&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory
P.O. Box 15027
Las Vegas NV 89114-5027
DOE/DP/0539-050
EPA 600/6-84-020
January 1984
Research and Development
Animal Investigation
Program for the
Nevada Test Site:
1957-1981
prepared for the
U.S. Department of Energy
under Interagency Agreement
Number DE-AI08-76DP00539
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Printed in the United States of America
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
U.S. Department of Commerce
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, Virginia 22161
Price: Printed Copy. Code A05
Microfiche, Code A01
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DOE/DP/0539-050
EPA 600/6-:84-020
ANIMAL INVESTIGATION PROGRAM
FOR THE NEVADA TEST SITE: 1957-1981
Donald D. Smith and Stuart C. Black
Nuclear Radiation Assessment Division
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114
Prepared for the
U.S. Department of Energy
under Interagency Agreement
Number DE-AI08-76DP00539
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEMS LABORATORY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89114
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NOTICE
This report has been reviewed in accordance with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's peer and administrative review policies and approved for
publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not consti-
tute endorsement or recommendation for use.
11
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
List of Tables iv
List of Figures v
Introduction 1
Summary 2
History and Objectives 4
Claims Investigations 8
Standard Operating Procedures 10
Radionuclide Analyses 11
Cesium-137 11
Strontium-90 17
Tritium 22
Plutonium-239 25
Iodine-131 25
Special studies 30
Dose Estimates 35
Cesium-137 35
Strontium-90 35
Tritium 36
Plutonium-239 37
Radioiodine 37
References and Bibliography 41
References 41
Bibliography 46
Appendix A - Summary of Offsite Animal Claims Investigation 51
Diagnosis File 55
iii
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LIST OF TABLES
Number Page
1 Nuclear Testing Activities as Related to Herd Sampling Dates . . 13
2 Plutonium-239 in Bone of Nevada Test Site Cattle 26
3 Cesium-137 in Cattle Muscle Samples and Human Dose Commitment . . 36
4 Iodine-131 in Cattle Thyroids and Estimated Dose to a 2-g Thyroid 39
IV
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LIST OF FIGURES
Number Page
1 Map of Nevada showing the counties, the Nevada Test Site, the
Desert Game Range, and beef cattle sampling areas ........ 6
2 Average 137r,s concentrations in beef cattle muscle ....... 12
3 13?cs concentrations in Nevada Test Site deer muscle ...... 18
4 Average 9°Sr concentrations in bone from Nevada cattle and Nevada
Test Site deer ......................... 19
5 Average $r concentrations in bone from deer and desert bighorn
sheep .............................. 20
6 Tritium concentrations in Nevada Test Site cattle, 1970-1981 . . 23
7 Tritium concentrations in Nevada Test Site deer and desert
bighorn sheep, 1970-1981 .................... 24
8 Time trend of plutonium concentration in cattle bone ...... 27
Average j concentration in thyroids from Nevada beef cattle,
1957-1981 ............................ 28
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INTRODUCTION
In November 1955, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) established a
program to investigate claims of injury to domestic animals alleged to be
caused by nuclear weapons tests at the Nevada Proving Grounds. The Nevada
Proving Grounds was renamed the Nevada Test Site (NTS) and the program that was
established developed into the Animal Investigation Program (AIP).
The AIP, as finally conceived, began in 1957 with the purchase of a herd
of beef cattle which were allowed to graze on the NTS. This herd was main-
tained on the NTS until 1981. After roundup and sampling of this herd in the
fall of 1981, it was transferred to the University of Nevada at Reno, Nevada.
This terminated a 25-year study of a single herd which had lived in an area
contaminated by nuclear testing activities. The animal-sampling portion of the
AIP is continuing, on a more restricted scale, through periodic sampling from a
commercial beef herd and annual collections of samples from bighorn sheep.
This report describes the objectives of the AIP, outlines the history of
the Program, and summarizes the results of claims investigations. Also summar-
ized are the results of radionuclide analyses from both the continuing program
and associated special studies to measure body burdens of radionuclides in
wild and domestic animals.
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SUMMARY
During the 25-year existence of the Animal Investigation Program, periodic
sampling of various herds of cattle and other indigenous animals was conducted
to measure tissue concentrations of radionuclides. The cattle herds sampled
included one on the Nevada Test Site (NTS), one at Knoll Creek (KC) in north-
eastern Nevada and one in the Delamar Valley (DV) in eastern Nevada. Other
animals consistently sampled included deer on the NTS and deer and bighorn sheep
off the NTS.
The age of sampled animals had no significant effect on tissue cesium-137
concentration. The effective half-life of cesium-137 in beef muscle, following
cessation of atmospheric testing, was approximately 1 year. Cesium-137 levels
were usually highest in the Knoll Creek herd in northern Nevada, probably the
result of higher world-wide fallout associated with the higher precipitation
that occurs in that area. These results plus those from Nevada deer herds,
both on and off the NTS, indicate that, except for periods immediately following
deposition of close-in fallout, tissue concentrations of cesium-137 reflected
the deposition of worldwide fallout. The calculated dose commitment from
cesium-137 due to the daily ingestion of tissues from the Knoll Creek and/or NTS
herd for the 25-year period was 68 mrem [1.6% of the Federal Radiation Council's
(FRC) permissible guide for the same period].
Strontium-90 concentration in bone ash from all three Nevada beef herds
and from NTS deer generally followed the same pattern. The levels were consid-
ered to be a reflection of world-wide fallout as evidenced by higher levels in
the Knoll Creek herd. The controlling factor in bone concentration was the
exposure which occurred during the period of maximum bone growth, up to 1 year
of age. The effective half-life for strontium-90 in adult desert bighorn sheep
was calculated to be 4.8 years. The hypothetical dose commitment from stron-
tium-90 produced by activities at the NTS was considered to be negligible for
the local offsite population.
Tritium concentrations in the blood and tissues of NTS cattle and wildlife
were generally within the ranges present in the general environment. Excep-
tions were animals which were exposed to specific sources of tritium, e.g., the
Sedan Crater and drainage waters from testing areas of Rainier Mesa. The 50-
year hypothetical dose commitment from tritium based on the daily consumption
of 0.5 kg of meat from the NTS beef herd was only 0.15 mrem.
The skeletal burden of plutonium-239 in NTS beef animals was determined to
be more related to the animal's age (length of exposure) than to any changes in
the biological availability of the deposited plutonium associated with weather-
ing. It was calculated that an individual living in the same area as the
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cattle and Ingesting the same diet would Increase his skeletal burden by 7 pCi
in 10 years. This highly improbable scenario would result in a 2.2 mrem
exposure in 10 years which would be equivalent to only 1.3% of the ICRP guide-
line.
Beef thyroids were found to be a rapid and sensitive indicator of envi-
ronmental radioiodine. Concentrations reported could usually be related to a
specific nuclear explosive test. Little variation in thyroid radioiodine con-
centration versus age was noted in animals aged between 9 months and maturity.
Radioiodine originating from worldwide fallout was higher in areas of greater
precipitation.
The cattle thyroid measurements were used to estimate the iodine-131
concentration in human thyroids. Certain factors and assumptions (stated in
the dose estimate section) were used to make these estimates. The total hy-
pothetical dose to a two-gram human thyroid for the periods that data were
available (approximately 21 years for NTS and 11 for Knoll Creek (KC) and
Delamar Valley (DV)) were: NTS, 3160 mrem; Delamar Valley, 2510 mrem; and Knoll
Creek, 310 mrem. Based on the guideline, set by the FRC, of 500 mrem/yr to a
suitable sample of the general population, none of the hypothetical doses
approached the guideline.
Iodine-129 levels in over 100 thyroids collected from animals throughout
Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado were determined by neutron activation. The
iodine-129/iodine-127 atom ratio was several orders of magnitude lower in those
thyroids than was reported in thyroids collected near nuclear fuel reprocessing
facilities (Magno et al. 1972). Therefore, the NTS was not a significant
source of iodine-129 exposure to animal thyroids.
The AIP, in addition to routine surveillance of beef cattle and wildlife,
conducted numerous special and ad hoc studies. These included collection of
baseline data outside DOE nuclear sites (Central Nevada Test Site, Rulison,
Gasbuggy, Rocky Flats, etc.), investigations of suspicious animal deaths and
sicknesses, documentation of radionuclide burdens in offsite areas following
releases of radioactivity from the NTS, e.g., Baneberry, Cabriolet, Palanquin,
etc., and special studies supporting the NTS beef cattle and wildlife investi-
gations, e.g., spring surveys, range surveys, fresh water algae surveys, etc.
The AIP also maintained the NTS beef herd. The calving rate of this herd
exceeded 85% each year, and the 180-day weaning weight usually exceeded 400
Ibs; both considered above average. No unusual health problems were encountered.
Routine necropsy and histopathological examination revealed no consistent
pathology that could be attributed to ionizing radiation. Ocular squamous cell
carcinomas ("cancer eye") were a consistent finding; however, this condition is
prevalent in Hereford cattle exposed to high levels of sunlight.
The studies reported herein suggest that since 1957 no significant amounts
of biologically available radionuclides have been contributed to near offsite
areas by the nuclear testing activities at the NTS. Further, not only were no
harmful health effects detected in cattle maintained for a lifetime within the
NTS, but also this herd had above average calving percentages and weaning
weights for comparable local herds (Smith" 1970).
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HISTORY AND OBJECTIVES
Prior to 19bb, investigations of animal injuries alleged to be related
to the nuclear testing program at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) were handled by
various investigators on a fee or consultant basis. The investigators in-
cluded veterinarians assigned to the U.S. Army (USA), U.S. Public Health
Service (USPHS), U.S. and state Departments of Agriculture, and private
practitioners. This arrangement was unsatisfactory as there was usually a
significant time delay between the alleged incident and the investigation.
Furthermore, the investigators were handicapped by a lack of baseline data on
the radiation exposure of the species being investigated. The offsite radio-
loyical safety report (Sanders et al. 19bb) for the Teapot Series recommended
that, because of recurring livestock injury reports, it would be desirable to
have continuously available the services of a veterinarian with radiological
training to supervise a sound investigative program.
The Off-Site Rad-Safe Livestock Studies for the Nevada Operations Office
(NVO) of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)* began in November of 1955 with
the assignment of Ed Johnson, Lt., U.S. Army. The Off-Site Animal Investi-
gation Project was initiated in July of 19b7 and continued to be directed by
Army veterinary officers until operation was transferred to the USPHS on
June 1, 1964. Other Army officers assigned to this program were Major
Garland Farmer, June 19b8 to July 1960; Captain Ed Fountain, July 1960 to
August 1963; and Captain Scott Reynolds, August 1963 to June 1964.
Raymond Brechbill was the USPHS project officer for the renamed Animal
Investigation Program (AIP) until 1969. Veterinary support for the AIP was
supplied by Drs. Ronald Engle, Bruce Hull, Stanley Cohen, and Donald Smith.
Dr. Smith served as project officer for the AIP from 1969 through 1981 when
the program was terminated.
As stated in the first annual report (Johnson 1958), "The primary aims
of the Program were: (1) to enhance the Nevada Test Site - Offsite rancher
relationships through an active investigative program in their interests,
and (2) to provide further information as to the status of the offsite ani-
mals in their environment with special emphasis on the radioactivity from
* In January 1975, the NVO was transferred to the U.S. Energy Research and
Development Administration (ERDA) which in turn became the Department
of Energy (DOE) in October of 1977.
t The Las Vegas USPHS facilities were transferred to the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) in December of 1970.
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fallout. The other objectives of the AIP were: to provide authentic in-
formation regarding various claims, complaints, and inquiries arising among
livestock raisers, wildlife management personnel, and other groups concerned
with animal welfare; and to provide information as to levels of internal
radioisotopes that accumulate in grazing animals that ingest fallout under
range conditions."
Through the years, these goals were modified to include the following
objectives as stated in the 1981 annual report (Smith and Giles, 1983).
"1. To conduct surveillance of domestic and wild animals on and around
the NTS in order to assess the radionuclide burden present in their
tissues and to detect pathological effects from the burdens.
2. To investigate alleged damage to domestic animals and wildlife
resulting from the activities of the NVO of the USDOE.
3. To provide public information through education and veterinary
advice to the offsite population.
4. To conduct special ad hoc investigations."
In order to meet these goals, a program of planned animal collection
and sampling became an integral part of the AIP. Animal populations sampled
on a recurring basis included cattle from the NTS, Delamar Valley and Knoll
Creek beef herds, mule deer from the NTS and adjacent areas, and desert big-
horn sheep from southern Nevada (see Figure 1).
The NTS beef herd was established in October 1957, through the purchase
of 42 grade Hereford cattle from a local rancher. This herd was maintained
on the ranges of the NTS (Smith, 1970) until its disposal in November of
1981. Twice a year, during this entire period, selected animals were removed,
sacrificed, and sampled.
Through a cooperative study with the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR),
two other herds were sampled semiannually for an extended time. The Delamar
Valley (DV) herd (located about 80 km east of the NTS) was sampled from the
fall of 1957 through the fall of 1968. The Knoll Creek (KC) herd (located
480 km north of the DV herd) was sampled from the spring of 1958 through the
fall of 1968.
NTS mule deer were sampled, generally on a quarterly basis, from 1964
through 1981. Mule deer from counties north and east of the NTS were sampled
periodically from 1956 through 1972. Desert bighorn sheep were sampled
annually from 1956 through 1981.
Animals which were sampled on a limited schedule or on a one-time basis
included other NTS wildlife and feral horses, and cattle from herds located
in the Searchlight and Roller Coaster site (Tonopah Test Range) areas of
Nevada and the Rocky Flats area of Colorado. Domestic and wild animals were
frequently sampled pre- and post-detonation at the sites of special nuclear
projects, e.g., Rulison in Colorado, Gnome and Gasbuggy in New Mexico,
Dribble in Mississippi, and Faultless in central Nevada. Animals were also
sampled in the downwind areas from certain Plowshare cratering events (e.g.,
Schooner, Palanquin) or in the fallout patterns of underground tests that
released radioactivity (e.g., Baneberry and Pin Stripe). Long-term studies
were also conducted at sites of known contamination (i.e., Area 13).
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Renos
Story
Canon City
Dougla*
NEVADA TEST SITE
Scale in Miles Desert Game Range'
0 25 60 75 100
Searchlight
0 50 100 150
Scale in Kilometers
Figure 1.
Map of Nevada showiny the counties, the Nevada Test Site, the
Desert Game Range, and beef cattle sampling areas.
