Trans-Pacific fallout and protective countermeasures

Technical Report · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1973

OSTI ID:4391382

Kearny, C H

Extrapolations were made from the measured results of lower tropospheric fallout deposited in the United States from four of the first five Chinese tests. It is estimated that if during a war in which the US is not a belligerent, 65 megatons of similar weapons were detonated on or over China so as to produce similar lower tropospheric debris, then in extensive areas of the 50 states much milk would be dangerously contaminated with radioactive iodine. The degree of / sup 131/I concentration would exceed that of the lower limit of the Federal Radiation Council's Range III, the range of the highest level of /sup 131/I contamination specified in FRC Report No. 2. Report No. 2 warns that a sharply rising trend in Range III would suggest strong and prompt action. Hazards and expected long-term casualties from eating other fallout-contaminated foods and from exposure to total whole-body gamma doses of 1 to 10 rems from such trans- Pacific fallout in the year following a nuclear war are summarized. Also outlined are recommended protective countermeasures and the psychological- political advantages likely to be attained if the President and other high officials are prepared to give all Americans an early, factual account of the approaching trans-Pacific fallout dangers and of the protective countermeasures being taken to minimize casualties and economic losses. (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• NSA Number: NSA-29-007344
• OSTI ID: 4391382
• Report Number(s): ORNL--4900
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*CHINA-- NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
*FALLOUT DEPOSITS-- HEALTH HAZARDS
*HUMAN POPULATIONS-- RADIATION PROTECTION
*USA-- CIVIL DEFENSE
CONTAMINATION
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
FEDERAL RADIATION COUNCIL
FOOD
FOOD CHAINS
GAMMA SOURCES
INGESTION
INTERNAL IRRADIATION
IODINE 131
LOW DOSE IRRADIATION
MAN
MILK
N80100* --Civilian Defense
NATIONAL DEFENSE
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
REGULATIONS
TROPOSPHERE
WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION