Project SEDAN, Food-Chain Relationships of Radiostrontium in the SEDAN Fallout Field

摘要

Plant samples and rabbits were collected before and at various times after the detonation from 20 representative locations in the Sedan fallout field. Radiochemical analyses were made to determine the concentrations of Sr89 and Sr90 in dry plant samples and in the bone ash of rabbits at the times of collection. Estimates of initial gamma dose rates (R0 = mr/hr,3 ft above ground, 24 hr after the detonation) were obtained from aerial survey data. Finally, a mathematical model was proposed to provide at least a partial explanation of the quantitative-kinetics of Sr89 or I131 on pasture plants, in cow's milk, and in human tissues (bone and thyroid) following fallout from a single nuclear detonation. The potential value of the proposed model as an aid in the study of human food-chain kinetics or for the interpretation of radiochemical data was illustrated by means of hypothetical calculations.