The Hiroshima A-Bomb Black Rain and the Lifespan Study; A Resolution of the Enigma.

The Japanese Lifespan Study (LSS) of the A-Bomb survivors is the principal basis of the current legal radiological framework. Evidence provided for the first time here shows that internal exposure to radiologically significant quantities of Uranium-234 contained in sub-micron particle rainout from the un-fissioned weapon warhead, the Black Rain, is a missing exposure in the LSS analysis. It is argued that this is responsible for a background excess cancer risk in all the LSS dose groups. This, together with epidemiological evidence based on unexposed controls falsifies the LSS cancer vs. dose regression coefficients for internal exposure.

Radiological evaluation of the transuranic remaining contamination in Palomares (Spain): A historical review.

This paper shows the studies carried out in Palomares (Almería, Spain) following the ground dispersion of nuclear material as a result of the air crash accident that took place in 1966, in which four nuclear bombs were involved. As a consequence of the Palomares accident, plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U) were dispersed over an area of approximately 2.3 km2 due to the chemical explosion of two of them. The most relevant activities carried out by CIEMAT, along with other national and international institutions in the Palomares scenario are detailed. These activities, performed for over 50 years, focus mainly in the characterization of the contamination source, in the continuous environmental and personal radiological monitoring programs, in the construction of a detailed superficial and 3-D mapping distribution of the remaining contamination and in the evaluation of the bioavailability of the transuranics still remaining in the area.

RELATIVE DISSOLUTION RATES OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS USED AT AWE.

A simple in vitro dissolution test was used to provide a semi-quantitative comparison of the relative dissolution rates of samples of radioactive materials used at Atomic Weapons Establishment in a lung fluid surrogate (Ringer's solution). A wide range of dissolution rates were observed for aged legacy actinides, freshly produced actinide alloys and actinides from waste management operations.