

In Obenseuer, Radiation is an invisible harmful effect negatively affecting the player.

Overview

Radiation is an ionizing energy emission in a form of particle-waves generated by the natural radioactive decay of unstable elements such as Polonium-210 and Cobalt-60.

Player can acquire a Dosimeter to measure both a background dose of the radiation and a total dose the player has received over a period the Dosimeter been active. The intensity of the radiations decreases with the square of the distance between the source and the player.

The dosimeter will measure radiation in sieverts (Sv), a unit of total ionizing radition dose received by a body; or sieverts per hour, a dose increase per hour spent in a certain area (henceforth called dose rate). Its physical unit is Joule ⋅ Kilogram^-1. 1 Sv is therefore the equivalent of 1 Joule of energy having been absorbed by 1 Kilogram of human tissue (across the entire body).

Dosimeter can be acquired from looting the Tenement A hospital, looting the desk in the office right as you enter the radioactive tunnel, or be bought from Fredrik Walker or the OS Mining Services. To use the dosimeter, it needs to equipped in the primary hand and activated LMB, it is powered G by Batteries AA

The player is warned by Heska Pavonen to keep their accumulated radiation dose below 1 Sv (1000 mSv; 1 000 000 μSv), which is the lethal dose of radiation. The player should consider leaving an irradiated area if their accumulated radiation dose approaches 700 mSv and seek medical attention immediately.

Sources

There are currently 3 major sources of radiation, on top of background radiation.

Background Radiation

The background radiation level in Obenseuer is 0.400 μSv/h. This level is measurable but does not actually increase the player's radiation level. When the dose and the dose rate match at this low level, it means the player's radiation dose is 0.

A very high intensity background radiation is also present in the Under map (90 mSv/h). Approaching an edge will make the player experience around 3000 Sv/h of radiation.

Decay Radiation

Polonium-210 containers will emit around 9 mSv/h when in their casing (lethal dose of 1 Sv achieved in around 5 game days). If smashed with a hammer, they will now emit around 20 Sv/h (lethal dose of 1 Sv achieved in 3 game minutes).

Cobalt-60 containers will emit around 90 mSv/h when in their casing (lethal dose of 1 Sv achieved in around 11 game hours). If smashed with a hammer, they will now emit around 20 Sv/h.

The nuclear cask that has toppled over in the mines emits around 1000 Sv/h (lethal dose of 1 Sv achieved in 3.6 game seconds). It is the most radioactive source in the game currently (that can be found without clipping through the map). It also greatly increases the background radiation even if not in direct line of sight with it. At the entrance of the radioactive cave, near the office, radiation levels are nearly 1 mSv/h; at the first locked gate, nearly 20 mSv/h and behind the wall on the other side of the mine, 15 mSv/h.

There exist other minor sources of radiation throughout the game, though none exceed 10 mSv/h. Notably, there are certain spots near the city gates where radiation reaches nearly 2 μSv/h, one to the left of the blast doors, one near a green shroom lantern and one near some toppled over barrels, though now reaching 90 μSv/h. Another plot worthy spot is at the top of the cave where the player can observe the pipe near the same city gates. The player can only get close enought to receive around 110 μSv/h but the source is around 10 mSv/h and sits at the tip of a stalactite, potentially implying contamination.

Prevention

"Time, distance, and shielding actions minimize your exposure to radiation in much the same way as they would to protect you against overexposure to the sun" − United States Environmental Protection Agency

Time

Radiation dose is a factor of time multiplied by the radiation dose rate. If you must be near a radioactive source, make sure to work as quickly as possible and get away from it as soon as possible.

Distance

Radiation dose rate decrases proportionally with the square of the distance between you and the source. Being just a few meters away from a highly radioactive source can drastically increase the time you can stand near it before reaching the lethal dose. If you must be near a radioactive source, stand as far away from it as possible, and get away from it as far as possible when you are done.

Shielding

Radiation works most effectively when in direct line of sight of the source. Shielding is the most effective protection method in Obenseuer. Concrete walls, rock walls and nuclear flasks are excellent neutron absorbers, preventing the radiation from reaching you. If you must be near a radioactive source, do not maintain line of sight with it at any time, and seek shielding immediately. In the nuclear dumping site, use the minitrains and extra wagons between you and the fallen over nuclear cask to maintain safe shielding and distance between you and the source.

Cures

Player's exposure to the high doses will negatively impact the physical health, causing radiation sickness. Player can purchase Iodine Pills at Skeida Pharmacy or seek immediate medical attention at Dr. Pena MD office. A constant and high amounts of radiation also reduces the Fungal Disease.

Iodine Pills directly lower the player's dose.

Trivia

• Under Map being highly radioactive could imply a relation to the wasteland, where a dosimeter's clicking can also be heard, and where the edges of the map also result in a fatal dose of radiation.
• Polonium-210 is not actually harmful to people as long as it is not ingested, as it alpha-decays, which is unable to penetrate our skin. The fact that it is harmful to the player in game is an artistic liberty.
• In Canada, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission sets the five-year dose limit on nuclear energy workers at 100 mSv. If exceeded, workers will no longer be allowed to work in a radioactive environment. The yearly limit is 50 mSv. The average annual dose received by the average person is 1.8 mSv (0.200 μSv/h for an entire year).
• In real life, Potassium Iodine pills cannot help to reduce the dose received by a person, nearly nothing can be done if a real person has absorbed a lethal dose of radiation. They can, however, prevent further absorption of doses in the thyroid, a particularly cancer-prone gland in our body.