Title:
THE BIOLOGICAL HAZARD TO MAN OF CARBON-14 FROM NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Subject Terms:
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; CARBON 14; NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS; DOSE RATES; RADIATION DOSES; GENETIC EFFECTS
Document Location:
Location - DOE/NNSA NUCLEAR TESTING ARCHIVE Address - P.O. Box 98521 City - Las Vegas State - NV Zip - 89193-8521 Phone - (702)794-5106 Fax - (702)862-4240 Email - NTA@NV.DOE.GOV
Publication Date:
1958 Jun 09
Declassification Status:
Never classified
Accession Number:
NV0025012
Originating Research Org.:
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION-DIVISION OF BIOLOGY AND M
OpenNet Entry Date:
1994 Aug 26
OpenNet Modified Date:
2003 Sep 18
Description/Abstract:
THIS REPORT DISCUSSES THE POTENTIAL HAZARD OF THE RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPE CARBON 14. CARBON 14 RESULTS WHEN DEVICE-ESCAPED NEUTRONS COMBINE WITH ATMOSPHERIC NITROGEN; IT IS NOT DISTINGUISHABLE FROM NATURALLY EXISTI NG CARBON 14. DISTRIBUTIONS OF CARBON AND CARBON 14 TO THE TOTAL CARBO N 14 RESERVIOR ARE DISCUSSED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE INCREASE IN CAR BON 14 LEVELS WILL BE ONE-THIRD OF ONE PERCENT OF NATURAL RADIOCARBON LEVELS; THE YEARLY DOSE FROM NUCLEAR-DERIVED CARBON 14 WOULD BE 0.005 MR/YEAR. ESTIMATES OF THE PERCENTAGE AND TYPES OF BIOLOGICAL DAMAGE ON THE POPULATION ARE GIVEN. APPENDICES I-III, MENTIONED IN THE TEXT, AR E NOT FOUND IN THIS COPY.