Nuclear+Fallout

Sarah Nase

** Nuclear Fallout **

What is nuclear fallout?  -air particles made radioactive by a nuclear explosion  -caused by the explosion of a nuclear weapon or power source What is ‘local fallout’? -Most hazards from nuclear blasts come from short-lived nucleotides external to the body. These are generally confined to downwind of the weapon burst origin. - Nucleotides- compound consisting of nucleic acids linked to a phosphate (Ex. Found in structure of DNA - 20-25 miles downwind~ lethal radiation dose (600 rads) would be accumulated by a person who did not find shelter within 25 minutes after the time the fallout- 40-45 miles~ have at most 3 hours after fallout began to find shelter   ([])

 Fictional map of nuclear fallout from Japan to the Western United States  How much is too much??? - Most people become ill after being exposed to 200-400 rads. - The lethal amount of radiation is 600 rads. - Chances of survival above 500 rads are slim ([])

What period of time is needed for fallout to decay to fairly safe levels for short‐time exposure? <span style="display: block; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 170%; text-align: left;">-the average fallout decay is 1-5 years-some particles decay after seconds, some decay after decades-depends on contamination of surroundings, and the isotope present in explosion  <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">( <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 33px;">[])

<span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Why are fallout shelters no longer maintained in the United States? <span style="display: block; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> -agency which they were sponsored by terminated in 1979  <span style="display: block; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 170%; text-align: left;">-have evacuation plans for attacks  <span style="display: block; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 170%; text-align: left;">-authorities believe there would be enough time to make a plan in the event of a nuclear plant meltdown   <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">([]) <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 170%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">    <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Abandoned shelter in modern day New York City <span style="display: block; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 170%; text-align: left;">What are the two main differences between bomb fallout and fallout from a reactor accident? <span style="display: block; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 170%; text-align: left;">-with weapons fallout, damage is caused by the immediate force of the explosion <span style="display: block; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> -in a nuclear reaction accident, the reactor literally melts, heating surroundings to an estimated 5000 degrees Fahrenheit   <span style="display: block; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> -weapons accident completely desolates area    <span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">-nuclear meltdown does not do as much damage, though it is just as dangerous <span style="display: block; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 170%; text-align: left;">([])