Animal Effects from Soviet Atmospheric Nuclear Tests

Abstract

This two-part document describes the effect on animal models of atmospheric nuclear weapons tests performed by the Soviet Union at the Semipalatinsk Test Site. Part I describes the air blast and thermal radiation effects. Part 2 covers the effects of primary (prompt) radiation and secondary (fallout) radiation on the test subjects. It also covers combined radiation injuries, defined as a combination of radiation and non-radiation injuries. Several different animal species were used. Animals were emplaced at varying distances from the explosion's epicenter, and in a variety of terrain configurations (open ground, trenches oriented parallel and perpendicular to the blast, etc.) The protective effects of shielding from different military vehicles and buildings were also studied. The types, degrees of severity, and clinical course of illness from the injuries produced were carefully studied in order to better understand the pathogenic mechanisms of injury and the likelihood of efficacy of proposed treatment measures.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA485845

Entities

People

  • L. A. Mikhalikhina
  • V. A. Logachev

Organizations

  • ITT Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accidents
  • Cardiovascular System
  • Health Services
  • Laboratory Animals
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Research
  • Radiation Injuries

Readers

  • Neurotrauma and Rehabilitation Medicine.
  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.
  • Seismology