Internal dose following a large-scale nuclear war

Conference · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:7192607

Peterson, K R; Shapiro, C S; Harvey, T F

In this study, we use the PATHWAY model, in conjunction with a reasonable hypothetical nuclear attack on the US to arrive at calculations of internal and external dose estimates that are based on valid model results. Our own estimates are presented with calculational aids (at every step) that enable readers to use their own nuclear war scenarios, fallout patterns, assumptions about the climatic changes brought on by large fires following a nuclear attack, the viability of the transportation system for food delivery, the quality and quantity of water and foods available locally, the required caloric intakes of the survivors, and several other factors. We conclude that the average American family that survived a large-scale nuclear war, using their own home or workplace as a refuge, would receive a total internal dose from ingestion that is from one to 10 percent of the total external dose. Those who stayed where shelter protection factors and foraged food consumption were large could receive internal doses from 11 percent to more than 100% of the total external dose. 28 refs., 9 figs.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 7192607
• Report Number(s): UCRL-98348; CONF-880367-2; ON: DE88008033
• Resource Relation: Conference: SCOPE-ENUWAR workshop on the environmental consequences of nuclear war, Moscow, USSR, 20 Mar 1988
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DOSE EQUIVALENTS
FORECASTING
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
FALLOUT
DOSIMETRY
FOOD CHAINS
INTERNAL IRRADIATION
CESIUM 137
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
FIRES
FOOD
INGESTION
INHALATION
IODINE 131
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
STRONTIUM 89
STRONTIUM 90
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
WARFARE
WATER QUALITY
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM ISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXPLOSIONS
INTAKE
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE ISOTOPES
IRRADIATION
ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
STRONTIUM ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
500300* - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
510300 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)