![environment and security bulletin of atomic society environment and security bulletin of atomic society](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EO-nXe5WkAgZObu.jpg)
Estimates of latent cancer fatalities are based largely on results of the long-term follow-up of the survivors of the atomic bombings in Japan. Acute effects include radiation sickness or death resulting from high doses of radiation (greater than 1 sievert, or 100 rems) delivered over a few days. Radiation has both acute and latent health effects. Below is a discussion of the possibleĬontribution of other exposure pathways, such as inhalation of contaminated air and consumption of contaminated water and food, to the total radiation dose received by humans. Most of the dose from fallout is due to external exposure to gamma radiation from radionuclides deposited on the ground, and this is the only exposure pathway considered by the computer models that the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) used to estimate health effects for this study. By contrast, the radiation dose from fallout is delivered over an extended period, as described in Chapter 5. The first three of these effects are “prompt” effects, because the harm is inflicted immediately after the detonation. The debris is carried by the wind and falls back to Earth over a period of minutes to hours. When a nuclear detonation occurs close to the ground surface, soil mixes with the highly radioactive fission products from the weapon. Relative to other effects, initial radiation is an important cause of casualties only for low-yield explosions (less than 10 kilotons).įallout. Nuclear detonations release large amounts of neutron and gamma radiation. Though difficult to predict accurately, it is expected that thermal effects from a nuclear explosion would be the cause of significant casualties. In some cases, the fires ignited by the explosion can coalesce into a firestorm, preventing the escape of survivors.
ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY BULLETIN OF ATOMIC SOCIETY SKIN
Unlike conventional explosions, a single nuclear explosion can generate an intense pulse of thermal radiation that can start fires and burn skin over large areas.
![environment and security bulletin of atomic society environment and security bulletin of atomic society](https://i2.wp.com/climateandsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/a-climate-security-plan-for-america_report-cover.png)
The shock wave can directly injure humans by rupturing eardrums or lungs or by hurling people at high speed, but most casualties occur because of collapsing structures and flying debris. Nuclear explosions produce air-blast effects similar to those produced by conventional explosives. The health effects of nuclear explosions are due primarily to air blast, thermal radiation, initial nuclear radiation, and residual nuclear radiation or fallout.īlast.