DNA 1240H-2
19 August 1973
In Some cases, the asymptomatic interval is even shorter than noted
by Rider and Hasselback.
Fig. 18-19 was prepared by Dr. Thomas Mobley of
Air Force Weapons Laboratory, and will be published in a forthcoming
Technical Report.
The figure illustrates radiation effects on a young man
(about 6 ft 4 in. tall, weighing about 180 1b), observed and documented by
Dr. Mobley at the Ontario Tumor Clinic.
The asymptomatic interval after
irradiation in this case was only about 25 min, and for 5 hr after that,
the patient was incapable of performing any task.
Similar effects were
noted, according to Dr. Mobley, in the treatment of patients at Naval Hospital, San Diego, California.
18.7.2
Thermal Radiation
Thermal radiation from underwater bursts is either negligible or
non-existent, and will cause no injuries or incapacitation to shipboard
personnel.
Thermal radiation from a surface burst will not affect below-
decks personnel, but the eyesight and/or exposed or Lightly covered skin
areas of topside personnel may be affected.
Although no CDC casualty or risk criteria are given for either
retinal burn or flashblindness, it should be noted that vision is vital to
task performance of many topside personnel.
Visual acuity is only slightly
affected by a retinal burn (a permanent effect), unless an individual is
looking directly at the fireball, a circumstance considered unlikely.
How-
ever, vision may be immediately temporarily, partially, or totally impaired
due to the bright flash of a nuclear burst, even though the burst is not
directly in the visual field.
Time for recovery from this condition, termed
flashblindness, may be from several seconds to several hours, depending on
exposure conditions.
Such effects can occur at far greater distances from
surface zero than are hazardous due to any other weapon effect, and the
possibility that some topside personnel may be unable to perform their
duties should be noted.
18-28