Radioactive Heaven and Earth

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Radioactive Heaven and Earth You have downloaded the electronic version of Radioactive Heaven and Earth The health and environmental effects of nuclear weapons testing in, on, and above the earth A report of the IPPNW International Commission to Investigate the Health and Environmental Effects of Nuclear Weapons Production and the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research The copyright of this book in all formats is held by the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research. This electronic file is made available for downloading at no charge for non-commercial use only. Any commercial use, including sales in paper, electronic, audio, or any other format or via the Internet, is strictly prohibited. Unauthorized sales in any format are a violation of copyright law. Hard copies of this book available for sale at http://www.ieer.org/ RADIOACTIVE HEAVEN AND EARTH The Health and Environmental Effects of Nuclear Weapons Testing In, On, and Above the Earth A report of the IPPNW International Commission To Investigate the Health and Environmental Effects of Nuclear Weapons Production and the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Commission Director Anthony Robbins, M.D. International Physicians for the Prevention . of Nuclear War President of IEER and Technical Consultant to Commission Arjun Makhijani, Ph.D. Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Commission Coordinator Katherine Yih, Ph.D. International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War THE APEX PRESS New Yo* ZED BOOKS London Copyright O 1991 International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research All rights reserved The Apex Press is an imprint of the Council on Inter- national and Public Affairs, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, New York 10017 (2121953-6920). Published in the United Kingdom by Zed Books Ltd., 57 Caledonian Road, London N19BU. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. International Commission Radioactive heaven and earth : the health and environmental effects of nuclear weapons testing in, on and above the earth : a report of the PPNW International Commission. 1. Public health. Effects of nuclear radiation I. Title 363.1799 ISBN 1-85649-020-3 ISBN 1-85649-021-1 pbk Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Radioactive heaven and earth : the health and environmental effects of nuclear weapons testing in, on, and above the earth / Internation- al Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Inc., Institute for Energy and Environmental Research. P* cm. ISBN 0-945257-34- 1 1. Nuclear weapons--Testing--Health aspects. 2. Nuclear weapons--Testing--Envanmental aspects. I. International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. 11. Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (Takoma Park, Md.) RA569.R28 1991 363.17'992--dc20 90-25747 CIP Preface ix Acknowledgements xiii Chapter 1. Assessing the Legacy of Nuclear Testing Technical Background Nuclear Explosions and Their Results Total Fission Product Activity and Decay Induced Radioactivity Radiation Exposure Due to Testing Measurement Problems Related to Atmospheric Testing Doses to Test Personnel and Downwinders Hot Spots Practical Problems in Estimating Radiation Dose Measurement Pmblems Related to Undergmund Testing Atmospheric Contamination After Underground Tests Underground Accumulations Non-Radiological Effects of Testing Chapter 2. Methodology 23 General Approach 23 Counting Nuclear Tests Which Include Non-Military Objectives 24 Estimates of Adverse Health Effects 25 Assessing the Effects of Atmospheric Testing 27 Global Effects 27 Local Effects 28 Dose Calculations 28 Assessing the Effects of Underground Testing 30 Chapter 3. Global Effects 33 Global Cancer Risk Estimates 34 Inventory of Long-Lived Radionuclides from Atmospheric Testing 44 Inventory of Long-Lived Radionuclides from Underground Testing 45 vi Radioactive Heaven and Earth Contamination of Space Chapter 4. U.S. Testing in North America Locations, Number, and 'Qpes of Tests Selection of a Test Site Downwind Communities Hot Spots and Other Environmental Contamination Environmental Effects of Underground Testing Chapter 5. U.S. Testing in the Pacific Locations, Number, and wsof Tests Historical Context of Testing Selection of the Marshall Islands as a Test Site The Tests Possible Resumption of Atmospheric Testing Downwind Communities Acute Radiation Effects Long-Tenn Effects of contamination Bikini Enewetak Rongelap Relocation and Clean-Up Policies Health Effects Due to Ciguatera Ciguatera in the Marshall Islands Chapter 6. Soviet Union Locations, Number, and Qpes of Tests Historical Context of Testing Downwind Communities Kazakhstan: Doses and Cancer Fatalities Kazakhstan: Health Effects Other Than Cancer Novaya Zemlya Environmental Effects of Underground Testing Chapter 7. British Testing in Australia Historical