APPENDIX 2 = UCRL 12273
Estimate of Radiation Dose to Thyroids of
the Rongelap Children Following the Bravo Event

Ralph A. James
Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, University of California
Livermore,

California

December 16,

1964

General Information

The cloud arrival time is given‘)? as H +4 to 6 hours.
The duration
of the cloud passage is less well known but probably lies in the range of
8 - 16 hours.
In all calculations we will assume that cloud passage was in
the interval H + 6 to H + 18.
The residents of Rongelap were evacuated at
dose rate measurements were not obtained at that
rate 3 feet above the ground,wgs measured as 375
the detonation.
Assuming t
°
decay the H + 24

~3.8 rad/hr.

H + 51 hours.
Reliable
time but the gamma dose
mr/hr seven days after
hour dose rate was
ien

The sources of exposure to the thyroid which must be considered are:
(1)
(2)

Whole body gamma dose.
Internal deposition of iodine isotopes.
Whole Body Gamma Dose

The whole body dose was estimated‘? to be 175 rad.
making this estimate is not given,

The exact method of

so an independent estimate is made below.

In particular, it appears that this estimate does not include the dose from
the cloud but only from fallout.

If we assume a linear buildup of fallout from H + 6 to H + 18, pte?
decay during this interval and use the reading of 375 mr/hr at seven days,
the estimated dose from fallout during cloud passage is 47 rad.
The dose
from the fallout from H + 18 to evacuation at H + 5l is 114 rad.
Experience
from Sedan indicates that the dose from the cloud, itself, is approximately
equal to the dose from fallout during cloud passage.
The total estimated dose
is then 47 + 47 + 114 = 208 rad.
Within the error of the measurements and the accuracy of the assumptions,
this estimate, which does not contain any correction for the small efregt of
time indoors, does not differ significantly from the value of 175 rad
We
will, therefore, take the average whole body gamma dose as 175 + 25 rad.

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