EVALUATION OF FALLOUT CONTAMINATION OF WATER SUPPLIES
Abstract
A theoretical evaluation was conducted to determine the potential degree of water contamination from fallout and to assess the biological hazards associated with the ingestion of water following hypothetical nuclear attack. The appraisal was carried out by applying the assigned fallout model to various levels of nuclear war and by quantitative correlation of all phases of the flow of radioactive fallout in public water supplies. The water supply systems of three cities were selected for the evaluation of water contamination to study the potential hazards and radiobiological effects from the ingestion of fallout contaminated water. These results indicate that water contamination for some cities may be at a substantial level of activity concentration, especially when watershed runoff is included. A detailed analysis of various criteria for biological uptake was completed. Results from four mathematical models of biological uptake have been summarized and were found to be in close agreement with each other. The possible internal hazard due to ingestion of contaminated water for the populations residing in the three selected cities was estimated. The values of the absorbed dose for total body for different starting times and ingestion periods have been summarized.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 15, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0466691
Entities
People
- Gerard J. Hamel
- Henry S. Atlas
- Werner N. Grune
Organizations
- Merrimack College