Context, Locations, Number, and Types of Tests Downwind Communities Fallout Measurements Dose Estimates and Health Effects Anned Forces Personnel Background to the Studies Contents vii Major Studies Residual Environmental Contamination Chapter 8. British and U.S. Testing at Christmas Island 123 Historical Context, Locations, Number, and 'ZLpes of Tests 123 Downwind Communities 124 Christmas Islanders 124 Tongareva Islanders 126 Armed Forces Personnel 126 Environmental Contamination 131 Chapter 9. French Testing 133 Locations, Number, and Types of Tests 133 Historical Context of Testing 137 Downwind Communities 138 Armed Forces Personnel 141 Hot Spots 142 Environmental Effects of Atmospheric Testing 143 Environmental Effects of Underground Testing at Moruroa 144 Physical Damage to the Reef 144 'Ikiggering of Landslides, Tsunamis, and Earthquakes 145 Venting of Gaseous and Volatile Fission Products 145 Medium- and Long-term Leakage of Fission Products to the Biosphere 146 Transfer of Dissolved Plutonium to the Ocean 148 Ciguatera 149 Chapter 10. China 151 Chapter 11. Other Countries 155 Summary and Conclusions 159 Glossary 173 References 179 PREFACE In December 1988 the International Physicians for the hevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) created the Commission to study the health and environmental effects of nuclear weapons production. News ac- counts in the United States had revealed a nuclear weapons production complex replete with health, safety, and environmental problems. PPNW reasoned that similar problems were likely to exist in all nuclear weapons producing countries and set out to get an overview of the size and scope of the problems. The objective of the Commission has been to describe the health and environmental effects of nuclear weapons production and testing in scientific yet accessible terms, in order to provide the public with some understanding of the price it is paying simply to build nuclear weapons. The Commission's work will be a success if it encourages local groups of physicians, scientists, and environmentalists to pursue information and accountability at each site that has contributed to the pollution caused by nuclear weapons production. If these groups are successful, governments will respond by supporting intensive and ex- tensive scientific investigations of the damage caused by nuclear weapons production and what must be done to protect the public from foture harm. Many groups and individuals have pitched in to help the Commis- sion. The Commission has organized national task forces in several countries to help gather information and present Commission findings x Radioactive Heaven and Earth to the medical, scientific, and environmental community. The Physicians for Social Responsibility, IPPNW's affiliate organization in the United States, put together a task force at the same time the Com- mission was created, and colleagues in the Soviet Union, France, Britain, India, and China have all taken steps to organize national &roups* The production of nuclear weapoefkom mining of uranium to fabrication and testing of bombs and warheads-has taken place at hundreds of sites around the world and has left a lasting mark on the planet. Because the task of quantifying the effects of the various com- ponents of the process on people and environment was enonnous, the Commission divided the problem into more manageable pieces for study. This first report of the Commission focuses on the health and en- vironmental effects of two kinds of nuclear weapons testing: atrnos- pheric tests (conducted before 1981) and underground tests. It concentrates on the testing programs of the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France, and China, the five acknowledged nuclear powers. The Commission chose to highlight nuclear weapons testing in its first report for several reasons. There are better data available on weapons testing than on almost any other aptof nuclear weapons production. Testing is a discrete issue and is most closely linked, along with weapons design, to continuation of the arms race. Testing is needed to build new and "better" nuclear weapons. A halt in testing would probably signal an end to the arms race in nuclear weapons. The release of this repon also occurs in the year of the Test Ban Treaty Amendment Conference, when international interest in nuclear weapons testing is high. Our study of nuclear weapons testing makes three original and im- portant contributions to the information generally available to the public: 1) It recalculates the number of cancer cases and deaths expected from
Recommended publications
  • The United States Nuclear Weapon Program
