Analysis of Radiation Exposure, 2nd Marine Corps Provisional Atomic Exercise Brigade, Exercise Desert Rock V, Operation Upshot-Knothole.

Compendium of Proposed NTPR Expedited Processing Groups

“…The next section describes the use of film badge records for estimation of the EPG doses. (Brown, 1953;Frank et al, 1982;DTRA, 2010a) The 2MCPAEB EPG comprises nine cohorts, consisting of the four Companies in each of the two participating battalions, plus HQ. Each of these cohorts was a cohesive unit for which all members conducted similar activities.…”

“…Representative film badge records are available for all cohorts (Table 1), and these records form the basis for identifying the highest-dose cohort. Based on the film badge records (DTRA, 2010a), Company C of 1/8 (C/1/8) is the highest dose cohort because both the average and highest film badge readings for this unit are the highest of all cohorts in the EPG (DTRA, 2008;Frank et al, 1982). The activities of C/1/8 form an adequate basis for the generic highest-dose cohort scenario for this EPG for two primary reasons:…”

“…A generic high-sided exposure scenario was developed based on activities of C/1/8 personnel (Brown, 1953;DTRA, 2008;Frank et al, 1982;Massie et al, 1982). The four 1/8 companies arrived at CDR on April 13, 1953, and the first subsequent 2MCPAEB activity in the forward area was a full rehearsal conducted on April 16.…”

“…C/1/8 was scheduled to depart from CDR on April 19, and all units were scheduled to depart by April 21. (Brown, 1953;DTRA, 2008;Frank et al, 1982;Massie et al, 1982) Although C/1/8 did not complete the maneuver, they received a higher external dose than other 2MCPAEB units. The higher dose was due in part to radiation from the stem of the BADGER nuclear cloud that passed near their location at the time they halted their advance.…”

“…This upper-bound dose far exceeds the highest upper-bound dose of approximately 11.4 rem that would be obtained by using a film badge dose of 7.10 rem (Table 1) and the upper-bound film badge factor that would be used in a Radiation Dose Analysis based on the available film badge readings. (DTRA, 2010b, ED01;Frank et al, 1982;NRC, 1989;SAIC, 2006) During the period April 18-19, C/1/8 conducted several activities where they accrued doses. In order to unravel the film badge dose components for the assessment of internal doses, the activities and estimated doses for three of the four primary contributors are listed below (Frank et al, 1982); the small contribution from BADGER initial gamma radiation (<0.01 rem) is not included.…”