THYROIDAL RADIOIODINE CONCENTRATIONS IN NORTH AMERICAN DEER FOLLOWING 1961- 1963 NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTS
Radioiodine concentrations were measured in deer, elk, caribou, and reindeer thyroids collected in Alaska, California, Colorado, Maryland, Washington, and Wyoming during the period September 1961 through mid-April 1963. Periods of maximum I/sup 131/ concentrations in most samples occurred in winter months, about two to three months after initial atmospheric tests. Values during the 1961 peak period were slightly greater than during the 1962 peak period but were maintained over a shorter period of time. The I/sup 131/ concentrations showed a clear response to each series of nuclear tests conducted by France, Russia, and the U. S. Maximum response occurred following tests conducted in the atmosphere and the SEDAN detonation on July 6, 1962; least response followed underground tests. Thyroid doses received by the various animal groups from I/ sup 131/ during the 1962 and 1963 nuclear tests varied from about 20 rads in Colorado deer to 0.8 rad in Alaskan reindeer, compared to 5.1 and 1.2 rads, respectively, in similar samples collected during the 1961 and 1962 nuclear test series. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash. and Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(45-1)-1350
- NSA Number:
- NSA-18-000015
- OSTI ID:
- 4166184
- Report Number(s):
- HW-SA-3141; CONF-66-11
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: From Symposium on the Biology of Radioiodine, Richland, Wash., June 1963. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-64
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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