    /.i. - y _-. --_- -. : _ - . i - DOE/ES4005 (Draft) I _ __ _ _ _____-. 67521 - __ __-. -- -- .-- THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR - %”WEAPQN PROGRA,hik ..I .La;*I* . , ASUMMARYHISTORY \ ;4 h : . ,‘f . March 1983 \ .;_ U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary, Management and Administration Office of The Executive Secretariat History Division -. DOE/ES4005 (Draft) THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR WEAPON PROG.RAM: ASUMMARYHISTORY .' . c *. By: . Roger M. Anders Archivist With: Jack M. Hall Alice L. Buck Prentice C. Dean March 1983 ‘ .I \ . U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary, Management and Administration Office of The Executive Secretariat History Division Washington, D. C. 20585 ‘Thelkpaemlt of Energy OqanizationAct of 1977 b-mughttcgether for the first tim in one departxrmtrmst of the Federal GovenmTle?t’s - Programs-With these programs cam a score of organizational ‘ . ? entities,eachwithi+ccxmhistoryandtraditions,frmadozendepart- . .‘I w ’ mnts and independentagencies. The EIistoryDivision,- prepareda . seriesof paqhlets on The Institutional Originsof the De-t of v Eachpamphletexplainsthehistory,goals,and achievemzntsof a predecessoragency or a major prqrm of the -to=-TY* This parquet, which replacesF&ger M. Anders'previous booklet on "The Office of MilitaxxApplication," traces the histoe of the UrL+& Statesnuclearweapx prcgramfrmits inceptionduring World War II to the present. Nuclear weqons form the core of America's m&z defenses. Anders'history describes the truly fo&idable effortscf 5e Atanic Energy Cmmission, the F;nergy Rfzsearch and Develqmlt z4dmCstratian,andtheDep&m- to create adiverse a* sophistica~arsenzl ofnucleaz ~accctqli&mentsofL~se agenciesandtheirplants andlabc J zrsatedan "atanic shie2 WMchp- Psrrericatoday. r kger M. Anders is a trained historianworking in the Eistzq Divisbn.
    [Show full text]
  • Announced United States Nuclear Tests, July 1945
    MARSHALL ISLANDS FILE TRACKING DOCUMENT Record Number: 537 1 File Name (TITLE): Document Number (ID): Addditional Information: OrMIbox: 2.V .:” CyMIbox: DOE/NV-209 (Rev.1 3) May 1993 UC-700 Announced United States Nuclear Tests July 1945 Through December 1992 Prepared by: U.S. Department of Energy Nevada Operations Office Office of External Affairs This publication supersedes DOE/NV-209 (Rev. 12). dated May 1992 This publication has been reproduced directly from the best available copy. Available to DOE and DOE contractors from: Office of Scientific and Technical Information P.O. Box 62 Oak Ridge, TN 37831 (6151 5768401, FTS 626-8401 Available to the public from: National Technical Information Service U.S. Department of Commerce 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161 Price: Printed Copy A05 Microfiche A01 .- _- __ - ._ _. _- --- .-. - .--- --- ---.-- .._ _.._i Announced United States Nuclear Tests July 1945 Through December 1992 This document lists chronologically and alphabetically by event name all nuclear tests conducted and announced by the United States from July 1945 through December 1992, with the exception of the GMX experiments. The 24 GMX experiments, conducted at the Nevada Test Site (NTSJ between December 1954 and February 1956, were ‘equation-of-state” physics studies that used small chemical explosives and small quantities of plutonium. Several tests conducted during Operation Dominic involved missile launches from Johnston Atoll. Several of these missile launches were aborted, resulting in the destruction of the missile and nuclear device either on the pad or in the air. On August 5, 1963, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Limited Test Ban Treaty which effectively banned testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere.
    [Show full text]
  • It's Time to Expand Nuclear Power
    Intelligence Squared U.S. 1 01/23/2020 January 23, 2020 Ray Padgett | [email protected] Mark Satlof | [email protected] T: 718.522.7171 It’s Time to Expand Nuclear Power Guests: For the Motion: Kirsty Gogan, Daniel Poneman Against the Motion: Arjun Makhijani, Gregory Jaczko Moderator: John Donvan AUDIENCE RESULTS Before the debate: After the debate: 49% FOR 47% FOR 21% AGAINST 42% AGAINST 30% UNDECIDED 11% UNDECIDED Start Time: (00:00:00) John Donvan: We have a key note conversation because the topic relates to science. Would you please welcome to the stage Bill Nye, the science guy? [applause] Bill Nye: John, so good to see you! John Donvan: Great to see you. [applause] So, that was the appropriate level of applause, I think. Bill Nye: Wow! Intelligence Squared U.S. 2 01/23/2020 John Donvan: There was a really interesting story that relates to you and Intelligence Squared that I want to start with. Bill Nye: Ah, yes. Yes. John Donvan: And you were -- you have been, in the past, a member of our audience. You've been out there. And there was one particular debate that you attended, and an interesting thing happened. Pick it up from there. Bill Nye: So, I was at a debate about genetically-modified organisms, GMOs. And -- John Donvan: The resolution was: Genetically modified food -- Bill Nye: Is good or bad. Or was necessary. John Donvan: No. It was -- it was stated as an imperative: "Genetically-modified food." It was a sentence. Bill Nye: Ah, yes. John Donvan: Okay.
