Damage to Livestock From Radioactive Fallout in Event of Nuclear War: A Report (1963)

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umloviiciiW l.l INL0 Ki88ion, ?acility, an6 ?roce6ure8 Ine national mi88ion tor a88e88inß 6anlaß« ^.8 carrie6 out in tne Hational Ke8ource8 Evaluation 0enter (M.l!0) . Lrietlv, tdat mi88ion i8 to meet tne mo8t urßent requirement8 ot all Unite6 3tate8 ßovernment aßencie8 tor: (l) pre»attack e8timate8 ot attack da2ar68 , an6 (2) po8t»attack e8timate8 ot re8ource 8tatu8. Ine po8t»attack pna8e ot tne mi88ion can de turdner droken 6ovn into an imme6iate po8t»attack ta8k ot e8timatinß national level8 ot 6amaße, an6 a later, more 6eliderate a88e88ment ot re8ource8 to 8erve a8 a da8i8 tor re8ource8 manaßement. In carrvinZ out 6amaße»a88e88ment proce6ure8 dv computer tecnnique8, an e8timate ot 6amaße at eacn ot 8ome tdou8an68 ot re8ource location8 i8 ma6e tor tne variou8 veapon8 ettect8. ?or tallout, tne ra6iation inten8itv at eacn re8ource location i8 e8timate6 irom intormation on ßroun6-2ero location8, on veapon viel68, on vin6 vector8, etc. Ine computer tnen arranße8 tne re8ult8 in 8ucn a vav a8 to make po88idle tne printinß ot an outline tallout map ot tne I?nite6 3tate8. Lla8t an6 tnermal 6amaße are 8imilarlv e8timate6. l.2 8pecial INL0 Vrodlem8 InvolvinZ 1,jve8 tocl< lNLl! i8 u8inß a live8tock ca8ualtv Computinß proce6ure (recoßni2e6 a8 tentative) vnicn e8timate8 tne ettect8 ot external ßa>mna ra6iation on variou8 cla88e8 ot live8tock 30 6av8 atter attack. Ini8 proce6ure i8 not 8utticient1v re8pon8ive to requirement8 tor time»pna8e6 e8timate8 ot too6 availadilitv. In certain area8, tne availadilit^ ot local 8upplie8 6urinß tne tir8t tev veek8 mav de crucial. Ineretore, Mlül! require8 mean8 tor computinß tne percentaße8 ot ßra2inß an6 non»ßra2inß live8tock tit tor 8laußdter tor too6 purpo8e8 at ziven time8 atter 6etonation ot veapon8 prcxlucinß ßiven inten8itie8 ot ßamma ra6iation 8tan6ar6i2e6 to a dvpotnet» ical value, one dour atter dur8t. ^l8o, tNLl! require8 reliadle intormation concerninß tne etiect8 on live8tock ot deta an6 ßamma ra6iation irc>m io6ine»l2l, 8trontium-90, an6 po88idlv otner i8otope8. tlore 8peciticallv, tne tollovinß que8tion8 appear to require 6etaile6 exploration:

(l) Udat are tne ettect8, in term8 ot time»pna8e6 an6 c>gner ca8ualtie8, ot variou8 inten8itv level8 ot io6ine»l3l, 8trontium-90, an6 otner N22- ar6ou8 i8otope8 on tde variou8 tvpe8 ot ßra2inß live8tock an6 poultr^? (2) Unat are tde tactor8 tor mea8urinß tne time» pna8e6 ettect8 ot duman con8umption ot milk an6 meat trom ßra2inß live8tock an6 ot eßß8 an6 tle8d trom poultr^ un6er tne con6ition8 mentione6 in que8tion l? (3) Nov can tne comdine6 ettect8 ot ßamma ra6ia» tion an6 ot deta ra6iation trom io6ine»l3l, 8trontium-90, an6 otner i8otope8 de e8timate6? l.3 3udcommittee ^pproacn ^tter tne initial reviev ot tne prodlem, it va8 verv apparent to tde memder8 ot tne 3udcommittee tdat tne concept ot "maximum permi88idle level or concentration" ot ra6ioactive tallout Element8 va8 not verv 8ati8tac» torv tor a po88idle emerßencv 8ituation tdat voul6 intrcxiuce tactor8 8ucd a8 tamine an6 pro6uce ra6iation da2ar68 tdat voul6 ßo tar devon6 tne level8 expecte6 in peacetime 6i8a8ter8. It va8 odviou8 tdat an e8timate ot tne dioloßical ettect8 on live8toc« tdat coul6 de expecte6 at 6itterent expo» 8ure level8 v2.8 more appropriate. veci8ion»maker8 coul6 