UFO INFORMATION SERVICE SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
ACUTE EXPOSURE AND LEVELS OF RADIATION SICKNESSES
____________________________________________________________________________
EXPOSURE RANGE TYPE OF INJURY PROBABLE MORTALITY RATE
(ROENTGENS) WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
000-050 NONE SEEN NONE
050-200 LEVEL I SICKNESS 5 PERCENT OR LESS
200-450 LEVEL II SICKNESS 50 PERCENT OR LESS
450-600 LEVEL III SICKNESS 50 PERCENT OR MORE
600-PLUS LEVEL IV AND V 100 PERCENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPLANATIONS OF SICKNESS LEVELS FOR SINGLE DOSE
___________________________________________________________________________
LEVEL I - Less than half the persons exposed will vomit within 24 hours.
There are either no subsequent symptoms or, at most, only
increased fatigue. Less than 5 percent will require medical
care for radiation injury. Others can perform their customary
tasks. Deaths that occur are caused by complications such as
blast and thermal injuries or infections and disease.
LEVEL II - More that half the persons exposed will vomit soon after
exposure and will be ill for several days. This will be
followed by a period of one to three weeks when there are
few or no symptoms. At the end of this latent period loss
of hair will be seen in more than half followed by a moderately
severe illness due primarily to the damage to the blood
forming organs. More than half will survive with the chances
of survival being better for those who received the smaller
doses.
LEVEL III - This is a more serious version of Level II sickness. The
initial period of illness is longer, the latent period shorter,
and the ensuing illness is characterized by extensive
hemorrhages and complicating infections. Less than half
will survive.
LEVEL IV - This is an accelerated version of Level III sickness. All in
the group will begin to vomit soon after exposure and this
will continue for several days or until death, which occurs
before the end of the second week, and usually before the
appearance of hemorrhages or loss of hair.
LEVEL V - This is an extremely severe illness in which damage to the
brain and nervous system predominates. Symptoms, signs and
rapid prostration come on almost as soon as the dose has been
received. Death occurs in a few hours or a few days. Illness
of this type would involve exposure to gamma radiation in
excess of several thousand roentgens.
_______________________________________________________________________________
PERSONAL DECONTAMINATION - AFTER THE EXPOSURE
___________________________________________________________________________
PERSONAL DECONTAMINATION SHOULD NOT BE NEEDED IF THE RADIATION SOURCE IS A
SAMPLE OF SOIL, OR ANY OTHER OBJECT. MONITOR THE EXPOSURE RATE AND DO NOT
EXCEED 5 R/hr. IF THE RADIATION LEVEL IS IN THIS RANGE, LEAVE THE AREA AS
IT WILL BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH TO REMAIN IN THE VICINITY. IF YOU
HAPPEN TO GET CONTAMINATED, WASH OR WIPE CONTAMINATION OFF YOUR PERSON
AS SOON AS YOU CAN. RADIATION IS NOT...CONTAGIOUS! IT CAN HOWEVER BE
TRANSMITTED BETWEEN PARTIES THAT DO NOT OBSERVE CAUTION IN HOW THEY ARE
HANDLING A RADIOACTIVE SAMPLE.
____________________________________________________________________________
UFO INFORMATION SERVICE
MYTHS ABOUT RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
____________________________________
1. IF YOU ENCOUNTER A PERSON WHO
HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO RADIATION,
YOU WILL NOT GET RADIATION
SICKNESS FROM THAT INDIVIDUAL
UNLESS HE/SHE STILL HAS THE
CONTAMINATION ON HIM/HER.
___________________________________
TYPES OF RADIATION HAZARDS
____________________________________
ALPHA - IT CAN PENETRATE ONLY THE
EPIDERMAL LAYER OF SKIN. IT
IS PRIMARILY ONLY AN
INTERNAL RADIATION HAZARD.
BETA - IT CAN PENETRATE THE SKIN
AND MAY CAUSE SEVERE SKIN
AND TISSUE DAMAGE. IT IS
AN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL
HAZARD.
GAMMA - IT IS IDENTICAL WITH AN
X-RAY OF HIGH ENERGY. IT
CAN PENETRATE DENSE MATERIAL
AND IS A SERIOUS HAZARD...