    [Show full text]
  • Nuclear Weapon Test Site
    Alamogordo, USA Nuclear weapon test site The world’s rst nuclear explosion took place near Alamogordo on July 16, 1945. This detonation marked the beginning of the “nuclear age,” epitomized by weapons of in- humane destructive power. Since the rst detonation in Alamogordo, more than 2,000 nuclear test explosions have led to the radioactive contamination of the entire Earth. History Alamogordo is a small town in southern New Mexico. Located in the nearby Jornada del Muerto desert, the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range was the site of the world’s fi rst nuclear explosion. The so-called “Trin ity” Test was carried out as part of the Manhattan Proj ect, a nuclear weapon research operation begun In 2010, the Los Alamos Document Retrieval and As- in 1939. The project took place simultaneously in sev- sessment Project (LAHDRA) of the U.S. Centers for eral locations: the weapons were developed in Los Al- Dis ease Control and Prevention published their fi nal amos, New Mexico; uranium-235 was enriched at Oak report on radioactive exposure. They found that peo- Ridge, Tennessee; and plutonium-239 was pro duced ple were exposed to levels of up to 1,000 mSv in the at Hanford, Washington. The desert near Alamogordo, fi rst two weeks after the blast (10,000 times natural New Mexico was chosen as the test site. background radiation) and were also exposed to inter- nal radiation through ingestion of contaminated fl uids On July 14, 1945, the world’s fi rst nuclear bomb, a and food. There is, however, a lack of studies evaluat- plutonium implosion device code-named “The Gad- ing the internal doses of residents.
    [Show full text]
  • NEW TITLES in BIOETHICS Annual Cumulation Volume 20, 1994
    NATIONAL REFERENCE CENTER FOR BIOETHICS LITERATURE THE JOSEPH AND ROSE KENNEDY INSTITUTE OF ETHICS GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON, DC 20057 NEW TITLES IN BIOETHICS Annual Cumulation Volume 20, 1994 (Includes Syllabus Exchange Catalog) Lucinda Fitch Huttlinger, Editor Gregory P. Cammett, Managing Editor ISSN 0361-6347 A NOTE TO OUR READERS . Funding for the purchase of the materials cited in NEW TITLES IN BIOETHICS was severely reduced in September 1994. We are grateful for your donations, as well as your recom­ mendations to your publishers to forward review copies to the Editor. In addition to being listed here, all English-language titles accepted for the collection will be considered for inclusion in the BIOETHICSLINE database, produced at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics under contract with the National Library of Medicine. Your efforts to support this publication and the dissemination of bioethics information in general are sincerely appreciated. NEW TITLES IN BIOETHICS is published four times Inquiries regarding NEW TITLES IN BIOETHICS per year (quarterly) by the National Reference Center should be addressed to: for Bioethics Literature, Kennedy Institute of Ethics. Gregory Cammett, Managing Editor Annual Cumulations are published in the following year (regarding subscriptions and claims) as separate publications. NEW TITLES IN BIOETHICS is a listing by subject of recent additions OR to the National Reference Center's collection. (The subject classification scheme is reproduced in full with Lucinda Fitch Huttlinger, Editor each issue; it can also be found at the end of the (regarding review copies, gifts, and exchanges) cumulated edition.) With the exception of syllabi listed NEW TITLES IN BIOETHICS as part of our Syllabus Exchange program, and docu­ National Reference Center for Bioethics ments in the section New Publications from the Ken­ Literature nedy Institute of Ethics, materials listed herein are not Kennedy Institute of Ethics available from the National Reference Center.
