Radiation Energy Absorbed by Human Phantoms in a Fission Fallout Field
Abstract
Actual methods used to evaluate total radiation doses received by personnel operating in residual fallout fields are questionable, due to the limitations of present radiac monitoring equipment. The military, in order to plan better operations in nuclear warfare, must have accurate knowledge of the hazards to be encountered. The planned objectives are aimed at evaluating the total energy absorbed; pointing out the inadequacies of present field instruments and the existence of an additional hazard to personnel. Phantoms, resembling humans and made of tissue equivalent materials, were placed in prone and upright positions in a fallout field. Measurements of dose received were taken over the surface and at several internal locations corresponding to the positions of vital organs . The presence of a soft component, strongly indicative of beta radiation, was found which gave a surface dose, in many cases, 50 times the average internal dose for a man lying prone. This factor can be reduced approximately 50 percent by brushing the ground, but this apparently has little effect on the internal dose. The upright man in such a field received doses differing by a factor of eight between feet and head. Although the internal doses agreed favorably with standard radiac equipment, the surface dose was found to be significantly greater. It is concluded that a fallout field delivers a large dose of absorbed energy to the body, which is not usually measured. Further study is required to determine the biological hazard of the unmeasured components.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1955
- Accession Number
- AD0224421
Entities
People
- George W. Jr Imirie
- Robert Sharp
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Center