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Much of the data on tissue radionuclide burdens and historical happen-
ings have been published in previous AIP annual reports (1958-1961 and 1969-
1981), special event reports, or in the open literature as listed in the AIP
bibliography and references. Additional data are preserved in the historical
files of the AIP. In this report, all investigations of claims alleging
radiation damage are summarized and available data are updated and consoli-
dated to provide trend analyses for the longer-lived and/or biologically-
active radionuclides such as strontium-90 in bones, cesium-137 and tritium in
soft tissues, iodine-129 and -131 in thyroids, and plutonium-238 and -239 in
bones and soft tissues.
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CLAIMS INVESTIGATIONS
As stated previously, the offsite livestock studies began in November
of 1955 with the assignment of Lt. Johnson, USA, to the NVO of the AEC.
Records in the AIP files of investigations conducted prior to this time are
sparse, but are summarized in excerpts from a project proposal and a memo
written by Lt. Johnson (Appendix A). According to these records, the only
livestock damage claims that resulted in litigation or compensation occurred
in 1953 and 1957.
Fourteen horses, belonging to the Stewart brothers of Alamo, Nevada,
suffered beta burns during the Upshot-Knothole Series of 1953. Two of these
horses were purchased outright and the Stewarts received monetary compensa-
tion for damage to the balance of the animals. Also, during and subsequent
to the 1953 series, numerous sheep deaths were reported by southern Utah
stockmen. A lawsuit was initiated by several of the ranchers alleging that
the sheep losses were due to radiation from the fallout of the series. This
litigation, "Bullock vs. U.S. Government", was decided in favor of the govern-
ment in 1956. However, this case was reopened in 1982 as the judge ruled
that the government concealed evidence in the 1956 lawsuit.
During the 1957 test series, a 3-year old stallion owned by Floyd Lamb
of Alamo, Nevada, received beta burns while grazing in Kawich Valley. The
AEC purchased the animal.
All animal investigations and histories of endemic disease conditions
that could be located in the search of AIP historical files are summarized
in the lists of Appendix A. Supporting data are available for many of these
investigations and are keyed to the necropsy records on file in the AIP
office. The records are quite complete for the investigations conducted by
Lt. Johnson (November 1955-June 1958) and Maj. Farmer (June 1958-July 1960).
Investigations made by Capt. Fountain (July 1960-August 1963) were mentioned
in the monthly reports. No records are available for the period when
Capt. Reynolds (August 1963-June 1964) was assigned.
The responsibility for the AIP was transferred to the Environmental
Monitoring Systems Laboratory-Las Vegas (EMSL-LV) (formerly the Southwestern
Radiological Health Laboratory and the Western Environmental Research
Laboratory of the U.S. PHS, the National Environmental Research Center,
and the Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory-Las Vegas of the EPA)
on June 1, 1964. Since that time AIP personnel have conducted a number of
investigations of illnesses and deaths in domestic and wild animals, which
are also summarized in Appendix A.
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As a result of these USPHS or EPA investigations, no claims were filed
against the AEC, the ERDA, or the DOE. In addition to these case investiga-
tions, the AIP conducted studies related to specific nuclear tests both pre-
and post-detonation, at the NTS and other nuclear testing sites to document
radionuclide levels in the tissue of domestic and wild animals. All of these
studies and investigations are documented in formal reports as listed in the
bibliography or in the files of the AIP.
During the period 1972 to 1980, the AIP received no requests for
investigation of alleged damage to domestic or wild animals in the NTS area.
However, there were a number of visits to isolated ranches, which do not have
readily available veterinary service, and advice on treatment of sick animals
was provided and medicines prescribed.
During 1980, AIP personnel participated in the investigation of alleged
plant and animal health effects due to the Three Mile Island accident in
Pennsylvania (Gears et alI., 1980). In 1981, the sudden deaths of goat kids
in Rachel, Nevada, were investigated and a diagnosis of enterotoxemia was
made.
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STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
The NTS beef herd was generally maintained near Buckboard Mesa in Area
18 of the NTS. Each spring and fall, the herd was rounded up and examined
for disease and injury. Each animal was identified, weighed, and sprayed for
ectoparasites. All newborn animals were branded and a history of each ani-
mal's health and status was kept. At each roundup, six animals were, in gen-
eral, selected for sacrifice. These consisted of three young (0.5 to 2 years
old) and three adult animals. A similar procedure was used by the University
of Nevada, Reno, for the other two herds at Delamar Valley and Knoll Creek.
Each of the sacrificed animals was necropsied and any gross pathological
conditions noted. Samples of tissues taken for histopathological studies
included: adrenal glands, eyes, heart, kidney, liver, lung, spleen, thyroid,
gonads, muscle, and any gross lesions that were found. The organ and tissue
samples taken for radioanalysis included: thyroid, liver, lung, gonads,
tracheobronchial lymph nodes, muscle, blood, femur, rumen contents, and fetus
(if present).
Measurements of radionuclides in the bones and soft tissues of animals
living on or off the NTS have been made since 1956. The groups of animals
in the long-term studies and the periods for which data are available in-
clude:
NTS Beef Herd 1957-1981
Delamar Valley Beef Herd 1957-1968
Knoll Creek Beef Herd 1958-1968
NTS Deer Herds 1964-1981
Desert Bighorn Sheep 1956-1981
From December 1964 through 1966, 5 to 12 deer were collected each calen-
dar quarter. After 1966, the schedule was changed to collect one deer per
quarter. Whenever possible, deer were used which had been killed by vehicles;
otherwise, they were collected by hunting. They were generally
collected from the Rainier Mesa-Pahute Mesa area in the northwest portion of
the NTS. Deer were occasionally collected from other areas on and off the
NTS for special purposes. The same types of samples were collected and the
same analyses were performed as for the cattle.
Desert bighorn sheep were not collected by AIP personnel, but rather
through cooperation of licensed hunters and the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
In general, the hunters collected the hock bone from their kills during the
winter hunting season and gave them to the Game Inspectors for transfer to
the AIP. The number of samples varied from 7 to 34, depending on hunter suc-
cess and cooperativeness.
1U
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RADIONUCLIDE ANALYSES
The results of radioanalysis of selected tissues from animal herds
sampled for many years are summarized in the following sections. Most of
these data have been published in the various annual and special reports
listed in the references, but only a few reports discussed the trend with
time (Smith and Andrews 1981 and Blincoe and Bohman 1970B)--for two impor-
tant radionuclides, cesium-137 and strontium-90.
The cesium-137 and strontium-90 data are included in the following sec-
tions along with iodine-131 and -129, tritium, and plutonium-239. The sec-
tion on special studies abstracts the results of those studies. The special
study results reflect the radionuclide content of the analyzed tissues for
only one point in time so the data are not included in sections on trends of
individual radionuclides.
CESIUM-137
For a number of years, cesium-137 concentrations were measured in soft
tissues (muscle, liver, and lung) and ingesta collected from animals that
lived on or near the NTS. Samples were usually collected twice each year,
as discussed previously, at each herd's location. Specific sampling details
are described in Blincoe et al., 1965, Blincoe and Bohman, 1971, and Smith
and Andrews, 1981.
The UNR analyzed samples by single-channel spectrometry (Blincoe et al.
1965) and the EMSL-LV analyzed similar samples by multi-channel spectrometry
using Nal(Tl) crystal or Ge(Li) detectors (Smith and Andrews 1981).
As the age of sampled animals had no significant effect on tissue cesium-
137 concentrations (Blincoe and Bohman, 1971; Smith and Andrews, 1981), the
seasonal sample results were averaged. In order to observe trends, the sea-
sonal averages are plotted in Figure 2. This figure is a compilation of data
previously published (Blincoe et al. 1965, Blincoe and Bohman 1971, and Smith
and Andrews 1981) and data that have recently become available (Smith et al.
1980, 1981A, 1982, and Smith and Giles 1983).
As shown in Table 1, atmospheric testing was conducted on the NTS prior
to October 31, 1958, when a voluntary testing moratorium went into effect
that was observed until September 1, 1961. At that time, above-ground test-
ing resumed and continued until August 5, 1963, when a limited test ban
11
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5000-
20OO?
5 1OOO-
I 900H
INS
s
I
800-
700-
60O-
5OO-
400-
3OO-
2OO-
1OO-
s F s F'S F'S F'S F'S F'S F'S F'S F'S F'S F'S "F'S'F'S F'^F'SF'S F'S ' s F ' s F ' s F ' s F ' s F'SF
1958 1969 I960 1961 19«2 1963 1964 1966 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1976 1976 1977 1978 1979 198O 1981
137
Figure 2. Average Cs concentrations in beef cattle muscle.
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TABLE 1. NUCLEAR TESTING ACTIVITIES AS RELATED TO HERD SAMPLING DATES
==============================================================================
Sampling Period Radioactivity Releases
Fall 1957 Plumbbob series (5/21 to 10/7/57), NTS. British
series (to 12/57), Pacific Ocean. USSR series (to
12/57). Safety tests (12/57), NTS. NTS herd
assembled 12/57.
Spring 1968 No local nuclear tests. Hardtack, Phase I (4/58
to 8/58), Pacific Ocean. British series (4/58 to
9/58), Pacific Ocean.
Fall 1958 Hardtack, Phase II (9/12 to 10/30/58), NTS.
Spring 1959 Testing moratorium.
Fall 1959 Testing moratorium.
Spring 1960 Testing moratorium. French tests (2/60 to 4/60),
Sahara Desert.
Fall 1960 Testing moratorium. "Kiwi" reactor tests (7/8/60
and 10/19/60), NTS.
Spring 1961 , Testing moratorium. French tests (12/60), Sahara
Desert.
Fall 1961 USSR tests begin 9/61. U.S. Nougat Series started
9/15/61 - NTS NTS accidental venting - 9/15/61 and
12/22/61.
Spring 1962 US atmospheric detonations (Dominic), Pacific
Proving Grounds. NTS cratering detonation (3/5/62).
NTS accidental ventings 3/1/62, 4/14/62, 5/19/62,
and 6/13/64. USSR atmospheric detonation.
Fall 1962 US atmospheric detonations (Dominic), Pacific
Proving Grounds, ended 11/4/62. NTS surface and
cratering detonations (7/6 to 7/17/62) and acci-
dental venting (10/19/62). USSR atmospheric
detonations ended 12/25/62.
Spring 1963 US safety test (5/15/63, 5/25/63, and 6/9/63),
Tonopah Test Range.
Fall 1963 No releases.
Spring 1964 NTS accidental yenting (12/12/63 and 3/13/64).
Several NTS tests in May and June released minor
levels of radioactivity detected on-site only.
(continued)
13
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TABLE 1. (Continued)
Sampling Period Radioactivity Releases
Fall 1964 NTS accidental venting (8/19/64).
Spring 1965 Chinese atmospheric detonations (10/16/64 and
5/15/65). NTS cratering detonations (12/18/64 and
4/14/65). NTS accidental ventings (12/5/64, 12/16/64,
12/18/64, 2/12/65, and 5/7/65).
Fall 1965 NTS accidental venting (6/16/65).
Spring 1966 NTS accidental ventings (3/5/66 and 4/25/66).
Fall 1966 Chinese atmospheric detonation (5/9/66). NTS
accidental ventings (6/15/66 and 9/12/66).
Spring 1967 Chinese atmoshperic detonations (10/27/66 and
12/27/66). NTS accidental venting (1/19/67).
Fall 1967 Chinese atmospheric detonation (6/17/67). NTS
accidental ventings (6/26/67, 6/29/67, and 8/31/67).
Spring 1968 Chinese atmospheric detonation (12/24/67). NTS
cratering detonations (1/26/68 and 3/12/68). NTS
accidental venting (1/18/68).
Fall 1968 No releases.
Spring 1969 NTS cratering detonation (Schooner 12/8/68).
Fall 1969 No releases.
Spring 1970 NTS accidental ventings (10/29/69, 11/13/69
4/21/70, 5/5/70, and 5/26/70).
Fal1 197° Chinese atmospheric detonation (10/14/70). French
atmospheric detonations (7/3/70, 7/27/70, 8/2/70,
and 8/6/70), South Pacific Area.
Spring 1971 NTS accidental venting (12/18/70).
Fall 1971 No releases.
(continued)
14
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TABLE 1. (Continued)
======.======================================================================:
Sampling Period Radioactivity Releases
Spring 1972 Chinese atmospheric detonations (11/18/71, 1/7/72,
and 3/18/72).
Fall 1972 No releases.
Spring 1973 No releases.
Fall 1973 Chinese atmospheric detonation (6/26/73).
Spring 1974 No releases.
Fall 1974 Chinese atmospheric detonation (6/17/74).
Spring 1975 No releases.
Fall 1975 No releases.
Spring 1976 No releases.
Fall 1976 Chinese atmospheric detonation (9/25/76).
Spring 1977 No releases.
Fall 1977 Chinese atmospheric detonation (9/27/77).
Spring 1978 Chinese atmospheric detonation (4/14/78).
Fall 1978 No releases.
Spring 1979 No releases.
Fall 1979 No releases.
Spring 1980 No releases.
Fall 198U Chinese atmospheric detonation (10/15/81).
Spring 1981 No releases.
Fall 1981 No releases.
15
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treaty was signed by the United States and several other nations. Subsequent
to that date, all U.S. weapons testing has been conducted underground.
Occasionally, these tests have released radioactivity to the-atmosphere, as
have foreign atmospheric tests and plowshare cratering tests.
Prior to the moratorium, maximum concentrations of Cesium-137 in muscle
samples were detected in the 1958 fall samples from the KC (550 pCi/kg) and
NTS (480 pCi/kg) herds. These maxima followed 2 consecutive years of nuclear
testing on the NTS which ended shortly before sample collection. Muscle
tissue concentrations decreased steadily during the moratorium with an aver-
age effective half-life of 0.7 year for all three herds (Blincoe and Bohman
1970B).
Tissue levels began to increase following the resumption of testing in the
fall of 1961. Peak average levels of cesium-137 (5500 pCi/kg) were found in
NTS cattle muscle samples in November of 1962. Those unusually high levels
were the result of the NTS cattle being intentionally grazed upon range heavily
contaminated by fallout from the accidental venting of the Bandicoot experiment
on October 19, 1962, and by fallout from the July 6, 1962, Sedan cratering
experiment (Blincoe et al. 1969). Muscle concentrations in all three herds
declined from 1962 through the spring of 1966 with an effective half-life of
1.1 years (Blincoe and Bohman 1970B).
Another peak was observed in the fall of 1966 which was probably related^
to world-wide fallout from foreign atmospheric tests and the accidental
venting from Pin Stripe. Again, the muscle concentration declined with'an
effective half-life of approximately 1 year. By 1968, cesium-137 levels
reached a base-line range of approximately 25 pCi/kg which has been main-
tained for the remaining 13 years of the reporting period.