u8e 8ucd e8timate8 in preparinß tneir plan8 an6 proßramminß tneir 6ata. Ine 3udcommittee recoßni2e6 tdat tne e8timate8 tdat can de ma6e vill u8uallv de 8tati8tical evaluation8 trom vi6elv 8cattere6 intormation an6 od8ervation8. Kore accurate 6ata 6ealinß vitd tne ettect8 ot ra6iation on tne 8ic«ne88 an6 6eatd rate8 ot live8tock, inclu6inß poultrv, can de odtaine6 onl^ d^ turtner te8tinß un6er 8imulate6 mcxlerate» to dißd-level tallout con6ition8. Ine importance in our 6iet ot moat, milk, an6 eßß8 varrant8 tne 8pecial attention oi tdo8e a6mini8terinß tne re8earcd tun68 tdat mißdt de u8e6 in tni8 area. Ine 3udcommittee aßree6 tdat tne mo8t critical prodlem re8ultinß trom tne irra6iation ot tocxl-nro6ucinß animal8 i8 to minimi2e tne ra6iation da2ar6 to man, an6, at tne 8ame time, to maximi2e ni8 pro8pect8 tor 8ur» vival. Ine8e da8ic ßui6e8 line8 vere i6entitie6: (l) Ine tir8t ettort 8noul6 de to 8u8tain an6 protect tne people at tne time ot a national emerßenc)'; tne 8econ6 to tee6 tnem 6urinß tne recover^ perio6; an6 tne tnir6 to maintain tne animal population8 a8 a continuinß too6 re8ource 6urinß tne reduil6inß pericxl.

(2) Inu8 tne da2ar6 to aniinal8 , a8 8ucn, voul6 not de an important con8i6eration, dut tneir availadilitv a8 too6 or too6 pro6ucer8 vo^l6 de ot ßreate8t impor» tance. (3) ?re8ent ra6ioloßical nealrn or relate6 pudlic nealtn practice8 mav N2ve to de compromi8e6 6urinß tne emerßencv pericxl, dut tnev 8noul6 de re»e8tadli8ne6 a8 quicklv a8 po88idle. Ine prodlem8 ot tne expo8ure ot live8tock to tallouli ot concern to civil 6eten8e an6 aßricultural 6eci8ion»maker8 can de 6ivi6e6 into tnree pna8e8 or time pericxl8 , vnicn mav overlap or de mi88inß, an6 vdicn relate to tne time atter a 6elionation. In tne ear1v perio6 it i8 likelv tdat tnere vill de no iniorn>ation adout tde amount or tde nature ot tne tallout. In tde 8econ6 perio6 tde intormation vill de contine6 larßelv to dne maß» nitu6e an6 location ot tne tallout dut not it8 i6entitv. vurinß tne tinal pda8e tne maßnitu6e an6 varieliv ot ra6ionucli6e8 are «novn. It i8 in tne intere8t ot ettective preventive mea8ure8 tdat tne la8t perio6 de e8tad- li8ne6 a8 quicklv a8 po88idle. Ine conclu8ion8 in tdi8 6ocument vill cover tne8e variou8 pda8e8. Lxperimental an6 empirical evi6ence da8 e8liadli8ne6 tdat a variation ot 8u8ceptidilitv to ra6iation in^urv occur amonß 6itterent animal8 even ot tne 8ame 8pecie8. Novever, a 8tan6ar6i2e6 8ißmoi6 or prodit curve can de u8e6 to e8timate tne re8pon8e oi all e6idle animal8 at variou8 expo8ure level8. 3ucn a curve can de 6etermine6 ircm experimental evi6ence odtaine6 trcm> a numder ot 8pecie8 ot 6ome8ticate6 animal8, an6 can attor6 a 8ati8- tactorv e8tin>a<iinß 6evice. l.4 ?allout Iype8 l!ar1v or local tallout i8 larßelv particulate, dut inclu6e8 mucn ot tne ra6ioicxu.ne8. Ineretore tne dioloßlcal ettect8 to animal8 ot mo8li concern are: (a) tne totÄl»dcxlv ßa>mna ra6iation expo8ure, (d) tne external collection ot deta-rav»emittinß particle8 on tne 8kin ot tne dack an6 on tne teet, (c) tne total»dcxlv 6o8e trom line ra6ioicxiine8, an6 (6) tne expo8ure 6elivere6 to tne tdvroi6 ßlan6. Ut tne8e, tne 6o8e to tne tdvroi6 i8 ot mo8t concern to tne con8umer ot animal tocxl prcxiuct8, vdile tne ra6ioactive material on tne dack an6 teeti i8 ot 8ome concern to tne tocxl proce88or or tne du8dan6man. Io tne animal8 tne vdole»dcxlv expo8ure i8 tine mo8t important ettect.

