Jagan, of if partie! shahers are employed, the
pereatage of casualties frem theme sourese
6.3
wneehd devwanee endl
ened th Coinage 3k redie-
tiem damage would trrvesr.
The radiation hazard in due ementially en-
tirely to the immediate neutron and gamma
radiation from the weapon, and exposure to
these radiations is only a matter of seconds in
duration. Fallout is relatively of no significance.© Than, there in no significant contamination of the skin and, therefore, no beta lesions
of the skin. Likewise, there is no significant
danger of ingestion or inhalation of radioactive
material, and hence, no “internal emitter” problem.
Both the immediate gamma and neutron
radiations are highly penetrating and will produce acute total body radiation injury in man.
The ratio of neutron to gamma ray contribu.
tion to the total effective dose at distances of
biological significance vanes with weapon type.
With mort common shielding materials (earth,
concrete), the relative neutron contribution to
the total done decreases with passage through
the materials.
623
Dependence of Effects on Circumstances of
Weapon Detonation
The effects previously described were for a
high air burt only.
With surface. under-
yround and underwater bursts of kiloton
Werapoos, in addition to blast, heat, and inime-
(hate cenizing radiations, serious contamination from fallout can oevur. Its extent would
of course be jes than with the “meyaton™
wenpon: however, its yetentinl seriousness can-
net be ignored.
"Micnitt-aat Jevele of seutron-iaduced radioactivits
way he cereent fer a short thine near grand ser.
G31
Added Biectss of Megnoa
Werpsess
lanenecbines Bhost, Mest end Radiatsee Efiocn
Were Tae Masston Rowe, the same problew encountered with earlier atomic weapons are alan encountered, only magnified many
times. The eres of total destruction, instead of
one or two miles in diameter, may extend sev-
eral times that far. depending upon the size of
the weapon. There are blast, heat and radia-
tion casualties as before, and the same problems
of ‘andling mass casualties on an unprecelented scale with minimal or no facilities pertain, In addition, the problem of extensive
fallout is likely to enter.
6.32
Phenomenology of Fallout
Siesaricant Farzoct Rescite only when the
tire ball of the bomb comes in contact with the
surface of the earth. With the high air burst,
midioactivity condenses only on solid particles
from the bomb components itself. and on dust
nother. The particles are small, are
drawn high inte the atmosphere and do not
settle tou the earth for periods of days or even
mouths. Hy the time they reach the earth's
surface, the major part of their radioactivity
has been dissipated haridessiy ino the atmos-
phere and no sagiiteant hazard results. If,
however, the wenpon is detonated on the surface
or clo enough so that the fire ball touches the
surface, then large amounts of material are
drawn up into the bomb cloud. Many of the
particles thus formed are heavy enough to deseend rapiddy while stall intensely radioactive.
The resalt is a comparatively localized aren of
extreme radioactive contamination and a much
larger area of some hazard.
The fallout area consists, in effect, of n large
contaminated plane (except as modified by
buildings of other structures), enutting alpha,
hete and penetrating gamma rays. It is ap-