From 1964-1968, the muscle concentrations of cesium-137 were usually
highest in samples from the KC herd. This is probably related to a higher
contribution from world-wide fallout because of higher precipitation at the
Knoll Creek Range (Bohman et al. 1966).
In general, cesium-137 concentrations in cattle liver followed the same
trends as in muscle, but exhibited lower overall concentrations, especially
during peak concentration periods. The differences were as much as a factor
of two. Results for lung tissue tended to be very similar to those for
muscle. Rumen content cesium-137 results followed the same general trend
as for muscle tissue, but there was much less correlation between rumen
content concentrations and concentrations in the organs than .there was among
concentrations in the various organs (Smith and Andrews 1981)."
Monthly cesium-137 concentrations in air at various continental U.S.
locations (U.S. Department of Energy 1980) indicate that peak worldwide fall-
out occurs during the spring months. This reflects the increased rate of
fallout from the stratospheric reservoir during the spring shift in position
of the tropopause gap (Gladstone 1962). The increased springtime fallout is
especially reflected in the, NTS cattle muscle tissue data from 1968 on. This
16
-------
fast response to recent cesium-137 deposition also indicates a short effec-
tive half-life which has been estimated to average 0.9 year by Blincoe and
Bohman (1970B). Hood and Comar (1953) reported a 20-day biological half-life
for cesium-137 in a cow. Since the Nevada cattle sampled were on range con-
taminated to an unknown degree, it was not possible to determine ingestion
exposure from the data. However, the rapid decrease in tissue concentrations
implies both a rapid decrease in vegetation contamination following the peak
spring fallout and a short biological half-life.
From December 1964 through 1981, NTS mule deer were periodically (gen-
erally on a quarterly basis) collected and tissue samples submitted for anal-
ysis by gamma spectrometry. Details of collection, sampling, and analysis
were summarized by Smith and Andrews (1981).
The cesium-137 concentrations in muscle samples from the NTS deer are
plotted in Figure 3. The concentrations were similar to those observed in
NTS cattle for the same time period with the exception of 1968. Close-in
fallout from a March 12 cratering experiment (Buggy), which was deposited
over the deer collection area, accounted for the elevated cesium-137 concen-
trations observed in NTS deer muscle samples during the rest of 1968. The
high value observed in 1975 probably resulted from the Chinese test of 1974.
It was also noted by Smith and Andrews (1981) that the analytical results
from EMSL for tissue samples from NTS cattle and deer collected in the fall
of 1965 and spring of 1966 were exceptionally low and should be considered
suspect. The cattle muscle data points for these dates that are plotted in
Figure 2 were based on data from sample analyses by the UNR (Blincoe and
Bohman 1971).
Tissue samples were occasionally collected from deer in other areas of
Nevada (Lincoln, White Pine, and northern Nye counties) or in other states
(e.g., New Mexico). The concentration of cesium-137 in tissues collected
from the deer were comparable to those found in tissues of NTS deer collected
during the same time period (Smith and Andrews 1981). The comparability of
these results indicate that, except for periods immediately following deposi-
tion of local or close-in fallout, tissue concentration of cesium-137 follows
the deposition of world-wide fallout.
STRONTIUM-90
Most of the data for this isotope have been summarized and discussed
previously either by Kramp (1965), Bohman et al. (1966), or by Smith and
Andrews (1981). Details of sampling procedures and analytical methods are
discussed in those publications and by Johns et al. (1979). The annual
average strontium-90 concentrations in the ash of the bones (femur and/or rib
from cattle and hock joints from deer and desert bighorn sheep) of the sam-
pled animals are presented graphically in Figures 4 and 5. As shown in Fig-
ure 4, the strontium-90 concentrations in bone ash from cattle from all three
Nevada locations and from the NTS deer herd generally follow the same pattern.
17
-------
800-1
700-
-- 6001
o
§ 500
0)
u
o 400
(A
O
300-
200-
100
Assumed
vg.value of
•eMDA's
1964 ' 65 ' 66 ' 67 ' 68 ' 69 ' 70 ' 71 ' 72 ' 73 ' 74 ' 75 ' 76 ' 77 '
Date
Figure 3.
concentrations in Nevada Test Site deer muscle.
18
-------
40-
30-
(0
D)
\
O
(0
5 20
TO
4-1
C
0)
O
C
O
O 10
^
V)
o
a>
Delamar Valley Beef Herd
NTS Beef Herd
Knoll Creek Beef Herd
o—o NTS Deer
I I I I I I Til T I I I I I T I I I I I T I I I
1 957 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81
Year
90
Figure 4. Average Sr concentration in bone from Nevada cattle and Nevada Test Site deer.
-------
20
w
O)
\
O
~ 15-
(0
c
o
c
a>
o
c
o
O
o
o
CD
i_
CO
S
10-
5-
O---O Nevada Desert Bighorn Sheep
• • Lincoln County Deer
A A Deer Other Than Lincoln County
+ » NTS Deer
1953 55 57 59 61 63 65 67 69 71 73 75
Year Collected
77 79 81
90
Figure 5. Average Sr concentration in bone from deer and desert bighorn sheep.
-------
Peak concentrations occurred in 1960 (1 year after the last test series before
the moratorium) and in 1962 (1 year after testing was renewed).
In general, the levels are a reflection of world-wide fallout as evi-
denced by higher average levels in bones from the KC herd when compared to
the DV and NTS herds. As stated previously, the Knoll Creek range is subject
to greater annual precipitation with a resultant higher annual deposition of
world-wide fallout. Fresh, concentrated, close-in fallout during 1962 did
result in significantly higher strontium-90 base levels in the NTS cattle
(especially calves) that were deliberately grazed for 30 days on range highly
contaminated by fallout from Sedan and Bandicoot (Blincoe et al. 1969).
Approximately one-half of the beef cattle sacrificed each year were under
2 years of age. Therefore, the results for each year tend to reflect recent
changes in strontium-90 deposition. Of particular note is the response of
younger animals as compared to mature cows. During the period 1958 to 1960,
the mature cows had strontium-90 concentrations ranging from half to three-
fourths of the averages of the younger animals. In 1961, after a year of low
deposition, the mature cows had a concentration 10 percent greater than the
average of the young animals (Smith and Andrews 1981).
Through 1966, bones from the NTS beef cattle contained strontium-90
concentrations about twice those reported from the bones of desert bighorn
sheep. This probably reflected the fact that half the cattle sampled were
less than 2 years of age and, hence, were undergoing rapid bone development
during the period of high fallout. After 1966, the strontium-90 concentra-
tions in bones from the two species were approximately equal with slightly
higher levels reported in the bighorn sheep. This again can be explained by
the higher age at sampling (average of 7+ years) of the bighorn sheep; i.e.,
the bighorn sheep which were immature during the period of high fallout were
being harvested concurrently with younger cattle which were immature during
periods of lower fallout.
Analysis of strontium-90 data for desert bighorn sheep as a function of
age (Smith and Andrews 1981) showed that the controlling factor in bone con-
centration was the exposure which occurred during the period of maximum bone
growth, up to 1 year of age. Subsequent intake has some effect, but much
less. The same analysis showed an effective half-life for strontium-90 in
desert bighorn sheep of about 4.8 years. Comparable data for humans yielded
effective half-lives of 2.7 and 4.3 years for two population groups (Smith
and Andrews 1981).
Strontium-90 concentrations for deer and desert bighorn sheep bone are
compared in Figure 5. It is obvious that the results are quite similar.
Some small but probably significant differences are: (1) strontium-90 con-
centrations in deer from Lincoln County during the years 1956 to 1958 are
about twice as high as in other deer, and (2) deer samples reached a higher
concentration in 1964 than did sheep and dropped off more rapidly thereafter.
Deer and bighorn sheep results are very similar for the years 1968 to 1981.
This variation may be explained by the more rapid turnover of bone cells and
associated increased mineral metbolism which occurs during growth and matu-
ration than that which occurs during adulthood.
21
-------
The higher concentrations in Lincoln County deer during the late 1950's
as compared to those in deer from the rest of the state most likely reflect
the immediate effects of close-in fallout from the NTS. The difference in
maximum concentrations and the decline in concentrations between deer and sheep
is believed to be due primarily to the age of the animals collected. The
higher concentrations observed in the sheep bones, during the years from 1967
on, are probably related to the older age at harvest and, hence, exposure to
greater fallout levels during the period of rapid growth. The average age
of bucks (deer) harvested by hunters is 36 months. Due to the young age of
the deer sampled, compared to sheep, the deer tend to reflect conditions dur-
ing the previous year or two. The reason for the age difference of the ani-
mals when killed is that bighorn sheep must either meet a minimum score based
on horn size or must be 7 years old to be legal game animals. They are gen-
erally 5 to 12 years old. This tends to flatten the response to the effect
of exposure during individual years. The decrease in strontium-90 concentra-
tions in bones from all three species that is noted in 1979 is probably not
real but related to the fact that a different laboratory did the analysis
that year (Smith et al. 1981A).
Strontium-89 (half-life 52 days) was detected only when fresh fission
products were present.
TRITIUM
Starting in 1971, samples of blood, urine, or soft tissue collected from
NTS cattle, NTS wildlife, and desert bighorn sheep were analyzed for tritium
content. These data are depicted graphically in Figures 6 and 7.
As stated previously, the Area 18 beef herd was sampled in the spring
and fall of each year. As shown in Figure 6, spring samples usually contained
more tritium. These springtime peaks are probably related to the "rainout"
from the stratospheric reservoir of tritium by precipitation in the winter
and early spring. The native desert vegetation responds to this precipita-
tion with a sudden but transitory green-up of fresh foliage with a high
moisture content which is relished by the cattle.
The tritium concentration in the Area 18 beef cattle, the desert big-
horn sheep, and NTS wildlife from sites other than Areas 12 and 15 on the
NTS were within the ranges present in the general environment as measured by
the Noble Gas and Tritium Surveillance Network (Offsite Environmental Moni-
toring Reports, e.g., Smith et al. 1981B and Black et al. 1982). The Area 15
corralled dairy cattle and Area 15 wildlife (rabbits, coyotes, and quail)
frequently contained tritium levels several orders of magnitude higher than
those reported for the Area 18 range animals. The source of their exposure
is thought to be the Sedan Crater which is approximately 2 miles away.
Similar levels of tritium were found in the urine of employees who worked
at the Area 15 experimental farm (Douglas et al. 1970).
22
-------
6000-
5000-
4000-
3000-
2500-2
2400-
2300—
2200-
2100—
2000—
1900-
^ 1800-
'5 1700-
a 1600-
c? 1500-
1400-
1300-
0? 1200-
1100-
1000-
900*-
800-
700-
600-
500-
400-
300-
ND
f
'
A (5/6)
(0/7)
~~\ T
S F
70
A
,
•
(2/3)
(6/6)
(0/6)
71
.
'
l
'
(2/2)
B(i/D
4300
£ (3/3)
I
hH Area 18 Beef Herd Range
CD Area 1 5 Conrated Cattle Range
» Median
* Average
( ) No Positve / No Sampled y
(S/5)
f'2'
S F
72
'"|(3/
1
S
-T-
»(6/
6)
F
73
>(4/
"
S
(3/3)
6'T(S
*
1
F
74
''fill
"i
j
(4/7),
A(1/6I
i
(6/6)
S F
75
(2/4)
(0/6) • (0/7)
i I
76
(0/6) (0/6)
t 7
S F
77
(0/6)
S F
78
(3/3)
(0/3)
S F
79
(0/3) (0/4)
S F
80
i
(7/10)
S F
81
Figure 6. Tritium concentrations in Nevada Test Site cattle, 1970-1981.
-------
10.OOO.OOO— |
1.000.000—
•^
700.0OO-
40.000-
30.000-
20.000-
10.000-
5000-^
4800-
4600—
4400-
4200-
4000-
_ 3800-
— 36OO-
o
Q. 3400 —
3200-
3000-
28OO-
2600-
2400-
2200-
2000-
1800-
1600-
1400-
1200-
1000—
800-
600—
400-
200—
ND
,
2-
'' *
•
(3/5)
,(4/4) .
n
(9/1 1)H
. (3/3)
70 71 72
i U\
(2/3) ,9/11,
I
73 74
_ 8.8X106
-^3^-
6OO.OOO ^
(6/6)1
(10/11)
/ T.3/3,
T n
480.00oi
8(5/20
'77.000^
'' ;
(2/6)
n
\
(13/16)
\
ff
(2/6)
i (2/2) A (1/4)
(0/12) (0/12)
3.3X 106
j 1.1 X 106
(3/4)
i— i Deer Range
n Desert Big Horn Sheep Range
• Median
A Average
I ) No. Positive/ No Sampled
p.
• (6/16)
•
. L
1 1 1 i i • i m
75 76 77 78 79 80 81
Figure 7. Tritium concentrations in Nevada Test Site deer and desert bighorn sheep, 1970-1981.
-------
Mule deer and other wildlife collected from Area 12 and Rainier Mesa
frequently had elevated levels of tritium; e.g., 600 nCi/L in a mule deer in
1976 and 8.8 Ci/L in a deer in 1981 (Figure 7). These animals are thought
to have drunk from the contaminated waters which drain from the tunnel test
areas of Rainier Mesa (Scoggins, 1982). If these animals became available to
the offsite population, a small additional population dose might accrue. The
results of a deer migration study (Smith et al. 1982, and Smith and Giles
1983) suggest that NTS deer rarely move to offsite areas and, therefore,
do not represent a significant source of exposure for offsite residents.
PLUTONIUM-239
Analysis of femur samples from Area 18, NTS, cattle for plutonium-238
and -239 began in 1972 and continued until the end of the program in 1981.
Detectable concentrations of plutonium-238 were rarely found whereas the -239
isotope was frequently detected in measurable concentrations.
Earlier analyses of these data had suggested some changes with time,
but the reason for the changes was unclear (Smith et al. 1976A). To clarify
this, the analytical results were segregated by the age of the animal as
shown in Table 2. Choosing yearling calves as one category should indicate
whether or not the plutonium becomes more biologically available with time.
Data for the adult animals should clarify the effect of age.
The data from Table 2 are plotted in Figure 8 and the least-squares re-
gression lines indicated. The correlation coefficient for the line fitting
the yearling data is only 0.34, indicating little significance for the trend,
and most of that apparent trend is due to the higher concentrations reported
for 1976 through 1978. Only years for which two or more results were avail-
able are plotted in Figure 8. The regression line for the cattle aged 6 to
9 years has a correlation coefficient of 0.55, not markedly more significant
than that for the yearlings.
The geometric mean concentration of plutonium-239 in bone, though, tends
to be higher for the adult than for the yearling animals. This suggests
that age, i.e., length of exposure, is more relevant to the measured concen-
tration in bone than is the concept of change in biological availability.
