skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Ingestion of Nevada Test Site Fallout: Internal dose estimates

Abstract

This paper summarizes individual and collective dose estimates for the internal organs of hypothetical yet representative residents of selected communities that received measurable fallout from nuclear detonations at the Nevada Test Site. The doses, which resulted from ingestion of local and regional food products contaminated with over 20 radionuclides, were estimated with use of the PATHWAY food-chain-transport model to provide estimates of central tendency and uncertainty. The thyroid gland received much higher doses than other internal organs and tissues. In a avery few cases, infants might have received thyroid doses in excess of 1 Gy, depending on location, diet, and timing of fallout. {sup 131}I was the primary thyroid dose contributor, and fresh milk was the main exposure pathway. With the exception of the thyroid, organ doses from the ingestion pathway were much smaller (<3%) than those from external gamma exposure to deposited fallout. Doses to residents living closest to the Nevada Test Site were contributed mainly by a few fallout events; doses to more distantly located people were generally smaller, but a greater number of events provided measurable contributions. The effectiveness of different fallout events in producing internal organ doses through ingestion varied dramatically with seasonal timing of themore » test, with maximum dose per unit fallout occurring for early summer depositions when milk cows were on pasture and fresh, local vegetables were used. Within specific communities, internal doses differed by age, sex, and lifestyle. Collective internal dose estimates for specific geographic areas are provided.« less

Authors:
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States)
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
390958
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Health Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 71; Journal Issue: 4; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, APPLIED STUDIES; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE; FOOD CHAINS; CONTAMINATION; MAN; RADIATION DOSES; COMMUNITIES; COWS; FALLOUT; INGESTION; MILK; NEVADA TEST SITE; THYROID; VEGETABLES; ORGANS; IODINE 131

Citation Formats

Whicker, F W, Kirchner, T B, and Anspaugh, L R. Ingestion of Nevada Test Site Fallout: Internal dose estimates. United States: N. p., 1996. Web. doi:10.1097/00004032-199610000-00006.
Whicker, F W, Kirchner, T B, & Anspaugh, L R. Ingestion of Nevada Test Site Fallout: Internal dose estimates. United States. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199610000-00006
Whicker, F W, Kirchner, T B, and Anspaugh, L R. 1996. "Ingestion of Nevada Test Site Fallout: Internal dose estimates". United States. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199610000-00006.
@article{osti_390958,
title = {Ingestion of Nevada Test Site Fallout: Internal dose estimates},
author = {Whicker, F W and Kirchner, T B and Anspaugh, L R},
abstractNote = {This paper summarizes individual and collective dose estimates for the internal organs of hypothetical yet representative residents of selected communities that received measurable fallout from nuclear detonations at the Nevada Test Site. The doses, which resulted from ingestion of local and regional food products contaminated with over 20 radionuclides, were estimated with use of the PATHWAY food-chain-transport model to provide estimates of central tendency and uncertainty. The thyroid gland received much higher doses than other internal organs and tissues. In a avery few cases, infants might have received thyroid doses in excess of 1 Gy, depending on location, diet, and timing of fallout. {sup 131}I was the primary thyroid dose contributor, and fresh milk was the main exposure pathway. With the exception of the thyroid, organ doses from the ingestion pathway were much smaller (<3%) than those from external gamma exposure to deposited fallout. Doses to residents living closest to the Nevada Test Site were contributed mainly by a few fallout events; doses to more distantly located people were generally smaller, but a greater number of events provided measurable contributions. The effectiveness of different fallout events in producing internal organ doses through ingestion varied dramatically with seasonal timing of the test, with maximum dose per unit fallout occurring for early summer depositions when milk cows were on pasture and fresh, local vegetables were used. Within specific communities, internal doses differed by age, sex, and lifestyle. Collective internal dose estimates for specific geographic areas are provided.},
doi = {10.1097/00004032-199610000-00006},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/390958}, journal = {Health Physics},
number = 4,
volume = 71,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996},
month = {Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996}
}