Doses to workers in the United States nuclear weapons program due to external irradiation at the dawn of the atomic era (1940-1960)
- Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, WA (United States)
Radiation doses to workers at the Manhattan Engineer District (MED) and Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) sites due to external irradiation during 1940-1960 are reviewed. Categorized radiation dose data were available from AEC annual reports for some years. Annual individual radiation dose data for nine MED/AEC sites for all years were available from the U.S. Department of Energy`s Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource. These data are combined to produce an estimate of external collective dose equivalent to 1,720 person-Sv for 1940-1960. During this period there were 19 criticality incidents; 41 persons in a workforce of several hundred thousand were accidentally overexposed in these and other incidents, including three men who died due to acute radiation syndrome. 37 refs., 1 fig., 7 tabs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 381128
- Journal Information:
- Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 71; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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