Using this hypothesis and the equation for the least-squares line, adult
cattle would have an increase in plutonium concentration in bone of 1 pCi/kg
wet weight in the 10-year period from 1972 to 1981.
An individual living in Area 18, NTS, if consuming the same diet as
cattle and inhaling/ingesting as much soil, would therefore increase his
skeletal burden by about 7 pCi in the 10-year period specified above (assum-
ing a 7-kg skeletal weight).
IODINE-131
Thyroids were collected on a semiannual basis from cattle representing
the three Nevada beef herds described earlier in this report. The animal
2b
-------
TABLE 2. PLUTONIUM-239 IN BONE OF NTS CATTLE (pCi/kg wet weight)*
0.5-1.5 Years Old 6-9 Years Old
Year "xg Sg No. "xg Sg No.
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
0.36
0.56
0.42
1.4
1.3
1.6
1.0
1.3
3.2
0.65
1.6
3.1
3.6
5.1
4.7
2.0
2.2
-
-
2.6
7
4
3
5
4
5
3
1
1
7
1.4
1.3
1.4
0.28
1.0
2.8
0.6
1.0
2.5
2.4
1.5
1.3
1.0
2.2
1.1
-
-
2.2
2.1
3.6
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
5
*Expressed as geometric mean and standard deviation (xg; Sg).
selection criteria, sampling schedule, and methods were also described or
referenced. From 1957 through 1968, a 4-g sample of each thyroid collected
was analyzed by UNR on a single-channel gamma-ray spectrometer (Blincoe et
al. 1964). From 1969 through 1981, the entire thyroid was analyzed by the
EMSL-LV on a 400-channel gamma spectrometer (Smith and Giles 1974).
The average iodine-131 content in the thyroids collected each spring
and fall are plotted in Figure 9. The bovine thyroid is a rapid and sensi-
tive indicator of ingestion or inhalation of fresh fission products contain-
ing radioiodine. As indicated in Figure 9, the thyroid iodine-131 concentra-
tions could usually be related either to specific nuclear events, local or
distant, or to test series that were held on the NTS, in the Pacific, the
Sahara Desert, China, or the Soviet Union (Blincoe and Bohman 1962).
The highest average iodine-131 concentrations (125,000 pCi/g) were found
in NTS cattle thyroids in November 1958, shortly after the completion of the
Hardtack Phase II series of atmospheric tests (September 12 to October 30,
1958) at the NTS. The cattle were intentionally grazed from October 31 to
November 21, 1958, on the highly contaminated range of the areas where the
tests took place (Blincoe et al. 1969). These peak iodine-131 concentrations
fell off rapidly to approximately 10 PCi/g of thyroid in the spring of 1959.
26
-------
101-
O)
a
a.
a>
10
• 0.5 to 1.5 yr old.
A 6 to 9 yr old.
• •
1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982
Figure 8. Time trend of plutonium concentration in cattle bone.
27
-------
(V
cc
T~—T
S F
1969
NTS Text Moratorium
~\ r
S F
1970
~i r
S f
1971
i 1 1 r
> F S F
1973 1974
-i 1 1 1 1 r
S F S F S F
1978 1977 1978
I 1 1 1 1
i f S .f S
1979 1980 1981
Figure 9. Average I concentrations in thyroids from Nevada beef cattle, 1957-1981.
-------
This steep decline resulted from radioactive decay, biological elimination,
and the moratorium on testing which began in the fall of 1958. The last U.S.
test was on October 30 and final USSR tests occurred in late December. During
the remainder of the moratorium, positive iodine-131 thyroid levels were re-
lated to foreign weapons tests or U.S. reactor tests.
In comparison, some of the highest iodine-131 concentrations in thyroids
from cattle residing off the NTS were reported following a nuclear cratering
experiment (Palanquin) which was conducted on April 14, 1965. Thyroids of
five cattle from Clark Station (approximately 35 km from Ground Zero) contained
an average iodine-131 concentration of 22,'600 pCi/g when sampled on May 21, 1965
(Bohman et al. 1968).
Little variation with age was noted in the iodine-131 concentration in
thyroids collected from cattle between 9 months of age and maturity (Blincoe
et al. 1964).
Thyroids were, collected on a quarterly basis from NTS mule deer and on
an occasional or periodic basis from other NTS wildlife. Other animals
sampled occasionally included domestic and wild animals at nuclear test sites
in other states. The levels of iodine-131 found in the thyroids of NTS wild-
life were generally similar to those reported for the NTS beef animals sampled
at the same time. Exceptions were occasionally noted when animals in a
specific area were exposed to a localized source. An example of this occurred
in 1970 when thyroids were collected from animals that drank from contaminated
waters draining from a test tunnel in Rainier Mesa. These animals had greatly
elevated levels of iodine-131 in their thyroids (1.1 MCi/g in a coyote) as
reported by Smith and Giles (1974).
It was also noted that thyroid levels of iodine-131 were generally lower
in deer and cattle from the Nevada desert ranges than in deer and cattle from
eastern states when the source was world-wide fallout (i.e., French, Chinese,
Russian, or South Pacific tests). This difference was probably due to higher
precipitation rates in the non-arid states (Blincoe and Bohman 1970A).
During the years of 1973, 1974, and 1975, over 100 thyroids were anal-
yzed by neutron activation to determine the iodine-129 content. Thyroids
were collected from animals sampled during the routine AIP surveillance
activities with NTS wildlife and the beef herd as described by Smith et al.
(1976A). In addition, thyroids were collected from animals dying of natural
causes at the Area 15 farm, from those sacrificed for other studies (e.g.,
salt feedlot studies, Shuyler et al. 1975), for the Area 13 grazing studies
(Smith et al. 1976C), and special investigations (Smith and Black 1975).
During the annual hunting season, thyroids were collected from deer and elk
in northern Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. In addition, thyroids were collected
from cattle slaughtered in abattoirs of northern Nevada to provide baseline
values.
As stated by Smith, 1977, iodine-129 levels in thyroids from free-
grazing.NTS and Rocky Flats, Colorado, cattle were statistically higher than
levels in thyroids from a northern Nevada background .population. However,
the concentrations were similar to those considered to be background by other
29
-------
investigators. The iodine-129/iodine-127 atom ratios reported were several
orders of magnitude lower than those reported for animal thyroids collected
near nuclear separation facilities. These findings indicated that the NTS
was not a significant source for iodine-129.
SPECIAL STUDIES
Baseline Studies
In January of 1968, AIP personnel collected tissue samples from two
mule deer and three beef cattle from central Nevada for radioanalysis and
histopathologic analysis prior to the Faultless nuclear test. With the excep-
tion of iodine-131, radionuclide values were equal to or below those reported
in tissues collected during the routine sampling of cattle from KC, DV, and
NTS and from deer collected on the NTS. The iodine-131 (150-200 pCi/g) found
in the deer thyroids is thought to have come from a Chinese test on
December 24, 1967 (Hull and Cohen 1968).
Range Survey, Area 18, NTS
During August 1966, the ocular reconnaissance method (U.S. Department of
Interior) of surveying vegetation was used to survey 13,630 acres in Area 18
of the NTS. A total of 233 line transects were established to obtain species
distribution, composition, and ground cover for this area since it was the
home range for the NTS beef herd.
There were six distinct plant communities identified: two sagebrush
(Artemisia arbuscula subsp. nova, /\. tridentata), two annual (Salsola Kali
var. tenuifolia, Eriogonum), one grass, and one desert shrub. These six
communities contained a total of 36 families and 85 species. The A_. arbuscula
subsp. nova community occupied the largest area, 6,337 acres, and the
Eriogonum community the smallest, 17 acres (Brown and Mason 1968).
Composition of Diet of NTS Range Cattle
The radionuclide content and botanical composition of the diet of the
beef animals grazing on the Area 18 range of the Nevada Test Site from 1966-
197U was determined by analyzing rumen samples collected from fistulated
steers. The radionuclide concentrations were generally low with periodic in-
creases in individual isotope levels which could be traced to a specific
contaminating event.
Grass exceded 80% of the diet of 23 out of 43 monthly samples. Squirrel
tail grass, Sitanion hystrix. and Indian rice grass, Orhyzopsis hymenoides,
were the major components of this portion of the dietTThe major browse
plants ingested were Gambel's oak, Quercus gambelii, and desert bitter brush,
Purshia glandulosa. Russian thistle, Salsola kali, and desert buckwheat,
Eriogonum spp. were the main contributors to the forb portion of the diet.
At times during the summer months, Russian thistle constituted over 30% of
the total diet (Smith et al. 1972).
30
-------
Preliminary Radiation Surveillance of an Aquatic System
During 1967, a 3-month preliminary radiation surveillance study of an
aquatic system was conducted in Upper Pahranagat Lake near the NTS. The
objectives of this study were to determine the concentrations of fission
products in selected samples and to establish the necessary methodology for
radiation surveillance in an aquatic ecosystem (Klien and Brechbill 1972).
Radionuclide concentrations were found to be insignificant in water,
aquatic4Qlan|fi and fish samples. Sediment samples had detectable levels of
Cs, K, * Sr, and U. Strontium-90 levels in fishbone were low (2.4 pCi/g
bone ash) compared to those found in bovine femur samples (6.9 pCi/g bone
ash) collected during the same period.
Sheep Death Investigation at Garrison, Utah
The acute death near Garrison, Utah, in January 1971, of some 1,250
sheep from a flock of 2,600 was the object of national attention with its
implied cause of either nerve gas from Dugway Proving Grounds or radiation
from the NTS. Field and laboratory results confirmed that the cause of
death was oxalate poisoning from ingestion of the weed, Halogeton glomerulatus
(Western Environmental Research Laboratory 1971).
AIP Activities for the Baneberry Event
On December 18, 1970, an underground nuclear test, conducted at the NTS,
released radioactive materials into the atmosphere with resultant onsite and
offsite contamination. The AIP developed studies to document the distribu-
tion of fission and activation products in the tissue of domestic and wild
animals residing within contaminated areas on and surrounding the NTS. These
animals were sampled from 12 to 62 days after the detonation. A study of
radioiqdine secretion in milk from cows at the experimental dairy farm and
uptake by calves was started about 24 hours after the venting. A grazing in-
take study, which utilized fistulated steers, was also carried out from the
fifth through the eighth month after detonation (Smith et al. 1975).
NTS Spring Survey
During August 1972, natural springs located on the Nevada Test Site
were surveyed to determine their use by wildlife and the effort required for
improving water production. Each spring was described and its use by wild-
life noted. Methods of improving spring flow were suggested. Minimal effort
at most of the springs would result in a significant improvement of waterflow
with resulting benefits to wildlife (Giles 1976). These improvements were
subsequently made by the employees at the EPA experimental farm.
Bioenvironmental Sampling - Gnome Site
A bioenvironental sampling program of the Gnome Site was conducted dur-
ing October 1972, to document radionuclide concentrations within plant and
animal tissues which may have resulted from the release of radioactivity dur-
ing the Gnome nuclear explosive test of 1961 and/or from contaminated debris
31
-------
brought to the surface during reentry of the test cavity. No event-related
gamma-emitting radionuclides were detected in the tissues of the birds and
animals sampled. Detectable levels of tritium (660-9300 pCi/L) were found in
the flesh of all animals sampled. Zirconium-95 and ruthenium-103 were detec-
ted in certain grass samples, but were thought to be the result of worldwide
fallout. Strontium-90 levels in the bones (1.5 to 7 pCi/g ash) and plant sam-
ples were also attributed to worldwide fallout. The data indicated no radio-
logical hazard to man through the ingestion of tissues of wildlife that
reside in the area of the Gnome Site (Smith and Giles 1973).
Tissue Burdens of Selected Radionuclides in Beef Cattle around the NTS
During 1972, animals from three beef herds on and around the NTS were
extensively sampled to determine tissue burdens of plutonium and uranium.
The herds represented animals grazing range contaminated by worldwide fallout
(Searchlight herd), animals grazing range contaminated by U.S. atmospheric
nuclear detonations (NTS herd), and animals grazing range contaminated by
unfissioned nuclear material (TTR herd). Selected animals from the latter
herd were also maintained in a feedlot on the NTS for 4 months prior to sam-
pling (Smith et al. 1976A).
Based on geometric mean values, ratios of uranium-234, -235, and -238
levels found in tissues from all groups were consistent with the natural
ratios. The plutonium/uranium ratio was generally highest in the liver. The
plutonium levels in bone were highest in the femur, with lower levels in the
ribs. For the younger animals, the actinide levels were higher in rib than
in either femur or vertebrae samples. Both the lung and tracheo-bronchial
lymph node data suggest that plutonium inhalation was higher for the NTS herd
than for the TTR cattle. The rumen content and reticulum sediment data sug-
gest that the contamination of the range of Area 18 of the NTS and of the
Roller Coaster sites on the TTR consisted of larger particles unevenly dis-
tributed compared to the relatively uniform deposition from worldwide fallout
on the Searchlight Range. The data also suggest that the actinide concentra-
tions in bone increased with age. Fetal tissue concentrations of the actinides
indicate that passage through the placental barrier occurs.
The strontium-90 content of bone ash was similar to that measured in
other ruminants sampled in past years. The thyroids of cattle sacrificed in
May 1972 contained iodine-131 ranging from 2 to 76 pCi/g which was attributed
to fallout from a nuclear test conducted on the Chinese mainland on March 8,
1972. Elevated tritium levels were found in the blood of selected cattle
from the Roller Coaster herd which were maintained in the feedlot on the
Nevada Test Site near the Sedan crater, the site of a nuclear test conducted
in 1962.
Actinide Concentrations in Cattle Tissues from Rocky Flats, Colorado
In November 1973, five aged and five young cows that grazed a pasture
near the Rocky Flats Plant were sacrificed and various tissues collected for
measurement of actinide concentrations.
32
-------
The strontium-90, uranium-238, and plutonium-239 data were compared to
data from cattle herds that graze on and around the Nevada Test Site and from
herds located at Searchlight and Reno, Nevada. The data suggest that the
Rocky Flats cattle had tissue concentrations of plutonium-239 similar to
those collected from the NTS and Roller Coaster herds and that inhalation
contributed some fraction of the exposure. The levels of both uranium and
plutonium-239 found in the exposed cattle were similar to those found in the
general U.S. human population from fallout. Americium concentrations were
about 1/4 to 1/2 of the plutonium-239 concentration in the same tissue.
A major difference between the Rocky Flats cattle and the other cattle
groups, and one that possibly reduced their exposure to plutonium, was that
the exposure of the former group was only 5 to 6 months per year rather than
continuous exposure as for the latter groups.
