Nuclear-weapon-effect research at PSR (Pacific-Sierra Research Corporation) - 1983. Volume 10. Symptomatology of acute radiation effects in humans after exposure to doses of 75 to 4500 rads (cGy) free-in-air. Final technical report, 27 October 1982-30 November 1983

Technical Report · Fri Aug 31 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:5624264

Baum, S J; Young, R W; Anno, G H; Withers, H R

This report distills from available data descriptions of typical human symptoms in reaction to prompt ionizing radiation in the dose range 75 to 4500 rads (cGy) free-in-air. The descriptions correlate symptoms with dose and time over the acute post-exposure period of six weeks. Their purpose is to provide an empirical base for estimating combat troop performance after a nuclear weapon attack. The dose range of interest is subdivided into eight subranges associated with important pathophysiological events. For each subrange, the signs and symptoms manifested by an exposed population are estimated--symptom onset, severity, duration, and incidence. The early or prodromal phase of radiation sickness begins about 2 to 4 hrs after doses of 300 to 530 rads (cGy). Onset time diminishes with dose, occurring within minutes of exposure to 4500 rads (cGy). Characteristic prodromal symptoms are nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and diarrhea. The prodromal phase lasts from several days to a matter of hours, depending on dose. Symptoms of the hemopoietic syndrome are bleeding, fever, infection, and ulceration. Symptoms of the gastrointestinal syndrome are fluid loss, electrolyte imbalance, severe diarrhea, and septicemia.

• Research Organization: Pacific-Sierra Research Corp., Los Angeles, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5624264
• Report Number(s): AD-A-166280/8/XAB; PSR-1422-VOL-10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANOREXIA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BIOLOGY
DIARRHEA
DISEASES
ELECTROLYTES
EXPLOSIONS
FLUIDS
HEMORRHAGE
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
INJURIES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LOSSES
MEDICINE
MILITARY PERSONNEL
NAUSEA
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PERSONNEL
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIATIONS
RADIOBIOLOGY
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SEPTICEMIA
SYMPTOMS
THERAPY
ULCERS
WEAPONS