Uranium has a higher relative biological effectiveness, which leads to what kind of biological damage?

Uranium's higher relative biological effectiveness (RBE) indicates that it produces more significant biological damage compared to other forms of radiation when accounting for the same dose. This is primarily due to its density and the type of radiation it emits, which can lead to more ionization events within cells. The ionizing radiation can damage cellular structures, including DNA, leading to mutations, cancer, and other long-term health effects.

The concept of RBE is crucial in understanding the potential impacts of different types of radiation on living tissues. Substances with a higher RBE, like uranium, impart more energy into biological tissues and thus cause greater levels of damage over a given exposure period. This enhanced biological effect can lead to increased cellular death, genetic mutations, and various health complications, thereby increasing overall biological damage.