The maximum plutonium concentration in edible tissues from the Rocky
Flats cattle, if ingested by humans at the rate of 500 g/day for 50 years,
would contribute an estimated bone dose which, at most, is only 0.02 rem from
consumption of liver and 0.001 rem from consumption of muscle. This is a
small fraction of the background whole-body dose which is 8.5 rem per 50
years in the Denver area (Smith and Black 1975).
The geometric mean values of uranium concentration suggest that the
uranium uptake of the Rocky Flats animals was higher than for the other
groups, but this is attributed to the higher levels of uranium naturally
occurring in soil in the Front Range area.
The strontium-90 concentrations in bone were similar to those found in
the other herds. The tritium concentration in blood from the Rocky Flats
cattle was consistent with the levels found in their drinking water.
Survey of Fresh water Algae of the NTS
Fifty-two species of freshwater algae were identified in samples collec-
ted from the eight known natural springs of the Nevada Test Site. Although
several species were widespread, 29 species were site specific. Diatoms pro-
vided the greatest variety of species at each spring. Three-fifths of all
algal species encountered were diatoms. Well-developed mats of filamentous
green algae (Chlorophyta) were common in many of the water banks associated
with the springs and accounted for most of the algal biomass. Major nu-
trients were adequate, if not abundant, in most spring waters—growth being
limited primarily by light and physical habitat. There was some evidence of
cesium-137 bi concentration by algae at several of the springs (Taylor and
Giles 1979).
Iodine-129 Study
The data from over 90 thyroids collected during 1973, 1974, and 1975
from animals residing on the Nevada Test Site indicate that iodine-129 to
iodine-127 atom ratios in these thyroids are near background levels (8 x
10 ). However, the median levels in the thyroids of animals living on the
33
-------
Nevada Test Site are slightly elevated from those found in northern Nevada,
but are similar to those found near Denver, Colorado, and Rawlins, Wyoming.
Statistical analyses of the iodine-129/iodine-127 ratios in cattle thyroids
suggest that three populations were sampled. These populations are: 1)
northern Nevada cattle which were considered as a baseline population, 2)
corralled Nevada Test Site cattle with intermediate ratios, and 3) free-
graziny cattle from the Nevada Test Site and Rocky Flats, Colorado, which
had the highest ratios reported. The range and median iodine-129/iodine-127
ratios for,the three populations during 1974 and 1975Qwere as follows: 1)
5.82 x 1U"11 to 7.25 xft!0~y, 2.8 x 10 ; 2) 1.9 x 10"y to 6.2 x 10"°, 5.3 x
10 ; and 3) 2.7 x 1U"° to 3.7 x 10, 1.5 x 10"' (Smith 1977).
34
-------
DOSE ESTIMATES
The radionuclide concentrations in the edible tissues sampled during this
Program can be used to calculate a maximum hypothetical dose to the offsite
human population. When available, the data from animals, collected offsite were
used. Otherwise, the data from NTS animals were used. In most cases, the NTS
data were not markedly higher than data from offsite animals. The details of
the calculation are set forth below for each radionuclide considered.
CESIUM-137
To calculate a 50-year dose commitment for this nuclide, the amount in-
gested per year is required as is a dose conversion factor. The analytical
data indicate that samples from the Knoll Creek herd had the highest concentra-
tion. Assuming an offsite resident were to eat 1/2 kg (about 1 Ib) per day,
the total intake for 6-month periods based on the concentrations measured in
the seminannual samples from the Knoll Creek herd can be calculated and then
summed for each year as shown in Table 3. The dose conversion factor for an
annual intake of Cs-137 is given in Table B-5 in Corley et al. (1981), as 71
merm per MCi/yr ingested, whole-body dose commitment.
i
If the Knoll Creek data through 1967 and the NTS data from 1968 through
1981 are summed, then the 50-year whole-body dose commitment would total 96
mrem for the 25 years. The maximum hypothetical dose commitment would have
been 18 mrem for 1963, and the average would have been about 4 mrem/year, under
the assumptions stated above. The dose commitment from worldwide fallout
(through 1975) averaged 28 mrad [United Nations Scientific Committee on the
Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) 1977], the NTS contribution could be about
68 of the 96 mrem calculated. The guidelines by the Federal Radiation Council
(FRC Report No. 2, September 1961) allow a dose of 170 mrem/yr to the whole
body of a suitable sample of the general population. The permissible 25-year
dose would then be 4250 mrem. The calculated dose of 68 mrem is only 1.6% of
this amount.
STRONTIUM-90
The hypothetical dose commitment from strontium-90 produced by activities
at the NTS is probably negligible for the local offsite population. The
concentration measured in the various bone samples collected by the AIP, though
higher than that expected in human bones, varies in a consistent fashion with
35
-------
TABLE 3. CESIUM-137 IN CATTLE MUSCLE SAMPLES AND HUMAN DOSE COMMITMENT^
Year
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
NTS Cattle
Spring Fall
pCi/kg pCi/kg
260
500
170
100
450
5700
490
750
250
120
120
200
60
120
40
50
53
60
39
16
90
38
37
65
390
710
220
440
180
8800
1700
300
390
140
70
43
200
50
60
50
20
10
29
10
10
71
28
24
55
Human
Intake
0.036
0.089
0.066
0.056
0.026
0.85
0.68
0.072
0.10
0.036
0.017
0.015
0.037
0.010
0.016
0.008
0.006
0.006
0.008
0.004
0.002
0.015
0.006
0.006
0.011
50-year
Dose
mrem
2.5
6.3
4.7
4.0
1.8
60
48
5.1
7.4
2.5
1.2
1.1
2.6
0.71
1.2
0.58
0.45
0.41
0.56
0.32
0.17
1.0
0.43
0.40
0.78
Knoll
Spring
pCi/kg
470
840
91
100
130
1100
1600
870
310
490
! Creek Cattle
Human 50-year
Fall Intake Dose
oCiAg MCI mrem
r* * *?
770
130
100
90
900
1700
900
860
660
350
0.113
0.089
0.017
0.017
0.094
0.256
0.229
0.158
0.089
0.077
8.1
6.3
1.2
1.2
6.7
18
16
11
6.3
5.4
the strontium-90 in human bones collected in New York (Smith and Andrews 1981).
This suggests that worldwide fallout is the principal source. Furthermore, the
concentration in fresh milk is consistently less in semi-arid Nevada than in
high rainfall areas of the U.S. Atmospheric tests by the U.S. (both NTS and
Pacific) had a kiloton yield equal to about 17% of the total atmospheric testing
by all countries. Probably less than half that amount, say 8%, may be due to
NTS tests, so the dose commitment of 120 mrad to bone lining cells from all
testing (UNSCEAR 1977) would include a maximum of about 10 mrad from NTS
activities.
TRITIUM
To calculate a hypothetical dose commitment for this nuclide, the assump-
tion is made that each 1/2 kg of meat consumed daily has the same tritium
36
-------
concentration as measured 1n the blood. All the data available are from the
NTS beef herd for the period from 1971 to 1981. The 50-year whole-body dose
commitment based on a dose conversion factor of 0.1 mrem per nCi/yr ingested
(Corley et al. 1981) is only 0.15 mrem.
PLUTONIUM-239
The plutonium-239 concentration in bone collected from NTS beef cattle has
not been markedly different from the concentration in bone from cattle that
were raised in other areas. This suggests that the "contaminated" range on the
NTS provided little plutonium to the body burden of these animals over that
contributed by worldwide fallout. The indication in the section on plutonium
earlier in this report was that the bone burden of the NTS cattle increased by
1 pCi/kg fresh weight in 10 years.
Using an improbable scenario, i.e., an individual living in Area 18 on
the NTS and having the same diet as cattle, one can estimate a body burden.
The general population bone concentration is about 0.2 pCi/kg (Mclnroy et al.
1979) or 1.4 pCi in the skeleton. The 7 pCi increase in 10 years as estimated
from cattle data would add to this for an 8.4 pCi total. Assuming the bone
burden is half the total, the body burden becomes 17 pCi. Since the ICRP guide
for occupational exposure is a body burden of 40,000 pCi or 1,333 pCi for a
suitable sample of the population, this calculated 17 pCi is equivalent to only
1.3% of the guideline or 2.2 mrem for this hypothetical 10-year exposure.
RADIOIODINE
For most cases of fallout in earlier years, radioiodines were not measured
in environmental samples. On several occasions, though, cattle thyroids were
measured for iodine-131. Based on extensive studies of radioiodine transport
in the biosphere, it should be possible to make a reasonable estimate of radio-
iodine concentration in human thyroids given these bovine thyroid measurements.
The estimated doses use some known factors and certain assumptions as listed
below (Watson and CUne 1967 and Black and Barth 1976).
Published Data
The following factors for radioiodine can be found in the literature:
1) Thyroid weight; bovine = 30 g, 1-year old child = 2 g,
2) Effective half life; bovine = 7.0 days, child = 7.6 days,
3) Content; bovine thyroid has 2-3 times daily intake in spring and summer
and 4-5 times the intake in fall and winter,
4) Milk; for a single contaminating event, 10% of intake is secreted in
the milk,
5) Bovine milk output; average of 20 liters/day,
Uptake; human thyroid uptake is 30% of intake,
Peak concentration; in bovine occurs 4 days after start of intake.
37
-------
Assumptions
These can be conservative so as not to underestimate the problem.
1) Family cow produces 10 liters/day,
2) Bovine thyroid contains twice the daily intake,
3) Child with 2-g thyroid drinks 1 liter/day of milk,
4) Cow thyroid has 1 nCi/g of iodine-131,
5) Family cow has same intake as beef cattle.
Calculation
Cow intake = 1 nCi/g x 30 g/2 = 15 nCi
Cow secretes 10% in milk =1.5 nCi
Child drinks 1 liter/day of 10 liters/day = 10% = 0.15 nCi
Thyroid uptake = 30% x 0.15 nCi = 0.045 nCi or 0.0225 nCi/g
Ratio of child/bovine thyroid = 0.0225/1.0 or 2.25%
Published reports suggest human thyroids have 0.2 to 0.5% of the amount of
radioiodine measured in thyroids from bovine collected in the same area. Since
these thyroids were generally from adults, a rounded value of 2% appears
reasonable for the ratio of child/bovine thyroid radioiodine content.
Dose Estimation
The iodine-131 conncentration measured in bovine thyroids is shown in
Table 4. Where possible, the date of the nearest previous test that released
radioactivity offsite is indicated in the table. The estimated peak concentra-
tion was then calculated by using 4 days as the time to peak in the bovine
thyroid and an effective half-life of 7 days. As an example, use the data in
the first row of Table 4, NTS data. From 10/7 to 12/5 is 59 days. Less 4 days
to the peak is 55 days or 7.8 effective half-lives. The peak in the bovine
thyroid is then estimated as 232 times the measured value or 232 x 375 pCi/g.
When this is divided by 50 to get the estimated peak in a child's thyroid, then
multiplied by 2, the value indicated in the column headed "Child pCi/2g" is
obtained. The dose conversion factor used was 55.2 rad/MCi in the 2 gram
thyroid.
The radioiodine dose was calculated only for iodine-131. The dose from
shorter half-life iodines could be estimated if deposition time and the delay
between that time and milk consumption were known. Iodine-129 was not consid-
ered since the amounts found were extremely small.
From Table 4, the total hypothetical dose to a 2-gram human thyroid for
all measurements made was: NTS - 3160, Delamar Valley - 2510 mrem, and Knoll
Creek - 310 mrem. These represent an average of 144 mrem/yr from NTS, 228
mrem/yr from Delamar Valley, and 26 mrem/yr from Knoll Creek if a child lived
in those areas and drank milk from cows in those areas. Of course, this would
be impossible for the NTS and the average calculated dose would be even smaller
38
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TABLE 4. IODINE-131 IN CATTLE THYROIDS AND ESTIMATED DOSE TO A 2-g THYROID
u;
vc
NTS Data
Year
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1970
1972
1976
1977
1978
Test Date
Date Sampled
10/7
4/28
10/30
_
_
-
-
-
9/15
4/14
10/19
5/15
-
4/29
8/19
4/14
-
4/25
-
-
.
3/12
_
9/21**
12/5
6/2
11/23
4/23
11/12
4/29
11/8
5/23
11/9
5/24
11/7
5/23
11/14
6/11
10/7
6/3
11/3
5/26
10/13
5/31
10/14
6/11
10/29
5/10
10/21
10/14
5/17
pCi/g
375
5400
SS*
40
2
15
520
3
7200
430
SS*
29
2
26
61
730
0
640
0
0
15
6
10
21
150
770
6
Delamar Valley Data
Child Dose
pCi/2g mrem
3480
4650
1.6
0.08
0.6
21
0.10
44900
608
1.7
0.08
49
210
2800
_
371
-
-
0.6
0.2
0.4
0.8
6
123
0.2
192
257
0.09
_
0.03
1.1
-
2480
34
0.10
-
2.7
11.6
153
-
20.5
-
-
0.03
0.01
0.02
0.05
0.3
6.8
0.01
Date
Sampled
12/7
5/27
11/14
4/30
11/3
4/22
10/19
5/31
11/16
6/11
11/14
5/28
11/11
5/27
10/14
5/20
10/27
5/5
10/6
5/25
10/25
-
Child Dose
pCi/g pCi/2g mrem
630
260
6500
30
5
16
0.
3
2700
390
1300
1
5
3
3
57
0
3500
0
1
1
======
7100
124
773
1.
0.
0.
5
0.
33700
2970
459
-
0.
-
-
54
-
254
-
-
-
__________
393
6.8
42.6
2 0.07
2 0.01
6 0.04
-
10 -
1860
164
25
-
2
-
-
3.0
-
14
-
-
-
Knoll Creek Data
Date
Sampled
—
5/20
11/6
5/8
11/19
5/7
11/16
5/17
11/2
5/17
10/23
5/16
10/11
6/3
10/20
5/5
10/20
5/8
10/20
5/18
11/23
4/24
===========
Child Dose
pCI/g pCi/2g mrem
9
4500
25
2
5
3
2
1700
14
230
1
4
2
4
61
2
3
1
2
2
16
=====
2.1
242
1.0
-
0.2
-
-
5300
10
9
-
-
-
-
13
-
-
-
-
-
30
0.1
13.4
0.06
-
0.01
-
-
293
0.5
0.5
-
-
-
-
0.7
-
-
-
-
-
1.7
*SS indicates cattle used for special study.
**Foreign weapons test.
-------
in the DV and KC areas because the dose decreases rapidly as the child ages.
The principal contribution to the total dose is due to the result of the
fall 1961 sampling. A more logical cause for almost all the radioiodine mea-
sured in bovine thyroids at that time would have been the multi-megaton atmos-
pheric tests of the USSR at the end of October. If that is assumed, the cal-
culated NTS-related doses for 1961 decrease to 18, 15, and 6 mrem for the NTS,
DV, and KC data, respectively, and the cumulative doses during the time of sam-
pling decreases to 698, 663, and 23 mrem for the three areas respectively.
