THE ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME. A MEDICAL REPORT ON THE Y-12 ACCIDENT JUNE 16, 1958

Technical Report · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1959

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4254287· OSTI ID:4254287

Brucer, M comp

A description is presented of the medical care of eight patients exposed to whole-body radiation at the Y-12 plant of the Union Carbide Nuclear Company, Oak Ridge, Tennessee June 16, 1958. Five of the persons received doses in the neighborhood of 300 rads and three received doses between 20 and 70 rads. The changes following irradiation were not complicated by any trauma or superimposed high-level skin irradiated. A general account of the hospital care is presented; medical developments are described; results are presented of serial hematological, biochemical, and other studies for a 60-day period; and individual case histories are included. It is pointed out that there is no specific therapy for acutes severe radiation damage since there is no specific major pathology. All the treatment is symptomatic and the physician must refrain from doing anything that might do damage to the patient. Discussions on the acute radiation syndrome and personnel radiation monitoring from a criticality accident are included. The patients in thc low-dosage group were dismissed from the hospital after 10 days, and the patients in the higher-exposure group were dismissed from the hospital on the 44th post-accident day, and were followed for a time as outpatients. (C.H.)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Inst. of Nuclear Studies, Inc., Tenn.
• NSA Number: NSA-13-014979
• OSTI ID: 4254287
• Report Number(s): ORINS-25
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACCIDENTS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BLOOD
BODY
CRITICALITY
MAN
MEDICINE
MONITORING
ORNL
PERSONNEL
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIATION SICKNESS
REACTORS
SAFETY
THERAPY
VARIATIONS
Y-12