    [Show full text]
  • Radiation Exposure Compensation
    Human Impacts of our Nuclear System How are communities in the US How are downwinders affected by affected by the nuclear system? nuclear testing? ● Downwinders are individuals who were ● Studies since the 1930’s have shown a exposed to radiation from the clear link between deadly illnesses, such explosion of nuclear weapons tests. as cancers, and nuclear radiation. In the ● During nuclear tests, radioactive 1960s, numerous studies on Uranium materials are released and the wind miners in the US found increased carries the fallout hundreds of miles illnesses and deaths linked to exposure. away from the nuclear testing site ● A 1997 study estimated that testing from exposing people in the surrounding the Nevada Test Site could have led to areas to unsafe levels of radiation. 11,000 to 212,000 thyroid cancer cases ● Uranium miners were exposed to (only one type of cancer of the many dangerous levels of radiation. Many of caused by radiation exposure). these mines are still open and ● Another study found that just the New continue to release radiation into, Mexico Trinity Test likely caused up to mainly indigenous, communities. 1,000 cancer cases. ● Since the government did not adequately What is RECA? measure the levels of human radiation exposure or start counting certain cancer ● RECA, or the Radiation Exposure deaths as attributed to radiation Compensation Act, provides exposure until much after the initial compensation to approved individuals tests, we do not know the true impact of that have illnesses caused by nuclear these tests on downwinders, but it is weapons activities. likely higher than many studies suggest.
    [Show full text]
  • The Effect of Chemical Incidents on First Responders
    2019 The Effect of Chemical Incidents on First Responders: An Interview with Bruce Evans (MPA, NRP, CFOD, SEMSO), Fire Chief, Upper Pine River Fire Protection District A massive leak of liquefied chlorine gas created a dangerous cloud over the city of Henderson, NV, in the early morning hours of May 6, 1991. Over 200 people (including firefighters) were examined at a local hospital for respiratory distress caused by inhalation of the chlorine and approximately 30 were admitted for treatment. Approximately 700 individuals were taken to shelters, and between 2,000 and 7,000 individuals were evacuated from the area. ASPR TRACIE interviewed Chief Bruce Evans (who was a firefighter- paramedic at the time of the incident), asking him to share his my first large-scale incident: the experiences and highlight how the PEPCON explosion. PEPCON was Access these U.S. Fire Administration Technical Reports fire and emergency response to a rocket fuel plant that supplied propellant used for the space for more information on these chemical incidents has changed incidents: over the years. shuttle program. This explosion sent a shock wave over the • Fire and Explosions at Rocket Corina Solé Brito, ASPR TRACIE entire Las Vegas Valley, blew out Fuel Plant (CSB): Can you please share windows that were miles away, • Massive Leak of Liquefied your experience in Henderson and created a small, multicolored Chlorine Gas and other related incidents, how mushroom cloud on the south end you think the field has changed of the valley. The Professional since then, and what you think Golfers’ Association (PGA) was the future holds? also in town, so there were satellite or injuries from flying debris were I am fortunate trucks and news trucks present.
    [Show full text]
  • Operation Dominic I
    OPERATION DOMINIC I United States Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Tests Nuclear Test Personnel Review Prepared by the Defense Nuclear Agency as Executive Agency for the Department of Defense HRE- 0 4 3 6 . .% I.., -., 5. ooument. Tbe t k oorreotsd oontraofor that tad oa the book aw ra-ready c I I i I 1 1 I 1 I 1 i I I i I I I i i t I REPORT NUMBER 2. GOVT ACCESSION NC I NA6OccOF 1 i Technical Report 7. AUTHOR(.) i L. Berkhouse, S.E. Davis, F.R. Gladeck, J.H. Hallowell, C.B. Jones, E.J. Martin, DNAOO1-79-C-0472 R.A. Miller, F.W. McMullan, M.J. Osborne I I 9. PERFORMING ORGAMIIATION NWE AN0 AODRCSS ID. PROGRAM ELEMENT PROJECT. TASU Kamn Tempo AREA & WOW UNIT'NUMSERS P.O. Drawer (816 State St.) QQ . Subtask U99QAXMK506-09 ; Santa Barbara, CA 93102 11. CONTROLLING OFClCC MAME AM0 ADDRESS 12. REPORT DATE 1 nirpctor- . - - - Defense Nuclear Agency Washington, DC 20305 71, MONITORING AGENCY NAME AODRCSs(rfdIfI*mI ka CamlIlIU Olllc.) IS. SECURITY CLASS. (-1 ah -*) J Unclassified SCHCDULC 1 i 1 I 1 IO. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES This work was sponsored by the Defense Nuclear Agency under RDT&E RMSS 1 Code 6350079464 U99QAXMK506-09 H2590D. For sale by the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161 19. KEY WOROS (Cmlmm a nm.. mid. I1 n.c...-7 .nd Id.nllh 4 bled nlrmk) I Nuclear Testing Polaris KINGFISH Nuclear Test Personnel Review (NTPR) FISHBOWL TIGHTROPE DOMINIC Phase I Christmas Island CHECKMATE 1 Johnston Island STARFISH SWORDFISH ASROC BLUEGILL (Continued) D.
