GAMMA ACTIVITY OF THE FOOD SAMPLES IN INDIA AFTER THE AUTUMN 1961 TESTS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1963

OSTI ID:4715120

Deshpande, A S; Vohra, K G

After the resumption of nuclear weapon tests in September, 1961 several samples of foods, including vegetables, milk, fruits, grains and composite meals were studied for their radioactive content. The measurements were made using a low-level gamma-ray scintillation spectrometer. Several freshly produced short lived fission products were identified in the gamma spectra of these samples. Quantitative estimation of some of the important short lived fission products was carried out. The data on the fission products (Zr-95 + Nb-95), Ce-141, Ce-144, Ru-103, Ru106, and Cs-137 in various samples are presented. Data on gross gamma activity of the samples and the gamma activity due to natural potassium are also presented. The fission products (Zr-95 + Nb-95) contribute about 25% of the total activity in fresh fallout and the other fission products given above together contribute another 25% of the activity in fresh fallout. The maximum level of (Zr95 + Nb-95) in vegetables is found to be about 18% of the level which would give a dose above the acceptable limit for continuous consumption. The other isotopes show comparatively smaller fraction of acceptable levels. (auth)

• Research Organization: Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay
• NSA Number: NSA-17-021427
• OSTI ID: 4715120
• Report Number(s): AEET/AM/32
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CEREALS
CERIUM 141
CERIUM 144
CESIUM 137
FALLOUT
FISSION PRODUCTS
FOOD
FRUIT
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
INDIA
LIFETIME
MEASURED VALUES
MILK
NIOBIUM 95
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
RADIOACTIVITY
RUTHENIUM 103
RUTHENIUM 106
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
VEGETABLES
ZIRCONIUM 95