Based on the guidelines set by the Federal Radiation Council (FRC Report
No. 2, September 1961) of 500 mrem/yr to a suitable sample of the general
population, none of the hypothetical annual doses exceeded that guideline.
40
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REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Johns, F. B., P. B. Hahn, D. J. Thome, and E. W. Bretthauer. Radiochemical
Analytical Procedures for Analysis of Enyironmental Samples~i EMSL-LV-
0539-17.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring
and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 109 pp. March 1979.
Johnson, E. Offsite Animal Investigation Project. First Annual Report.
Unnumbered report.Office of Test Operations, United States Atomic
Energy Commission, Las Vegas, NV. 9 pp. June 30, 1958.
Klein, W. L., and R. A. Breckbill. Preliminary Radiation Surveillance on an
Aquatic System Near the Nevada test Site June - July 1967.SWRHL-65r.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Western Environmental Research
Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 23 pp. 1972.
90
Kramp, R. C. "Preliminary Report on Sr Levels in Hock Joints of Desert
Bighorn Sheep and Mule Deer," pp. 62-67. Desert Bighorn Council 1965
Transaction. 92 pp. 1965.
Magno, P. J. et al. Iodine-129 in the Environment Around a Nuclear Fuel
Reprocessing PlaJrTiORP/FOD 72-5. USEPA. Office of Radiation Prog rams.
23 pp. WIT.
Mclnroy, J. F., H. A. Boyd, et al. Deposition and Retention of Plutonium in
the United States General Population. LA-UR-81-1175. Los Alamos
National Laboratory, New Mexico.3~3~ pp. 1979.
Sanders, J. B,, 0. R. Placak, and M. W. Carter. Report of Off-Site
Radiological Safety Activities, Operation Teapot, Nevada Test Site.
Spring - 1955.Undated and unnumbered report.Santa Fe Operations
Office, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
Scoggins, W. A. Environmental Surveillance Report for the Nevada Test Site
(January 1981 through December 1981).DOE/NV/00410-67.Reynolds
Electrical and Engineering Co., Inc. Las Vegas, Nevada. 181 pp. 1982.
Shuyler, L. R., D. D. Smith, D. A. Clark, and J. Barth. "Excretion of Salts
by Feedlot Cattle in Response to Variations in Concentrations of Sodium
Chloride Added to Their Ration." pp. 336-343. Managing Livestock
Wastes. Third International Symposium on Livestock Wastes—1975T
PROC-27b. i9Vb.
43
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Smith, D. D. Management History of the AEC Beef Herd: 1 June 1964 - 1 June
1959. sWRHL-80r.U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare,
SoUThwestern Radiological Health Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada.
26 pp. 197U.
Smith D. D. 129I in Animal Thyroids from Nevada and Other Western States.
EPA-60U/3-77-067.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental
Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 22 pp. 1977.
Smith, D. D., and V. E. Andrews. Selected Radioisotopes in Animal Tissues in
Nevada: 9USr and 137Cs Measurements from 13S6 to 197?. EPA-600/3-81-
027 and DOE/DP/00539-040.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 54 pp.
1981.
Smith, D. D., and S. C. Black. Actinide Concentrations in Tissues from Cattle
Grazing Near the Rocky Flats Plant.NERC-LV-539-36.U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, National Environmental Research Center, Las Vegas,
Nevada. 47 pp. 197b.
Smith, D. D., and K. R. Giles. Animal Investigation Program 1969 Annual
Report. SWRHL-102r. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare,
Southwestern Radiological Health Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 20 pp.
1970.
Smith, D. D., and K. R. Giles. Report of Bioenvirgnmental Sampling at the
Gnome Site, Carlsbad, New Mexico - October 1972.NERC-LV-539-25.DTS.
Environmental Protection Agency, National Environmental Research Center,
Las Vegas, Nevada. 35 pp. 1973.
Smith, D. D., and K. R. Giles. Animal Investigation Program 1970 Annual
Report. NERC-LV-539-16. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National
Environmental Research Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. 53 pp. 1974.
Smith, D. D., and K. R. Giles. 1971 Animal Investigation Program Annual
Report. NERC-LV-0539-20. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National
Environmental Research Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. 39 pp. 1975.
Smith, U. D., and K. R. Giles. Animal Investigation Program 1981 Annual
Report: Nevada Test Site and Vicinity. EPA 600/3-83-014 and DOE/DP/
00539-047.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Monitor-
ing Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 64 pp. 1983.
Smith, D. D., K. W. Brown, R. A. Brechbill, K. R. Giles, and A. L. Lesperance.
The Radionuclide Concentrations and Botanical Composition of the Diet of
Cattle Grazing the Area 18 Range of the Nevada Test Site, 1966-1970.
SWRHL-llOr.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Western Environmental
Research Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 31 pp. 1972.
Smith, D. U., S. C. Black, K. R Giles, and A. A. Moghissi. Report of Animal
Investigation Program Activities for the Baneberry Event. NERC-LV-539-
10. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Environmental Re-
search Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. 55 pp. 1975.
44
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Smith, D. D., S. C. Black, K. R. Giles, D. E. Bernhardt, and R. R. Kinnison.
Tissue Burdens of Selected Radionuclides in Beef Cattle On and Around the
Nevada Test Site.NERC-LV-539-29.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
National Environmental Research Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. 83 pp. 1976A.
Smith, D. D., K. R. Giles, and D. E. Bernhardt. Animal Investigation Program
1972 Annual Report. NERC-LV-539-35. U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, National Environmental Research Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
82 pp. 1976B.
Smith, D. D., J. Barth, and R. G. Patzer. "Grazing Studies on a Plutonium-
Contaminated Range of the Nevada Test Site," pp. 325-336. Proceedings
of the Symposium on Transuranium Nuclides in the Environment.
IAEA-SM-199/73.San Francisco, California, November 17-21, 1975.
724 pp. 1976C.
Smith, D. D., K. R. Giles, and D. E. Bernhardt. Animal Investigation Program
1973 Annual Report: Nevada Test Site and Vicinity.EMSL-LV-0539-3.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring and
Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 89 pp. 1977A.
Smith, D. D., K. R. Giles, D. E. Bernhardt, and K. W. Brown. Animal
Investigation Program 1974 Annual Report; Nevada Test Site and Vicinity.
EMSL-LV-0539-10. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental
Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 95 pp. 1977B.
Smith, D. D., K. R. Giles, D. E. Bernhardt, and K. W. Brown. Animal
Investigation Program 1975 Annual Report: Nevada Test Site and Vicinity.
EMSL-LV-0539-14. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental
Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 88 pp. 1978A.
Smith, D. D., K. R. Giles, D. E. Bernhardt, and K. W. Brown. Animal
Investigation Program 1976 Annual Report: Nevada Test Site and Vicinity.
EMSL-LV-0539-20. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental
Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. Ill pp. 1978B.
Smith, D. D., K. R. Giles, D. E. Bernhardt, A. B. Crockett, and R. R.
Kinnison. Animal Investigation Program 1977 Annual Report: Nevada Test
Site and Vicinity.EMSL-LV-0539-26.U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada.
90 pp. 1979.
Smith, D. I)., D. E. Bernhardt, and K. R. Giles. Animal Investigation Program
1978 Annual Report; Nevada Test Site and Vicinity.EPA-600/3-80-096
and DOE/DP/0059-038.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental
Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 65 pp. 1980.
Smith, D. D., D. E. Bernhardt, and K. R. Giles. Animal Investigation Program
1979 Annual Report: Nevada Test Site and Vicinity. EPA-600/3-81-035
and DOE/DP/OOB939-04.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environ-
mental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 65 pp. 1981A.
45
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Smith, U. D., K. F. Grossman, W. U. Corkern, D. J. Thome, R. G. Patzer, and
J. L. Hopper. Offsite Environmental Monitoring Report: Radiation
Monitoriny Around United States Nuclear Test Areas, Calendar Year 1980.
EPA-600/4-81-047 and DOE/DP/00539-043.U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada.
101 pp. 1981B.
Smith, D. D., D. E. Bernhardt, and K. R. Giles. Animal Investigation Program
1980 Annual Report: Nevada Test Site and Vicinity. EPA-600/3-8-077 and
DoE/DP/OOb39-04b.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental
Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 55 pp. 1982.
Taylor, W. D., and K. R. Giles. Freshwater Algae of the Nevada Test Site.
EMSL-LV-0539-25. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental
Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 19 pp. 1979.
United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation.
Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation, 1977 Report to the General
Assembly, Vienna, Austria^19/7.
U.S. Department of Energy. Environmental Measurements Laboratory Environ-
mental Quarterly. September 1 through December 1, 1979TEML-370.Rew
York, New York. January 1, 1980.
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. Ocular Reconnais-
sance Forage Survey Handbook. BLM Manual 4412. 11A.
Watson, C. R., and J. F. Cline. Radioiodine Environmental Release Studies.
Battelle Northwest Laboratories Report BNWL-280, Hanford, WA.1967.
Western Environmental Research Laboratory. The January 1971 Sheep Death
Incident Near Garrison, Utah. SWRHL-114r. U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Western Environmental Research Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada.
11 pp. 1971.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bohman, V. R., M. A. Wade, and C. Blincoe. "Distribution of Strontium in the
Bovine Skeleton." Science, Vol. 136:3522, pp. 1120-1121. 1962.
Blincoe, C., V. R. Bohman, and D. D. Smith. "Ingestion of Plutonium and
Americium by Range Cattle." Health Physics. Vol. 41, pp. 285-291. 1981.
Bohman, V. R., and A. L. Lesperance. The Accumulation of Fission Product in
Bovine Tissues and an Evaluation of Certain Factors Influencing the
Uptake of Materials. Annual Report 1967!U.S. Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare.Southwestern Radiological Health Laboratory,
Las Vegas, Nevada. Contract AT(04-3)-509. 28 pp. 1967.
46
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Bohman, V. R., and C. Blincoe. The Intake and Digestibility of Range Plants
!?!!?yn. prc^lH^ffiurc'Corctdrc^dtsd Soils as Determined with Grazing Cattle.
EMSL-LV-0539-34.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental
Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 43 pp. 1980.
Brechbill, R. A. Special Bovine Sampling Study—Project Roller Coaster
Sites. SWRHL-53.U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare,
Southwestern Radiological Health Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 23 pp.
June 1969.
Brechbill, R. A., R. E. Engel, and R. C. Kramp. Calcium in Hock Joints of
Wildlife Ruminants In Selected Areas of the United States.SWRHL-34r.
U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Southwestern
Radiological Health Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 8 pp. 1967.
Brown, K. W., and D. D. Smith. The Poisonous Plants of the U.S. Atomic
Energy Commission's Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada. SWRHL-33r.
U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Southwestern Radio-
logical Health Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 56 pp. 1966.
Brown, K. W., D. D. Smith, D. E. Bernhardt, K. R. Giles, and J. B. Helvie.
"Food Habits and Radionuclide Tissue Concentrations of Nevada Desert
Bighorn Sheep 1972-1973," pp. 61-68. Desert Bighorn Council 1975
Transactions. 72 pp. 1976. Also, EMSL-LV-539-6. U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory,
Las Vegas, Nevada. 23 pp. 1976.
Brown, K. W., D. D. Smith, and R. P. McQuivey. "Food Habits of Desert Big-
horn Sheep in Nevada 1957-1975." Desert Bighorn Council 1976.
Transactions. 1978.
Cohen, S. L. "Amputation of the Forelimb of a Desert Bighorn Sheep,"
pp. 28-37. Desert Bighorn Council 1968 Transactions. 77 pp. 1968.
Daley, E. M. Agronomic Aspects of the Experimental Dairy Farm During 1969.
SWRHL-10477U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Western Environmental
Research Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 9 pp. 1971.
Daley, E. M. Agronomic Aspects of the Experimental Dairy Farm - 1970.
SWRHL-11777U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Western Environmental
Research Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 18 pp. 1972.
Daley, E. M. Agronomic Practices of the Nevada Test Site Experimental Dairy
Farm During 1971. 1972. and 197T.EMSL-LV-539-5.U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory,
Las Vegas, Nevada. 25 pp. 1976.
47
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Daley, E. M. Five-Year Summary Report of an Experimental Dairy Herd
Maintained on the Nevada Test Site 1971 through 1975. EMSL-LV-0539-9.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring and
Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 45 pp. 1977.
Daley, E. M. Status Report of an Experimental Dairy Herd Maintained on the
Nevada Test Site January 1, 1976, through December 31. 1976. EMSL-LV-
Ob39-ll.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring
and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 27 pp. 1978.
Daley, E. M. Agronomic Practices of the Nevada Test Site Experimental Dairy
Farm During 1974 through 1977. EMSL-LV-0539-21. U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las
Vegas, Nevada. 34 pp. 1978.
Daley, E. M., and D. D. Smith. Agronomic Aspects of the Experimental Dairy
Farm. SWRHL-63r. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare,
Southwestern Radiological Health Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 41 pp.
1969.
Douglas, R. L. Status of the Nevada Test Site Experimental Farm. SWRHL-36r.
U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Southwestern
Radiological Health Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 30 pp. 1967.
Engel, R. E., and S. L. Cohen. Principles of Reporting Post-Mortem Findings.
SWRHL-3br. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, South-
western Radiological Health Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 15 pp. 1968.
Engel, R. E. "Methods of Post-Mortem Description of Wildlife Ruminants with
Two Commonly Observed Lesions in the Desert Bighorn Sheep," pp. 68-69b.
Desert Bighorn Council 1965 Transactions. 92 pp. 1965.
Farmer, G. R. "Effects of Radioactive Fall-Out on Bighorn," pp. 15-19.
Desert Bighorn Council 1959 Transactions. 86 pp. 1959.
Farmer, G. R. "Radioactivity in Bighorn Sheep," pp. 23-25. Desert Bighorn
Council I960 Transactions. 107 pp. 1960.
Fountain, E. L. "Fallout, Its Relation to Wildlife," pp. 95-97. Desert
Bighorn Council 1961 Transactions. 119 pp. 1961.
Fountain, E. L. "Biological Assays," pp. 53-57. Desert Bighorn Council 1963
Transactions. 202 pp. 1963.
Fountain, E. L., and M. S. Seal. "Strontium-90 in the Bones of Big Game in
the Western United States." Health Physics, pp. 1205-1209. 13 pp.
November 1967.
Gilbert, R. O.- D. D. Smith, and L. L. Eberhardt. "An Initial Synthesis of
Area 13 Pu Data and Other Statistical Analyses." pp. 237-274.
Environmental Plutonium on the Nevada Test Site and Environs. NVO-171.