    [Show full text]
  • The Newsletter for America's Atomic Veterans
    United States Atmospheric & Underwater Atomic Weapon Activities National Association of Atomic Veterans, Inc. 1945 “TRINITY“ “Assisting America’s Atomic Veterans Since 1979” ALAMOGORDO, N. M. Website: www.naav.com E-mail: [email protected] 1945 “LITTLE BOY“ HIROSHIMA, JAPAN R. J. RITTER - Editor July, 2011 1945 “FAT MAN“ NAGASAKI, JAPAN 1946 “CROSSROADS“ BIKINI ISLAND 1948 “SANDSTONE“ ENEWETAK ATOLL 1951 “RANGER“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1951 “GREENHOUSE“ ENEWETAK ATOLL 1951 “BUSTER – JANGLE“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1952 “TUMBLER - SNAPPER“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1952 “IVY“ ENEWETAK ATOLL 1953 “UPSHOT - KNOTHOLE“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1954 “CASTLE“ BIKINI ISLAND 1955 “TEAPOT“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1955 “WIGWAM“ OFFSHORE SAN DIEGO 1955 “PROJECT 56“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1956 “REDWING“ ENEWETAK & BIKINI 1957 “PLUMBOB“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1958 “HARDTACK-I“ ENEWETAK & BIKINI 1958 “NEWSREEL“ JOHNSON ISLAND 1958 “ARGUS“ SOUTH ATLANTIC 1958 “HARDTACK-II“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1961 “NOUGAT“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1962 “DOMINIC-I“ CHRISTMAS ISLAND JOHNSON ISLAND 1965 “FLINTLOCK“ AMCHITKA, ALASKA 1969 “MANDREL“ AMCHITKA, ALASKA 1971 “GROMMET“ AMCHITKA, ALASKA 1974 “POST TEST EVENTS“ AMCHITKA, ALASKA ------------ “ IF YOU WERE THERE, THE 1957 LAS VEGAS “MISS-NUKE” CONTEST WINNER YOU ARE AN ATOMIC VETERAN “ The Newsletter for America’s Atomic Veterans COMMANDER’S COMMENTS We will gather in Richmond, Va., on October 01, 2011 to celebrate 31 years of service to A. H. Bolin ( MN ) G. M. Everett ( MS ) honor the service and sacrifices of more Don McFarland ( WA ) W. J. Mitchell ( WA ) than 500,000 Atomic-Veterans, the majority J. C. Phillips ( AL ) M. A. Morriss ( VA ) of whom are now deceased, having carried G. D. Sherman ( ND ) R.
    [Show full text]
  • The United States Nuclear Weapon Program: A
    DOE/ES-0005 (Draft) 67521 wees ce eee ee ee THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR WEAPON PROGRAM: | A SUMMARYHISTORY '<) March 1983 U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary, Management and Administration Office of The Executive Secretariat History Division DOE/ES-0005 (Draft) THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR | WEAPON PROGRAM: A SUMMARY HISTORY © | « By: Roger M. Anders Archivist With: Jack M. Holl Alice L. Buck Prentice C. Dean March 1983 U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary, Management and Administration Office of The Executive Secretariat History Division Washington, D.C. 20585 The Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977 brought together for the first time in one department most of the Federal Government's energy programs. With these programs came a score of organizational entities, each with its owm history and traditions, from a dozen depart- ‘ments and independent agencies. The History Division has prepared a series of pamphlets on The Institutional Origins of the Department of Energy. Each pamphlet explains the history, goals, and achievements of @ predecessor agency or a major program of the Department of Energy. This pamphlet, which replaces Roger M. Anders' previous booklet cn "The Office of Military Application," traces the history of the United States nuclear weapon program from its inception during World War II to the present. Nuclear weapons form the core of America's modern defenses. anders! history describes the truly formidable efforts of «ne Atomic Energy Commission, the Energy Research and Develogment Administration, and the Departmr to create a diverse anc sophisticated arsenal of nuclear 2 accomplishments of these agencies and their plants and lak : created an “atomic shieic" which protects America today.