velayeci tallout con8i8t8 ot tne lonß»live6 ra6ioi8otope8, to a larße 6eßree ra6io8trontium, ra6ioce8ium, an6 ra6iodarium. Ineir 6i8tridution i8 vorl6-vi6e an6 relatively 6ilute. Ine prodlem8 ari8inß trönl tneir prolonße6 con8umption dy animal8 are mo8t important, vitd only 8lißdt concern tor tne total»do6y ra6iation expo8ure da2ar6. Uitd tne exception ot tne ra6ioio6ine8, early tallout i8 cnaracteri2e6 d^ relativel^ larße, in8oludle particle8; dence, retention dy nerdaße i8 8lißdt. Uin6 or rain rea6ily remove8 retaine6 particle8. l.5 Iime an6 Inten8ity ot Lxvo8ure Ine prodlem ot time»inten8itv relation8nip8 in dioloßical re8pon8e8 da8 deen con8i6ere6 at 8ome lenßtd. It i8 prodadle tdat no 8eriou8 error vill de intro6uce6 it ve accept tne vorkinß dvpotde8i8 tdat all expo8ure ot equal maßnitu6e trom external ßamma rav8 receive6 vitnin tne tir8t 96 dour8 ot expo8ure can de con8i6ere6 a8 davinß tne 8ame ettect. Ine^ vill de calle6 driet^ expo8ure8. ^n in8pection ot Iadle I vill reveal tdat tde mo8t 8ud8tantial portion8 ot tne driet expo8ure8 vill take place tne tir8t 96 dour8 atter a 6etonation, particularl^ it tne tallout arrive8 vitnin l0 dour8. ladle I Iime lli8tridution ot Lamma»Kay »o8e trom ?allout ^rrivinß at Variou8 Iime8 (trom t"^'^ tormula) La8e6 on ra6iation inten8itv ot lO0 r/nr 8tan6ar6i2e6 to one dour atter dur8t vaily 6o8e ^ccumulate6 6o8e ?ercent ot (' r) (r) l4 6av 6o8e ?allout arrival l8t 2n6 3r6 4td 4 2 l receive6 in lnr8 alter dur8t) 6ay 6ay 6ay 6ay 6ay8 vk8 ^ tir8t 96 dr» l 235 34 l9 12 300 335 400 89 4 ll4 34 l9 l2 l80 2l5 380 84 lN 5l 34 l9 l2 115 l50 l95 78 24 0 34 l9 l2 65 l00 l45 65 48 0 0 l9 l2 3N 65 l25 46 Ine term "driet" i8 8ud8titute6 tor "acute" 8ince "acute" i8 a ve1l- e8tadli8ne6 clinical term.

