The United States detonated the Hydrogen bomb, code named “Bravo,” on March 1,1954. Bravo was about 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during the Pacific War. Of all nuclear testing programs, Bravo made a tremendous impact not only on the test site but also on Rongelap Atoll, Utorik Atoll and all other inhabitants of the Marshall Islands with radioactive fallout on a massive scale. Hydrogen bombs using nuclear fusion reaction can release far more amount of radioactive fallout than fission reaction bombs. Fusion bombs have higher kiloton yields and greater efficiencies than fission reaction bombs.
The Rongelap people who were present on the Rongelap Island sustained an estimated dose of 175 roentgens of penetrating whole-body gamma radiation particulate contamination of the skin sufficient to result in beta burns and epilation and some internal absorption of fallout as a result of inhalation and ingestion. These data are not actual measured figures by appropriate instruments. It is calculated from the intensity of the radioactivity found on the island and the decay exponents of the fallout materials.
(citation: National Archives at College Park, Maryland)
No comments:
Post a Comment