e. In air and water the following continuous levels of radioactivity
are considered safe from the viewpoint of personnel drinking and
breathing (uc = microcurie):
Beta or Gamma Emitter

Water
Air

5 x 1073 uc/ce

(calculated to H + 3 days)

(24 hour average)
Particles less than 5 micron diameter 1076 uc/cc
Particles greater than 5 micron diameter 1074 uc/cc

18. In tactical situations the military commander must make the decision
regarding allowable exposures.
As military personnel are normally
subject to only random exposure, health hazards are at a minimum.
Current Department of Defense information on exposure to gamma radiation in tactical situations is indicated below:
a. Uniform acute (immediate)

exposure of 50 roentgens to a group of

Armed Forces personnel will not appreciably affect their efficiency as
a fighting unit.

b. Uniform acute exposure of 100 roentgens will produce in occasional
individuals nausea and vomiting but not to an extent that will render
Armed Forces personnel ineffective as fighting units.
Personnel receiving an acute radiation exposure of 100 or more roentgens should be
given a period of rest and individual evaluation as soon as possible.
c. Uniform acute exposure of approximately 150 roentgens or greater

can be expected to render Armed Forces personnel ineffective as troops
within a few hours through a substantial incidence of nausea, vomiting,

weakness and prostration.
Mortality produced by an acute exposure of
150 roentgens will be very low and eventual recovery of physical fitness may be expected.

d. Field commanders should, therefore, assume that if substantial numbers of their men receive acute radiation exposures substantially above
100 roentgens there is a grave risk that their commands will rapidly
become ineffective as fighting units.
e. Internal radiation hazards caused by entry of radioactive substances
through the mouth, through the lungs or through cuts or wounds do not
exist after an air burst.
Internal hazards following a contaminating

surface explosion may be avoided if ordinary precautions are taken.

Only under unusual circumstances will there be internal hazard from
residual contamination.
This eliminates the necessity for masking and
consequent reduction of tactical efficiency.
19. The RadSafe Officer, TG 7.1, will maintain standard type film badge
records of radiation exposures for all task force personnel.
Records
will indicate full name, rank or rate, serial or service number, if
applicable, organization, home station or laboratory, date of exposure, approximation duration of over-exposure in hours and minutes

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