M. G. White, P. B. Dunaway, and W. A. Howard, eds. Nevada Applied
Ecology Group, U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration, Las
Vegas, Nevada. 322 pp. 1977.
48
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Giles, K. R. A Summer Trapping Method for Mule Deer. EMSL-LV-0539-027.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring and
Support Laboratory,, Las Vegas, Nevada. 5 pp. 1979.
Helvie, J. B., and D. D. Smith. "Summary of Necropsy Findings in Desert
Bighorn Sheep," pp.28-42. Desert Bighorn Council 1970 Transactions.
200 pp. 1970.
Leavitt, V. D. Soil Survey of Area 18, Nevada Test Site. SWRHL-74r. U.S.
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Southwestern Radiological
Health Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 119 pp. 1970.
Smith, D. D. Status of the Bioenvironmental Research Experimental Dairy Herd.
July 1, 1966 through December 31, 1968.SWRHL-67r. U.S. Department of
Health, Education, and Welfare, Southwestern Radiological Health Lab-
oratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 90 pp. 1970.
Smith, D. D. "Radiation Surveillance of Ruminants On and About the Nevada
Test Site," pp. 101-108. Desert Bighorn Council 1971 Transactions.
110 pp. 1971. Also, NERC-LV-539-lS.U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, National Environmental Research Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
10 pp. 1972.
Smith, D. D. Observations on Wildlife and Domestic Animals Exposed to the
Ground Motion Effects of Underground Nuclear Detonations.NERC-LV-539-
2TIU.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Environmental Re-
search Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. 11 pp. 1973A.
Smith, D. D. Status of the Environmental Protection Agency's Nevada Test
Site Experimental Dairy Herd January 1, 1969 - December 31, 1970.NERC-
LV-539-22.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Environmental
Research Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. 62 pp. 1973B.
Smith, D. D. "Grazing Studies on Selected Plutonium-Contaminated Areas in
Nevada," pp. 151-161. The Dynamics of Plutonium in Desert Envirgnments.
Nevada Applied Ecology Group Progress Report. July 1974.NVO-142.PT~B.
Dunaway and M. G. White, eds.U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Nevada
Operations Office, Las Vegas, Nevada. 369 pp. 1974.
Smith, D. D. "Grazing Studies on Selected Plutonium-Contaminated Areas in
Nevada," pp. 125-135. The Radioecology of Plutonium and Other
Transuranics in Desert Environments. Nevada Applied Ecology Group
Progress Report, June 1975.NVO-153. M. G. White and P. B. Dunaway,
ecIsT U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration, Nevada Oper-
ations Office, Las Vegas, Nevada. 503 pp. 1975.
Smith, D. D. "Status Report on Grazing Studies on a Plutonium-Contaminated
Ranye of the Nevada Test Site," pp. 41-45. Studies of Environmental
Plutonium and Other Transuranics in Desert Ecosystems.NVO-159.RT G.
White and P. B. uunaway, eds.U.S. Energy Research and Development
Administration, Nevada Operations Office, Las Vegas, Nevada. 189 pp.
1976.
49
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Smith, U. D. "Graziny Studies on a Contaminated Range of the Nevada Test
Site " pp. 139-14y. Environmental Plutonium on the Nevada Test Site and
Environs. NVO-171. M. G. White, P- B. Dunaway, and W. A. Howard, eds.
Nevada Applied Ecology Group, U.S. Energy Research and Development
Administration, Las Vegas, Nevada. 322 pp. 1977A.
Smith, D. D. "Review of Grazing Studies on Plutonium-Contaminated Range-
lands," pp. 4U7-417. Transuranics in Natural Environments. NVO-178.
M. G. White and P. B. Dunaway, eds.Nevada Applied Ecology Group, U.S.
Energy Research and Development Administration, Las Vegas, Nevada.
71U pp. 1977B.
Smith, D. D. "Area 13 Grazing Studies—Additional Data," pp. 59-93.
Selected Environmental Plutonium Research Reports of the NAEG. NVO-192.
M. G. White and P. B. Dunaway, eds.Nevada Applied Ecology Group,
U.S. Department of Energy, Las Vegas, Nevada. 2 Vol. 759 pp. 1978.
Smith, D. D. Summary Report of the Grazing Studies Conducted on a Plutonium-
Contaminated Range in Area 13 of the Nevada Test Site.EMSL-LV-0539-24.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring and Sup-
port Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 104 pp. 1979.
Smith, U. D. Status Report of Area 15 Experimental Dairy Farm: Dairy
Husbandry~3anuary 1977 - June 1979. Agronomic Practices January 1978 -
June 1979. EMSL-LV-0539-32. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Envi ronmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 28 pp.
1980.
Smith, D. D., and D. E. Bernhardt. "Actinide Concentrations in Tissues from
Cattle Grazing a Contaminated Range," pp. 281-303. Transuranics in
Desert Ecosystems. NVO-181. M. G. White, P. B. Dunaway, and D. L.
Wireman, eds. Nevada Applied Ecology Group, U.S. Department of Energy,
Las Vegas, Nevada. 469pp. 1977.
Smith, U. D., and K. W. Brown, Preliminary Grazing Studies with Rumen-
Fistulated Steers at Selected Nuclear Test Sites^EPA-600/3-81-004.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring Systems
Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 32 pp. 1981.
Smith, D. D., and R. E. Engel. Progress Report for the Bioenvironmental
Research May 22, 1964 through July 1, 1966. Part I. Experimental
Dairy Herd.SWRHL-55r.U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Wel-
fare, Southwestern Radiological Health Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada.
106 pp. 1969.
Smith, T. M., A. L. Lesperance, V. R. Bohman, R. A. Brechbill, and K. W.
Brown. "Intake and Digestibility of Forages Grazed by Cattle on a South-
ern Nevada Range." Proceedings, Western Section. American Society of
Animal Science: Vol. 19., pp. 277-282.1968.
50
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APPENDIX A
SUMMARY OF OFFSITE ANIMAL CLAIMS INVESTIGATIONS
1952 to 1981
The OffSite Rad-Safe Livestock Studies for the Nevada Operations Office
of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) began in November of 1955 with the
assignment of Lieutenant Edmund Johnson, Veterinary Corps, U.S. Army. The
Animal Investigation Program (AIP) was initiated in July of 1957 and continued
to be directed by Army veterinary officers until the operation was transferred
to the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) on June 1, 1964. Other Army officers
assigned to this program were Major Garland Farmer, June 1958 to July 1960;
Captain Edmund Fountain, July 1960 to August 1963; and Captain Scott Reynolds,
August 1963 - June 1964. Animal investigations prior to 1955 were handled by
various investigators on a consultant basis and records in the AIP files are
sparse. Our knowledge of these investigations is summarized in the following
excerpts from a project proposal submitted by Johnson and from a memo written
by Johnson.
All animal investigations that could be located in the search of the AIP
historical files were summarized in the following lists. Supporting data are
available for many of these investigations and are keyed to the necropsy
records on file in the AIP office (e.g., Ow-15-56).
51
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(Taken from proposal for study submitted by Johnson in November of 1956)
FALLOUT ASSIMILATION IN RANGE CATTLE ON AREAS NEAR THE NEVADA TEST SITE
November 2, 1956
"2. In 1952 during the Snapper Series, cattle grazing in the Kawich Valley,
northwest of Nevada Test Site, belonging to Mr. Floyd Lamb of Alamo, Nevada,
were exposed to fallout. No studies were undertaken at that time. (Ref:
Files at AEC, LVB-Test Division, on Agricultural Research and Development, 7-1
Investigations of Damage to Lamb Cattle.)
3. In 1953 during the Upshot-Knothole Series cattle and horses owned by
Mr. Dan Stewart, while grazing in the vicinity of Papoose Lake, east of the
northern portion of Nevada Test Site, were exposed to fallout. Several cattle
deaths were encountered but no cause of death was established. Beta burns were
diagnosed on the horses. These horses were subsequently purchased by the AEC.
A sample of the silt and salt deposits from Papoose Lake was shipped to UT-AEC,
Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for toxicity feeding trials using sheep. No significant
radioactivity above background was found in this soil. (Ref: Files at AEC,
LVB-Test Division, on Agricultural Research and Development, 7-1 Investigations
of Stewart animals and reports of the UT-AEC Agricultural Research Program, Oak
Ridge, Tennessee concerning Stewart horses and cattle.)
4. In 1953 during and subsequent to the Upshot-Knothole Series numerous sheep
losses were encountered by southern Utah and Nevada livestock raisers. Invest-
igations by personnel from several organizations were undertaken to explain
these losses including UT-AEC, Oak Ridge, Tennessee; LASL, Los Alamos, New
Mexico; Hanford Operations, Richland, Washington; University of Nevada, Reno,
Nevada; Utah State Agricultural College, Logan, Utah; and others. A claim was
submitted by several of the ranchers to the U.S. Government to the effect that
radiation from fallout was a contributing factor to the sheep losses. In
September 1956 the case came to trial. The case was decided in favor of the
U.S. Government. (Ref: Reports from the above-cited organizations concerning
sheep losses in southern Utah and Nevada in 1953 and litigation "Builoch vs.
U.S. Government" on file with the U.S. Department of Justice, Salt Lake City,
Utah, and with the legal departments of AEC, ALOO.)
5. In 1954 Mr. Floyd Lamb (referred to in Par. A-2 above) stated that steers
which he sold during the fall of 1954 averaged 150 Ibs. lighter than normal and
wondered if the radiation from repeated fallout contamination might not be a
factor. No studies were conducted on this matter. (Ref: Files AEC, LVB-Test
Division, on Agricultural Research and Development, 7-1 Investigations of
damage to Lamb cattle.)
6. In 1955 livestock losses encountered by ranchers in the vicinity of Black
Lake, New Mexico, and near Adel, Oregon, were attributed to fall-out.
Investigations of these reports were conducted by representatives of AEC and
the claims were denied by the AEC. Tissue radioactivity levels were measured
by UT-AEC and were considerably below the calculated maximum permissible levels
for man as given in Handbook 52, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Bureau
of Standards. (Ref: Files AEC, LVB-Test Division, on Agricultural Research
52
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and Development, 7-1 Black Lake Incident and Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge
Investigation.)
7. In 1955 one calf was autopsied approximately 24 hours after a test shot
and tissue radioanalysis subsequently performed because this animal, one of
approximately 100 head, had been exposed to the fallout, following Met shot,
16 miles south of Alamo, Nevada. The level of radiation that these cattle were
exposed to was less than 170 mr/hr at H plus 12 hrs. The established radio-
activity levels in the tissues analyzed were considerably below the maximum
permissible levels for man as given in Handbook 52. (Ref: Files at UT-AEC
Agricultural Research Program, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, title of report is un-
known.)
8. In 1955 three lambs were purchased from W. E. Thompson at Beryl Junction,
Utah, because they were in the Met fallout pattern. The radiation level in
this location was less than 27 mr/hr at H plus 12 hrs. One animal was slaugh-
tered and tissue was taken on April 16, 1955, for radioanalysis. On November
17, 1955, the second animal was slaughtered and tissue taken for radioanalysis.
June 30, 1956, the third animal was reported to have died from natural causes
and was unavailable for radioanalytical work. Tissue radioactivity levels
established were below the maximum permissible levels for man per Handbook 52.
(Ref: Files at UT-AEC Agricultural Research Program, Oak Ridge, Tennessee,
title of report unknown and files at U.S.A.E.G., LVB-Test Division, on Agri-
cultural Research and Development, 6-1 Animal Diseases, case #0-5-55.)
9. In 1955 three deer and one cow from within the Nevada Test Site were
autopsied and tissues taken for radioanalysis. The radioactivity levels of all
tissues analyzed were considerably below the maximum permissible levels for man
per Handbook 52. However, the thyroid gland of one of these deer showed
histological damage suggestive of excessive accumulation of radioiodine. (Ref:
Files at U.S.A.E.G., LVB-Test Division, on Agricultural Research and Develop-
ment, 6-1 Animal Diseases, case numbers C-l-55, B-2-55, and C-3-55.)"
53
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The following paragraphs are taken from letter to C. L. Weaver, AEC Rad-Safe
Officer, ALOO, from E. L. Johnson, Veterinarian, AEC Las Vegas Branch, Las
Vegas, Nevada entitled "Effect of Radiation on Fauna Near Nevada Test Site
June 9, 1958
"Mr. Floyd R. Lamb of Alamo, Nevada, reported "beta burns" on his cattle ranging
in Kawich Valley as a result of the 1952 test series. Kawich Valley is from
20-35 miles from the major firing areas at NTS. The exact number so affected
is not known, but was probably some 20 head out of a herd of 150. I have seen
three of these affected animals. The only grossly observable effects are small
patches of whitish hair distributed over the back. One of these three animals
has been slaughtered in the course of the Offsite Animal Investigation Project
and skin was taken for histopathological study. No report has been received on
this tissue. These animals showed no other discernible effects of radiation.
The Stewart Brothers of Alamo, Nevada, had cattle similarly affected as a
result of the 1953 test series. These animals ranged in the Papoose Lake,
Emigrant Valley, and Penoyer Valley Areas which are from 15 to 55 miles from
the major firing areas at NTS. I have seen three of these animals. I believe
all of these affected animals have subsequently been sold through the usual
commercial channels. The exact number affected is not known.
The same Stewart Brothers referenced above also had 21 head of horses ranging
in the Papoose Lake Area which is about 15 miles from the firing areas. From
the 1953 test series, 14 of these horses were reported to have contracted
serious "beta burns." Two of the horses were purchased outright for scientific
studies. The Stewarts were given monetary compensation for the damage to the
balance of the "beta burned" animals.
Also during the 1953 test series there were a number of sheep grazing to the
north of the test site owned by sheepman in Southwestern Utah. Many sheep died
after the bands arrived at their lambing grounds in Utah. A small number of
animals died enroute from the grazing areas and numerous lesions and symptoms
were reported as "different from anything seen before" by the sheepman and they
concluded that the illnesses and deaths were a result of radiation. An inten-
sive investigaiton followed and finally a suit was brought against the U.S.
Government which was tried in Salt Lake City, Utah, in September and October of
1956. It was concluded that radiation from fallout was not a contributing
factor in the illnesses or deaths of the sheep.
During the 1957 test series Mr. Floyd R. Lamb (referenced above) reported "beta
burns" on a 3-year-old stallion which had been grazing in Kawich Valley. I
examined the animal and reported that the lesions appeared consistent with beta
lesions of the skin from atomic fallout* but the diagnosis was not substan-
tiated histologically. The animal was purchased from Mr. Lamb by the Atomic
Energy Commission."
*In a letter to Weaver dated June 23, 1958, Johnson added this sentence: "A
biopsy has been requested of these lesions but no report has been received."
