Analysis of radiation exposure for Naval personnel at Operation Castle. Technical report, 1 January 1983-31 January 1984

Technical Report · Tue Feb 28 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5625753

Thomas, C; Goetz, J; Klemm, J; Weitz, R

Film-badge doses are reconstructed for sixteen ships and the residence islands of Enewetak and Kwajalein Atolls resulting from the six nuclear detonations comprising Operation CASTLE (March-May 1954). Fallout from Shots BRAVO and ROMEO was the major source of contamination on most of the ships and islands. Varying amounts of fallout from Shots UNION, YANKEE, and NECTAR contributed somewhat to the total doses of the shipboard and island-based personnel; no fallout was experienced as a result of Shot KOON. Shipboard personnel received additional exposure from hulls and salt water piping systems that had become contaminated from operating in the radioactive waters of Bikini Lagoon. From the reconstructed radiation environments, both topside and below, an equivalent film badge dose is calculated and compared to actual dosimetry data. Agreement is very good during badged periods when the ships received significant fallout. When topside intensities were not documented, generally late in the operation when intensity levels were low, agreement is not as good. Calculated ship contamination doses of significance are in excellent agreement with limited available dosimetry data. Calculated average doses for shipboard personnel range from a low of 0.19 rem for the crew of the USS LST-825 to a high of 3.56 rem for the crew of the USS PHILIP. Average doses on the residence islands of Enewetak and Kwajalein Atolls are 1.09 rem and 0.32 rem, respectively.

• Research Organization: Science Applications International Corp., McLean, VA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5625753
• Report Number(s): AD-A-166033/1/XAB; SAI-84/1517
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450202* -- Explosions & Explosives-- Nuclear-- Weaponry-- (-1989)
CASTLE PROJECT
CONTAMINATION
DOSES
DOSIMETRY
EXPLOSIONS
FALLOUT
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MILITARY PERSONNEL
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOACTIVITY
SHIELDING
SHIPS
WATER