Ine tadle al8o reveal8 tdat vnen tallout arr1ve8 24 to 48 dour8 atter a 6etonation, a protracte6^ total»do6^ expo8ure d^ tne amdient ßamma ra^8 ot tallout vill de 6elivere6. Ine8e tact8 are ot con8i6eradle lmpor» tance 8ince tne re8pon8e ot tarm animal8 to a ßiven total 6o8e i8 not alva^8 tne 8ame tor protracte6 expo8ure8 a8 it i8 tor driet one8. ^l8o tnere i8 an inter8pecie8 variation. ?or example, tne equine an6 porcine 8pecie8 voul6 lo8e adout tne 8ame numder ot animal8 vi!id driet expo8ure8 ln tne letdal ranße; dut vitd protracte6 expo8ure8 tne porcine 8pecie8 voul6 vitd8tan6 8ud8tantiall^ ßreater 6o8e8 an6 voul6 con8titute a ioo6 re8ource tor mucn lonßer perio68 ot time. In Iadle II (paße 9) a com» pari8on ot tde8e 8pecie8 i8 ma6e on tne da8 i8 ot availadle 6ata. It 8noul6 de note6 tdat in tni8 report tne driet 6o8e8 (r) or ad- 8orde6 6o8e8 (ra6) are con8i6ere6 to dave deen receive6 vitdin tne tir8t 96 dour8 ot expo8ure. In otner vor68, ve dave not con8i6ere6 recover^ tactor8, nor dave ve taken into account attenuation, veatnerinß, etc. Inere i8 nee6 tor ßettinß more 6alia on tde8e tactor8, an6 applvinß tnem in tuture calculation8. l.6 vi8tridution ot ?allout (3ee al8o ^ppen6ix ^) Ine ra6iation in^urv to tne ßa8trointe8tinal tract vill de relate6 to tne amount ot ra6ioactive material inße8te6. l^a6ioactive element8 metadoli2e6 dv plant8 tnroußd tneir root8 vill not de a 8eriou8 imme6iate N22ar6 to animal8 or to man utili2inß tnem a8 a tocxl re8ource. Ine imme» 6iate N22ar6, it an^, vill de rel2te6 Ho tne retention ot 8urtace 6epo8it8 ot tallout d^ lide nerdaße. Ine uptake d^ plant8 ot 8trontium-90 trc>m dne 8oil ßenerall^ i8 not more tdan one per cent ot tne tolial cont2mination per ^ear, vnerea8 tne mnount collecte6 upon plant8 trom 6irect tallout ma^ ranße trom le88 tdan one per cent !io 4O per cent (Uin68cale experience) 6epen6inß upon variou8 pn^8ical tactor8. Ine pd^8ical tactor8 tdat ßovern tne amount ot reten» tion d^ nerdaße are tne 8i2e an6 nature ot tne tallout particle8, tne varietv an6 6en8it^ ot tne nerdaße, an6 environmental con6ition8 8ucn a8 vin6 8pee6 an6 dumi6it^. ?rom tiel6 mea8urement8 an6 analv8e8 ot variou8 tvpe8 ot tallout, lav8 ßoverninß tne 6i8tridution ot tallout material, particularl^ tor 8ilica-la6en 6etonatiion8, dave deen 6e6uce6. l^rße in» 8oludle partiicle8 vill de toun6 near tne 6etonation an6 8mall 8oludle parliicle8 vill increa8e in proportion a8 tne 6i8tance trom tne 6etonat1on increa8e8. In ßeneral tne pn^8ical an6 cnemical cn2racteri8tic8 ot tall» out al8o 6ictate tne da2ar6 tdat ma^ re8ult trom inße8tinß tne material. Ini8 da2ar6. in contira8li to tne external ßamma expo8ure ot tne animal8, ma^ de lmportlant dodn to tne animal, an6 ultimatel^ to per8on8 con8uminß tne tle8d or tne too6 6erive6 trom or pro6uce6 d^ tne expo8e6 animal8. Ine 3udcommitliee da8 con8i6ere6 vnetner tne ra6iation ettect8 trom external ^ "?rotracte6" i8 8ud8tituten tor "cnronic", anotder vell-e8tadli8ne6 clinical term.

tinal expo8ure lio inße8te6 mixe6 r5i6ionucli6e8, an6 ti88ue expo8ure to dioloßicall^ availadle ra6ionucli6e8 are 8vnerßi8tic, a66itive, or com- petitive. In our opinion, dne ettect8 are not ccmpletelv a66itive in man^ in8tance8. Ine8e ^u6ßment8 aie not 8peciticallv note6 dut are a da8ic part ot dne man^ evaluation8 tnali vere ma6«.