Analysis of Radiation Exposure for Military Participants. Exercises Desert Rock 1, 2, and 3 - Operation Buster-Jangle.

Abstract

Radiation doses to observers, maneuver troops, technical projects, and support units for Exercises Desert Rock I, II, and III are reconstructed for each applicable shot of Operation Buster-Jangle (1951). Residual radiation doses are calculated from the characterized radiation environments and the activity scenarios of the participants. Uncertainties are determined from the variances of each parameter used in the calculations. Exposure to initial radiation was negligible, but the 50-year bone dose commitment from exposure to internal emitters was significant for some personnel due to the type and duration of activities in the resuspendible debris from the surface and underground shots (Sugar and Uncle). Calculated mean film badge equivalent doses for the Desert Rock exercises ranged up to 0.53 rem for observers, 0.08 rem for maneuver troops, and about 3.6 rem for a Desert Rock III engineer (Shot Uncle). Exposure of support units, if personnel had not been rotated, could have led to mean doses ranging to 3.7 rem. Internal doses were as high as 2.9 rem bone dose commitment for Desert Rock II ordinance and engineer evaluators at Shot Sugar who also returned to the site (in 1952) after the operation for final evaluation of test equipment, and 2.2 rem for engineer recovery and restoration personnel in 1952. Keywords: Exposure(Physiology); Ionizing radiation; Dosage; Radiation hazards.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 22, 1987
Accession Number
ADA195404

Entities

People

  • Christoph Thomas
  • E. Ortlieb
  • J. Goetz
  • J. Klemm
  • M. Barrett

Organizations

  • Leidos

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Artillery
  • Employment
  • Engineers
  • Gamma Rays
  • Health Services
  • Instructors
  • Ionizing Radiation
  • Measurement
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Personnel
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Personnel Management
  • Public Health
  • Radiation Effects
  • Radioactive Materials
  • Two Dimensional

Readers

  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.