ENTRY OF RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT INTO THE BIOSPHERE AND MAN

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1958 · Bulletin der Schweizerischen Akademie der Medizinischen Wissenschaften (Switzerland)

OSTI ID:4166846

Langham, W; Anderson, E C

Testing of atomic weapons through mid-1957 produced about 5.5 mc of Sr/ sup 90/ and varying amounts of other long- and intermediate-lived isotopes. Of these, Sr/sup 90/ poses the greatest potential hazard to world health. Cs/sup 137/ and Pu/sup 239/ are the other principal long-lived activities in weapons debris Sr/sup 90/ and Cs/sup 137/ were measured quantitatively in people, milk, and other foodstuffs, and the intermediate-lived I/sup 131/ was detected in the thyroids of man and domestic animals. Two theories were proposed for distribution of weapons debris. throughout the world. The Libby model postulates uniform, rapid mixing of weapons debris throughout the stratosphere with equal leakage back through the tropopause, after which it is deposited over the earth's surface in relation to tropospheric meteorological conditions. The Machta model proposes slow, unequal stratospheric mixing with preferential leakage through the tropopause in the vicinity of the jet streams. Quatitatively, the two models give the same distribution pattens. Quantitatively, the Machta model predicts more nonuniform fall-out with higher surface deposition levels at approximately 40 deg N. and 40 deg S. latitudes. Entry of fission debris into the biosphere and man is a function of the soil-plant relationships and metabolic properties of the individual radionuclides. All radionuclides may enter the biosphere through direct deposition on vegetation and through the soil-to-plant-to-milk-to-man ecological cycle. Ecological discrimination may be expected to occur, and it is possible to estimate over-all discrimination ratios for various countries from per capita consumption of principal foods and the discrimination factors at the various steps along the ecological cycle. Estimates are presented of average maximum equilibrium levels in the population under conditions of no more weapons tests and continued tests at the past 6-year rate. (C.H.)

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N. Mex.
• NSA Number: NSA-14-015518
• OSTI ID: 4166846
• Journal Information: Bulletin der Schweizerischen Akademie der Medizinischen Wissenschaften (Switzerland), Journal Name: Bulletin der Schweizerischen Akademie der Medizinischen Wissenschaften (Switzerland) Vol. Vol: 14; ISSN BSAMA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANIMALS
ATMOSPHERE
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CESIUM 137
CONTAMINATION
ENVIRONMENT
FALLOUT
FISSION PRODUCTS
FOOD
GLANDS
HALF-LIFE
IODINE 131
MAN
MEASURED VALUES
METABOLISM
MILK
MONITORING
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PLANTS
PLUTONIUM 239
POPULATIONS
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOISOTOPES
SOILS
STRATOSPHERE
STRONTIUM 90
THYROID