_____________________________________
DETERMINING RADIATION LEVELS AT A LANDING SITE
The following equation is used for determining the level of radiation at
a source with an estimated distance and a Geiger Counter reading at your
location.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR(s) = D(squared) X DR(x) where DR(s) is the dose rate at the source,
where D(squared) is the distance from the
source squared,
where DR(x) is the Geiger Counter reading at
your location. Or in simple terms...
Distance (Squared) times Dose Rate (at your location) = Dose Rate at
the Source divided by 1000.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example: You take a reading with your Geiger Counter (CDV-700 Model) and
you get 20 mr/hr.
You then estimate the distance to the Source of the radiation as
being about 30 feet. This distance squared is 900.
20 mr/hr times 900 and get 18000, divide this by 1000 and get
a dose rate at the source of 18 R/hr.
NOTE! If you get a reading of over 5 R/hr or more, do not enter
the area as it will...be hazardous to your health!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNDERSTANDING THE READINGS ON THE GEIGER COUNTER
___________________________________________________________________________
For the purpose of explaining the readings you may get on a Geiger Counter,
we have chosen to explain the meter on a standard Civil Defense Model
CDV-700 which will measure radiation in the 0-50 milliroentgen range.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The meter on the CDV-700 has incremented readings of:
.1
.2
.3
.4
.5
The meter also has a select knob for either (X1), (X10), or (X100).
If you had the knob turned to (X10) and received a reading of say, .2 on
the meter, you would be getting 2 milliroentgens per hour. If the same
reading were received and the knob was set to (X100), then the reading
would actually be 20 milliroentgens per hour.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: 1 Roentgen = 1000 milliroentgens.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other types of Standard Geiger Counters...
CDV-700 Reads 0-050 milliroentgens per hour.
CDV-715 Reads 0-500 roentgens per hour.
CDV-742 Reads 0-200 roentgens per hour, this is a dosimeter that will
fit into your pocket.
CDV-750 This is the charging unit for the CDV-742 and other models of
dosimeters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CALCULATING PERSONAL RADIATION EXPOSURE LEVELS
___________________________________________________________________________
There are two easy ways to determine your total exposure to radiation.
They are #1 - Dosimeter Readings, or
#2 - Geiger Counter Readings
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: First visible injuries will occur after you have received a dose of
approximately 280 R/hr.
The maximum allowable dose that may be received, and still allow
you to live, is 200 R/hr in a two week period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Exposure - Personal Calculations:
Method #1 - Dosimeter reading:
If your Dosimeter reads 10 mr/hr after 2 hours of investigating
the landing sight, then your personal exposure is...10 mr/hr.
Method #2 - Geiger Counter Readings:
Taken after 1 Hour: 05 R/hr
Taken after 2 Hours: 30 R/hr
Taken after 3 Hours: 31 R/hr
Your Total Exposure would be 66 R/hr. You will at this point
have entered the first danger zone and may experience Level I
Sickness. See (S2) for explanations of sickness levels.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
***************************************************************************
* THE COMPUFON NETWORK - DETERMINING DECAY RATE FOR RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS *
***************************************************************************
There are many complicated methods for determining the decay rate for
Radioactive materials. We have used only one here as it is about as safe
and simple as we can get without getting too complicated and technical.
If you desire to have some of the other methods explained, please send me
your name / address and your interests, and I'll help you out. Thanks!
Mike Hart - State of Washington - Radiological Defense Officer
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Method #1 - The 7-10 Rule:
Time: Decay: R/hr:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Hour (H1) Not applicable 1000
Seventh Hour (H7) 1 tenth of H1 100
Fourty-ninth Hour 1 tenth of H7 10
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Remember that if the R/hr reading is near or over 5 R/hr, Do Not
enter the area due to the hazards of possible injury.
=============================================================================
---------------------------
C U F O N
---------------------------
Computer UFO Network
Seattle Washington, USA
(206) 776-0382 8 Data Bits, No Parity, 1 Stop Bit 300/1200/2400 bps.
SYSOP - Jim Klotz Information Director - Dale Goudie
UFO Reporting and Information Service
Voice Line - (206) 721-5035
P.O.Box 832, Mercer Island, WA 98040, USA
- Please credit CUFON as the source of this material -
============================================================================
