Perspective: National Cancer Institute summary report about estimated exposures and thyroid doses received from iodine 131 in fallout after Nevada atmospheric nuclear bomb tests

Thyroid cancer incidence and socioeconomic indicators of health care access

“…Similarly, atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons in the United States ceased in 1963 with the signing of the Limited Test Ban Treaty. The effect of such nuclear testing on thyroid cancer rates, though not entirely clear, is thought to be limited [13][14][15].…”

Nuclear Weapons Tests and Environmental Consequences: A Global Perspective

“…Other negative effects reported were related to atmospheric contamination with the radionuclides, 131 I and 133 I, which were later transferred to the biosphere mainly through rainfalls (Simon et al 2006). The radionuclide 131 I was one of the main causes of increase thyroid cancer occurrence in the United States, as it was released in large quantities mainly during atmospheric nuclear tests (especially during 1951-1958) (Hundahl 1998;Gilbert et al 1998Gilbert et al , 2010.…”

“…7a-c). This shift occurred at different altitude thresholds of the atmosphere (even in the tropopause, above 10 km) and prompted a regional 131 I radionuclide dispersion process (Hundahl 1998). The Simon test (April 25th, 1953) is a relevant example, which released large amounts of radioactive debris, with the top of the radioactive cloud reaching a 13.7-km atmospheric height.…”

“…In order to get a better perspective on the facts, by summing up an annual average of approx. 1 mGy of the individual effective dose of radiation due to natural sources (cosmic and terrestrial gamma rays) over a 10-year time period, according to a method that is similar to that used for computing the cumulative dose during atmospheric nuclear tests-a 10 mGy cumulative dose is obtained, which is significantly lower than the dose surplus arising from the 131 I contamination in the aforementioned states (Hundahl 1998).…”

“…For a better perspective, the values of absorbed radiation dose recorded were as high as 6 Gy (in the case of Japanese fishing vessel. Lucky Dragon, close to the contaminated area, with 23 people on board), in comparison, for example, with the 1 mGy value of the average individual effective dose of radiation due to natural radioactive materials in the Earth's crust and cosmic radiations during 1 year (Hundahl 1998;Simon et al 2006). However, the dose rate of ionizing radiation due to natural sources varies considerably in the global context, one example being the Earth's crust, which, in particular situations, may feature high levels of radioactive material, depending on the rock lithology (Ramasamy et al 2012;Ion 2013).…”