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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Fallout from Nuclear Weapons Tests

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/2480667· OSTI ID:2480667
 [1]
  1. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Div. of Biology and Medicine
There are several factors in the present interest in radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons. Except for the remarks contained in this introductory section, this discussion will be largely confined to the technical and scientific considerations enumerated in the following paragraph. From the scientific point of view, one is concerned with the amounts and types of radioactive material produced by detonations of nuclear weapons, the mechanisms involved in local and world-wide distribution of fallout, incorporation in the food chain and eventual uptake by human beings, estimated exposures of the whole body and of particular organs of the body to radiation from fallout both outside and inside the body, and with possible biological consequences to both the present generation and succeeding generations. Obviously, this cannot be viewed solely as an academic exercise. From the point of view of our interest in human welfare, concern for possible harmful effects on this and future generations immediately comes to the fore and constitutes a primary factor in our interest in the subject.
Research Organization:
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Div. of Biology and Medicine
Sponsoring Organization:
US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
OSTI ID:
2480667
Report Number(s):
M--6645
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English