EFFECTS OF FALLOUT RADIATION ON A HUMAN POPULATION
A unpredicted shift in winds shortly after the detonation of a large thermonuclear device during Operation Castle at Bikini Atoll, Pacific Proving Grounds, on March 1, 1954, caused deposition of significant amounts of fall-out on four nearby inhabited Marshall Isands . A survey was made to determine the exposure of the island inhabitants. Twenty-eight American servicemen on Rongerik Atoll received about 70 r and 23 Japanese fishermen aboard their fishing vessel, the Lucky Dragon received significant exposure. Sixty-four away from the detonation, received an estimated dose of fall-out equivalent to 175 r whole-body r radiation and BETA -ray lesions of the skin, and slight internal absorption or radioactive material. Eighteen people on a nearby island received about 69 r. The status of 82 Marshallese people is reviwewed four years after their exposure. Extensive physical examinations were carried out during the first 3 months after exposure, an repeated at six months and yearly intervals thereafter. A brief summary of findings from these suveys is included. Three deaths have occurred in the errosed group, but none was due to radiation exposure. No abnormalities were observed in the 18 babies born to exposed parents. During the discussion of this paper, M. Tsuziki reported on the status of the 25 Japanese fishermen exposed in the same accident. Examination four weeks after exposure showed leukopenia and r function and jaundice; after 3 months, hyp- or asperima. One case was lost as a result of severel hepaitis. After 4 years, all the surviving fishermen report feeling well and appear to be good health.(C.H.)
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, N.Y.; South Nassau Communities Hospital, Rockville Center, N.Y.; M.D. Anderson Hospital, Houston, Texas; Naval Radiological Defense Lab., San Francisco
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-13-009918
- OSTI ID:
- 4287776
- Journal Information:
- Radiation Research, Vol. Vol: Suppl. 1; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ABSORPTION
ACCIDENTS
BETA PARTICLES
BIKINI
BLOOD CELLS
BLOOD FORMATION
BODY
FALLOUT
GAMMA RADIATION
LIVER
MAN
MARSHALL ISLANDS
MEDICINE
METEOROLOGY
MONITORING
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PERSONNEL
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOACTIVITY
SHIPS
SKIN
TESTING
THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS
WIND