THE EFFECT OF NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS ON COMMERCIALLY PACKAGED BEVERAGES

Technical Report · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1956

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4333346· OSTI ID:4333346

McConnell, E R; Sampson, G O; Sharf, J M

Representative commerciaily packaged beverages, such as soft drinks and beer, in glass bottles and metal cans were exposed to the radiation from nuclear explosions. Preliminary experimental resulthe were obtained from test layouts exposed to a detonation of approximately nominal yield. Extensive test layouts were subsequently exposed during Operation Cue, of 50% greater than nominal yield, at varying distances from Ground Zero. These commerically packaged soft drinks and beer in giass botties or metal cans survived the blast overpressures even as close as 1270 ft from Ground Zero, and at more remote distances, with most failures being caused by flying missiles, crushing by surrounding structures, or dislodgment from shelves. Induced radioactivity, subsequently measured on representative samples, was not great in either soft drinks or beer, even at the forward positions, and these beverages could be used as potable water sources for immediate emergency purposes as soon as the storage area ms safe to enter after a nuclear explosion. Although containers showed some induced radioactivity, none of this activity was transferred to the contents. Some flavor change was found in the beverages by taste panels, more in beer than in soft drinks, but was insufficient to detract from their potential usage as emergency supplies of potable water. (auth)

• Research Organization: Food and Drug Administration, Washington, D.C.; Federal Civil Defense Administration, Battle Creek, Mich.
• NSA Number: NSA-12-007095
• OSTI ID: 4333346
• Report Number(s): WT-1213
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
DIET
FOOD
GLASS
MAN
MEASURED VALUES
METALS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PACKAGING
PROJECT TEAPOT
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOACTIVITY
SAFETY
SAMPLING
SHOCK WAVES
STORAGE
SURFACES
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
WATER