LOCAL FALLOUT: HAZARD FROM NEVADA TESTS. CNI Testimony at a Congressional Hearing. Testimony before the Subcommittee on Research, Development and Radiation of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1963 · Nucl. Inform.

OSTI ID:4647253

The analysis of the hazard from fallout in the region of the Nevada Test Site prepared by the St. Louis Committee for Nuclear Information is discussed. Analysis of the available evidence shows that children residing in the states bordering the Nevada Test Site have, as a result of fallout from nuclear tests at that site, probably been exposed to medically significant radiation. These exposures were avoidable, for on the basis of radiation monitoring carried out by the AEC during the test programs, the probability of exposure should have been evident in time to warn the population to take siraple precautionary steps. Monitoring procedures in the Nevada Test Site regions have been inadequate in that they do not take into account the importance of internal exposure to radioactivity entering the body in fallout-contaminated food. Direct and prompt measurement of iodine-13l in local milk, which is the most effective method of estimating the hazard from this isotope was not done, or, if done, has not been reported. Moreover, indirect but nevertheless useful estimates of the iodine-131- hazard, which can be determined from the available gross gamma and beta radioactivity measurements were not made heretofore. Past assurances of the safety to nearby populations of the Nevada test programs are not substuntiated by present analysis of available datu. Assurances that the hazard is successfully confined to the controlled areas of the Test Site are not justified in the absence of direct measurements of radioactivity levels in local milk. Even the inadequate indirect measurements that have been carried out, if properly interpreted, should have alerted the responsible agencies to the serious potential health hazards during test programs and to the necessity of warning the population to take simple, readily available protective measures. These hazards are not restricted to atmospheric tests alone. Available data show that following at least seven underground tests, local fallout contamination comparable to that produced by atmospheric tests occurred. In view of the foregoing conclusions, a thorough review of present fallout monitoring procedures is recommended, with a view to rectifying the present inadequacies with respect to datu, interpretation, and public information regarding precautionary measures. Due to the probable high radiation exposures to the population in the Nevada Test Site region a careful medical follow-up study of exposed individuals, in order to facilitate detection and treatment of possible diseases is suggested. (auth)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-17-037386
• OSTI ID: 4647253
• Journal Information: Nucl. Inform., Journal Name: Nucl. Inform. Vol. Vol: 5: No. 9
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ABSORPTION
ADSORPTION
AGE
ATMOSPHERE
BETA PARTICLES
BODY
CONTAMINATION
DETECTION
DISEASES
ENVIRONMENT
FALLOUT
FOOD
GAMMA RADIATION
HEALTH AND SAFETY
IODINE 131
MAN
MEASURED VALUES
MILK
MONITORING
NEVADA TEST SITE
POPULATIONS
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOACTIVITY