Inhalation doses for aboriginal people reoccupying former nuclear weapons testing ranges in South Australia

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Health Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199212000-00003· OSTI ID:6833671

Johnston, P N; Lokan, K H; Williams, G A ^[1]

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1. Australian Radiation Lab., Yallambie (Australia)

The Australian Government plans to rehabilitate the former nuclear weapons testing ranges at Maralinga and Emu in South Australia and to allow access to the areas for the Pitjantjatjara (Aboriginal) people who are the traditional owners of the land. The major radiological hazard posed by reoccupation of the ranges arises from inhalation of residual plutonium. The committed effective dose that these people might receive from inhalation on reoccupation of the lands is computed for a range of sites. The estimated doses for permanent occupancy range up to 300 mSv y-1 indicating the need for substantial rehabilitation before these areas are suitable for unrestricted access.

• OSTI ID: 6833671
• Journal Information: Health Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Health Physics; (United States) Vol. 63:6; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540230 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560101* -- Biomedical Sciences
Applied Studies-- Radiation Effects-- Dosimetry & Monitoring-- (1992-)
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
AUSTRALASIA
AUSTRALIA
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
CONTAMINATION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DOSE EQUIVALENTS
DOSES
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
EXPLOSIONS
FALLOUT
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INGESTION
INHALATION
INTAKE
LIFE STYLES
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE DOSE
MINORITY GROUPS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
POPULATIONS
RADIATION DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION HAZARDS
SAFETY STANDARDS
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
STANDARDS
WEAPONS