How can a radioactive planet kill most fetuses in utero, but not give everyone cancer?
My setting takes place on a planet that has a very high level of radiation because of reasons unknown to the population. This factor or group of factors are not man-made, but due to some change in planetary conditions. As a result, 50% - 70% of fetuses either die in miscarriage, or are stillborn. The remaining percentage make it to full term. The human beings who survive suffer no other ill effects that go along with radiation, such as cancer, infertility, etc.
I want to make this reality possible as part of a natural occurrence that happened without human intervention. How can a planet become radioactive enough to cause most fetuses to die, but not affect the remaining population in a harmful way?
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1 answer
The radiation actually poses no direct ill effect to humans
But the radiation triggers a virus that normally lies dormant. This virus is similar to viruses we have on earth, like Rubella or Chickenpox, in that it has little to no lasting effect on children or adults but it wrecks havoc on fetuses.
In this case, the virus has such a small effect on people that they may not even realize they have it; it feels like a slight cold or maybe a rash like they ran into a mosquito or two. And, in this case, the effects of the virus on a fetus are worse than any earthly virus. 50-70% of pregnancies end in miscarriage* or stillbirth.
[* Note: You can decide if the virus affects all pregnancies or only ones that have progressed into the second trimester where the baby is called a fetus. Either way, just adjust your numbers to come out how you want them.]
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