    [Show full text]
  • Bob Farquhar
    1 2 Created by Bob Farquhar For and dedicated to my grandchildren, their children, and all humanity. This is Copyright material 3 Table of Contents Preface 4 Conclusions 6 Gadget 8 Making Bombs Tick 15 ‘Little Boy’ 25 ‘Fat Man’ 40 Effectiveness 49 Death By Radiation 52 Crossroads 55 Atomic Bomb Targets 66 Acheson–Lilienthal Report & Baruch Plan 68 The Tests 71 Guinea Pigs 92 Atomic Animals 96 Downwinders 100 The H-Bomb 109 Nukes in Space 119 Going Underground 124 Leaks and Vents 132 Turning Swords Into Plowshares 135 Nuclear Detonations by Other Countries 147 Cessation of Testing 159 Building Bombs 161 Delivering Bombs 178 Strategic Bombers 181 Nuclear Capable Tactical Aircraft 188 Missiles and MIRV’s 193 Naval Delivery 211 Stand-Off & Cruise Missiles 219 U.S. Nuclear Arsenal 229 Enduring Stockpile 246 Nuclear Treaties 251 Duck and Cover 255 Let’s Nuke Des Moines! 265 Conclusion 270 Lest We Forget 274 The Beginning or The End? 280 Update: 7/1/12 Copyright © 2012 rbf 4 Preface 5 Hey there, I’m Ralph. That’s my dog Spot over there. Welcome to the not-so-wonderful world of nuclear weaponry. This book is a journey from 1945 when the first atomic bomb was detonated in the New Mexico desert to where we are today. It’s an interesting and sometimes bizarre journey. It can also be horribly frightening. Today, there are enough nuclear weapons to destroy the civilized world several times over. Over 23,000. “Enough to make the rubble bounce,” Winston Churchill said. The United States alone has over 10,000 warheads in what’s called the ‘enduring stockpile.’ In my time, we took care of things Mano-a-Mano.
    [Show full text]
  • Fallout Model for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator Blake Purnell the Radioactive Cloud Model
    Fallout Model for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator Blake Purnell Modeling radioactive fallout from nuclear explosions requires a description of the radioactive cloud and base surge and an atmospheric transport model for the cloud dispersion. The atmospheric transport model is independent of the radioactive nature of the dust and I will stick to a simple model in this study. The Radioactive Cloud Model Radioactive Release The first stage in understanding the fallout from a nuclear explosion is to estimate the amount of radioactivity released into the atmosphere. For external exposure to radiation, the main threat is from gamma-rays. The average gamma-ray activity1 produced in a nuclear explosion has been calculated as 530 megacuries per kiloton of fission yield at one hour after the explosion, with an average photon energy of 0.7 MeV. The data available on underground nuclear tests focuses on the fraction of the total activity found in “early” or “close-in” fallout ( Fc ), which measures only those particles that have been deposited in the first 24 2 hours . The fraction of the total activity released into the atmosphere ( f rel ) is greater than what appears in 3 the early fallout ( f rel > Fc ). The fraction Fc is dependant on the scaled depth of burst . A summary of the activity release data available for U.S. and Soviet underground tests are shown in Tables 1, Table 2, and Figure 1. Table 1: Activity Released from U.S. Underground Nuclear Tests. Test Yield Depth of Burst Scaled Depth of Burst Fraction of Total Activity 1/3 (kt) (m) (m/kt ) in Early Fallout (Fc) Jangle Sa 1.2 0 0 0.50 Jangle Ua 1.2 5.18 4.88 0.64 Teapot ESSa 1.2 20.4 19.2 0.46 Schoonerb 30 111 35.8 0.48 Cabrioletb 2.3 51.8 39.3 0.028 Buggyb,c 1.08 41.1 40.1 0.038 Sedanb,d 100 194 41.7 0.18 Danny Boya 0.43 33.5 44.4 0.04 Sulkyb 0.088 27.4 61.6 0.001 Neptunea 0.115 30.5 62.7 0.005 Blancaa 19 255 95.4 0.0005 a) Release fraction from Knox-65, Table 1.
    [Show full text]