54
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DIAGNOSIS FILE
(Taken from AIP history files compiled by
U.S. Army Veterinarian assigned to the AIP)
DIAGNOSIS: Deficiency of Iodine (potential)
LOCATION: Beatty, Nevada
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Any animals of the area
REMARKS: This area is designated as an iodine deficient area in the book
"Physiology of Domestic Animals" by Dukes, Figure 163. Dr. John O'Harra
has not noted any goiterous calves in this area. Most of the livestock
raisers do not feed iodized salt.
DIAGNOSIS: Beta burns
LOCATION: Lamb Range, Kawich Valley, Nevada DATE: August 1952
ANIMALS AFFECTED: 102 beef cattle
INVESTIGATOR: Thompsett, Whipple, & White
ANALYSES: Radiation survey
REMARKS: Not recorded whether any claims were submitted or paid.
DIAGNOSIS: (see remarks)
LOCATION: Southern Utah and Nevada DATE: 1953
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Sheep
INVESTIGATOR: (see remarks)
REMARKS: Investigations by UT-AEC; Oak Ridge, TN; LASL, Los Alamos, NM;
Hanford Operations, Richland, WA: University of Nevada, Reno, NV: Utah State
Agricultural College, Logan, UT. Claims denied in "Bulloch versus U.S.
Government."
DIAGNOSIS: Beta burns
LOCATION: Kawich Valley. Nevada DATE: 1953
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Approximately 100 head bovine
REMARKS: See AEC files at LVB concerning Floyd Lamb's cattle.
DIAGNOSIS: Anaplasmosis
LOCATION: Alamo, Nevada (Penoyer Valley) DATE: 17 Jul 53
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One bovine
REMARKS: Refr. Report, final, Losses of Livestock from Bugher to Pearson, dtd
17 Jul 53 in which one cow that was submitted for post mortem examination was
found to be affected with Anaplasma marginale, indicating that it was a carrier.
Found in animals belonging to Stewart Brothers, Las Vegas, Nev.
Animals had been grazing in Papoose Lake Area. (See AR&A 7-1, Investigation of
Damage to Stewart Livestock)
55
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DIAGNOSIS: Toxicity--perhaps oak poisoning or heavy metal
LOCATION: McKee Ranch, Colistera, NM DATE: Spring 1955
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Beef cattle
INVESTIGATORS: State and Federal Veterinarians.
REMARKS: Hematology & serology
DIAGNOSIS: Pneumoenteritis
LOCATION: Hurricane, Utah DATE: Sept 55
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine, calf
REMARKS: Refr. Case No. D-5-56
DIAGNOSIS: Leptospirosis
LOCATION: Hurricane, Utah DATE: Approx. Dec 55
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Dairy cattle of this vicinity
REMARKS: Disease diagnosis by Dr. Palmer, DVM, USPHS Veterinarian who was
doing some public health work in and around St. George, Utah. Out of a group
of 80 dairy cows he picked at random 8 blood samples which he submitted to the
laboratory at Logan, Utah for testing for Leptosirosis, 7 of which turned out
to be positive, some up to a 1:1000 dilution. Local physicians and the State
Veterinarian have been notified of these findings.
DIAGNOSIS: Vaginitis, granular
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada LDS Welfare Farm DATE: Jan 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: numerous animals affected, bovine
REMARKS: From the diagnostic file of the Veterinary Center Las Vegas, Nevada.
DIAGNOSIS: Pneumonia, fibrinous, bilateral
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada DATE: 6 Jan 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One Desert Bighorn Sheep
REMARKS: Diagnosis made on basis of necropsy findings. See case No. OW-1-56.
DIAGNOSIS: Myopathy, nutritional
LOCATION: Desert Game Range, Las Vegas, Nevada DATE: 6 Jan 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Ovine, Bighorn
REMARKS: See Case OW-1-56
DIAGNOSIS: Karatitis, ocular, ulcerative
LOCATION: Ursine, Nevada DATE: 7 Jan 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Cervine
REMARKS: See Cases C-2-56 and C-3-56
DIAGNOSIS: Pneumonia, fibrinous
LOCATION: St. George, Utah DATE: 11 Jan 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One Hoi stein cow
REMARKS: Diagnosis made on basis of clinical symptoms. See Case No. B-4-56.
DIAGNOSIS: Bovine Asthma
LOCATION: Hurricane, Utah DATE- 11 Jan 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Beef cattle
REMARKS: Diagnosis made on the basis of history. See Case No. B-5-56.
56
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DIAGNOSIS: Starvation, Exposure ,,,-,. rr
LOCATION: Adel, Oregon (Hart Mtn. Antelop Refuge) DATE: 17 Feb 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine, all ages, beef
REMARKS: Diagnosis established upon investigation involved in Case No. B-7-56.
DIAGNOSIS: Carcinoma, epithelial (ocular conjunctiva)
LOCATION: Caliente, Nev (Delamar Valley) DATE: 1 Mar 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine, female, Hereford (3)
REMARKS: Diagnosis made on the clincial symptomatology seen in three mature
cows of the University of Nevada test herd in the Delamar Valley. The cases
were not far advanced. One case may be amenable to surgery. See Case B-4-55.
DIAGNOSIS: Lymphadenitis, caseous
LOCATION: Cedar City, Utah and all of southern Utah DATE: 28 Mar 56
and adjacent areas of Nevada.
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Ovine, primarily seen in older ewes.
REMARKS: Dr. Wendell Brooksby of the Utah Extension Service, is of the opinion
that this condition is the biggest sheep killer in the area. Organism found to
be Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. See Case No. 0-9-56.
DIAGNOSIS: Hemoglobinuria, Bacillary
LOCATION: Beaver, Utah, area surrounding DATE: 28 Mar 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine, dairy and beef animals, number unknown
REMARKS: Condition noted and diagnosed by Dr. Don Thomas, Utah State Extension
Veterinarian, he says that there is a lot of this in the Beaver area.
DIAGNOSIS: Leptospirosis
LOCATION: St. George, Utah and vicinity DATE 28 Mar 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine, primarily seen in dairy animals.
REMARKS: Condition has been diagnosed by both Dr. Don Thomas, Utah Extension
Veterinarian, and Dr. Jack Palmer, U.S. Public Health Service Veterinarian.
Mr. Keith Hughes, County Agricultural Agent, is aware of the situation and it
is hoped that a testing program will be initiated for the control of the
condition.
DIAGNOSIS: Encephalomyelitis
LOCATION: St. George, Utah and "Arizona Strip" DATE: 28 Mar 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Ovine
REMARKS: Condition found by Dr. Brooksby. He has determined that the cause is
a toxic element or plant. Does not seem to describe it in the literature. See
Case No. 0-9-56.
DIAGNOSIS: Blind Staggers
LOCATION: St. George, Utah DATE: 28 Mar 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine, beef feeders
REMARKS: Case diagnosed by Mr. Hughes, County Agent, animals were on corn
silage and perhaps some cane. Seven head were lost about a year ago. Actual
cause undetermined.
57
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DATE: 28 Mar 56
DIAGNOSIS: Brucellosis Free Area
LOCATION: Cedar City, Utah area also Parowan, Utah
and Beryl , Utah
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine, both beef and dairy
REMARKS: These areas are considered by Mr. Wallace Sjoblom, Iron County
Agricultural Agent, to be practically Brucellosis Free Areas, not officially
so, however.
DATE: 28 Mar 56
DIAGNOSIS: Anemia
LOCATION: St. George, Utah
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine, beef primarily
REMARKS: Animals on salt bush and fescue pasture. All ages apparently
affected. Case looked into by Utah State Agri. College but no definite diag-
nosis given. Young animals seem to be counteracting the condition by eating
diet recomended by the USAG.
DATE: 5 Apr 56
DIAGNOSIS: Selenium Poisoning Chronic
LOCATION: Beatty, Nevada, and surrounding area
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine
REMARKS: Diagnosis per County Agent Madson and ASCS Agent Funk at Tonopah,
Nevada. Mostly chronic cases. See several cases every year.
DIAGNOSIS: Poor breeders
LOCATION: Tonopah, Nevada (Nye and Esmeralda Counties) DATE: 5 Apr 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine
REMARKS: Diagnosis per County Agent Madson. It is his opinion that the ul-
timate cause is malnutrition, for the calving percentage will take a definite
rise when there is sufficient forage for the animals on the range.
DIAGNOSIS: Selenium Poisoning, chronic
LOCATION: Fish Lake Valley, (Esmeralda County) Nevada DATE: 5 Apr 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine
REMARKS: Diagnosis per County Agent Madson and ASCS Agent Funk at Tonopah,
Nevada. Mostly chronic cases. See several cases every year.
DATE: 5 Apr 56
DIAGNOSIS: Selenium Poisoning, chronic
LOCATION: Ash Meadow, Nevada
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine
REMARKS: Diagnosis per County Agent Madson and ASCS Agent Funk at Tonapah,
Nevada. Mostly chronic cases. See several cases every year.
DIAGNOSIS: Big Head Photosensitization
LOCATION: Potts, Nevada area
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Ovine
REMARKS: Diagnosis per ASCS Agent Funk of Tonopah, Nev.
this during the past winter.
DATE: 5 Apr 56
Says several cases of
DATA: 5 Apr 56
DIAGNOSIS: Pink eye
LOCATION: Tonopah, Nevada (Nye and Esmeralda Cts)
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine
REMARKS: Diagnosis per County Agent Madson. Says that there is a considerable
amount of this infection in the area.
58
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DIAGNOSIS: Peritonitis
LOCATION: Tonopah, Nevada (Nye and Esmeralda Cts) DATE: 5 Apr 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Mature Bovine
REMARKS: Diagnosis per ASCS Funk of Tonopah, Nevada. Says he has seen a great
many animals that died because of intestinal perforation from coarse spiny
brush. A ramification of the malnutrition problem of this area.
DIAGNOSIS: Molybdenum Poisoning
LOCATION: Fish Valley (Esmeralda County Nevada) DATE: 5 Apr 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine
REMARKS: Diagnosis per County Agent Madson and ASCS Agent Funk at Tonopah,
Nevada. Mostly chronic cases. See several cases every year. Analysis of
water from this area revealed from 5-11 ppm of Mo.
DIAGNOSIS: Molybdenum poisoning
LOCATION: Area around Beatty, Nevada DATE: 5 Apr 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine
REMARKS: Diagnosis per County Agent Madson and ASCS Agent Funk at Tonopah,
Nevada. Mostly chronic cases. See several cases every year.
DIAGNOSIS: Arsenic Poisoning
LOCATION: Tonopah, Nevada area DATE: 5 Apr 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine
REMARKS: Diagnosis per County Agent Madson. "Arsenic from mine settling ponds
because of 'Arsenic Process1 from milling operations used to separate gold and
silver."
DIAGNOSIS: Arsenic Poisoning
LOCATION: A potential hazard DATE: 6 Apr 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Cattle and sheep
REMARKS: LVB-AEC, Mining Engineer Nelson, "Many gold ores in this area occur
with arsenous pyrite and consequently a test for arsenic can be gotten from
many mine dumps."
DIAGNOSIS: Hydrocyanic Acid Poisoning
LOCATION: A potential hazard DATE: 6 Apr 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine and ovine.
REMARKS: LVB-AEC Mining Engineer Nelson, "One of the milling procedures in-
volves the use of sodium cyanide (water soluble) which during its use in the
mill it is kept alkaline in reaction to prevent its escape as HCN gas which
happens when the agent is allowed to become acid."
DIAGNOSIS: Starvation—birds were insect eaters and there had been a lengthy
period of high winds; therefore, no flying insects.
LOCATION: Corn Creek Field Station, Las Vegas, NV DATE: May 1956
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Migrating birds (Western Tanager) and bat
INVESTIGATOR: Johnson
REMARKS: AW-11-56
59
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DIAGNOSIS: Sterile, equine
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada Ted Frehner DATE: 1 May 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One equine, mare
REMARKS: From the diagnostic file of the Veterinary Center, Las Vegs, Nevada
DIAGNOSIS: Molybdenum Poisoning
LOCATION: Hiko, Nevada DATE: 3 May 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine
REMARKS: This condition mentioned by Dr. Russ (DVM) of the ARS, USDA at
Caliente, Nevada on this date.
DIAGNOSIS: Molybdenum Poisoning
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada (Craig Ranch, just north) DATE: 9 May 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine
REMARKS: This condition mentioned by Mr. Hoff, County Agricultural Agent,
Clark County. Mr. Hoff says that several cattle were lost by Mr. Craig about
3 years ago but since that time he has been selling his hay for equine
consumption.
DIAGNOSIS: Diarrhea, nutritional
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada Leonard Bennett DATE: 9 May 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: 1 dairy cow
REMARKS: From diagnostic file of the Veterinary Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
DIAGNOSIS: Hemorrhage, gross internal. Fracture of left pubis, right pubis,
right acetabulum.
LOCATION: Boulder City, Nevada DATE: 22 May 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Ovine, one mature female, bighorn
REMARKS: See Case No. OW-12-56
DIAGNOSIS: Intestinal perforation, bacteremia, toxemia
LOCATION: Caliente, Nevada DATE: 6 Jun 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine, one, mature female
REMARKS: See Case No. B-4b-55.
DIAGNOSIS: Metritis, sanguinopurulent
LOCATION: Alamo, Nevada DATE: 6 Jun 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine, one, mature female
REMARKS: See Case No. B-4a-55.
DIAGNOSIS: Carcinoma, epithelial, ocular
LOCATION: Fish Lake Valley, Nevada Circle L Ranch DATE: 11 Jun 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: 2 bovine, herefords
REMARKS: From diagnostic file of the Veterinary Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
60
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DIAGNOSIS: Distemper, equine
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada James Cashman DATE: 13 Jun 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: 2 equine
REMARKS: From diagnostic files of the Veterinary Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
DIAGNOSIS: Arsenic poisoning, malicious
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada Jack White (NLV) DATE: Jul 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Several equine
REMARKS: Hear say that a couple of horse watering tanks on the south end of
Mt. Charleston area were poisoned killing several head of horses. Water
sample was submited to Mr. Ed Randall, University of Nevada, Reno for analysis,
DIAGNOSIS: Carcinoma, epithelial, ocular
LOCATION: Fish Lake Valley, Nevada Bar Double Nine Ranch DATE: 3 Jul 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: 2 bovine, Herefords
REMARKS: From diagnostic file of the Veterinary Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
DIAGNOSIS: Myiasis (fly larvae infestation)
LOCATION: Fish Lake Valley, Nevada Circle L Ranch DATE: 3 Jul 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One equine
REMARKS: The tail of an Arabian mare was involved; from the diagnostic file
of the Veterinary Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
DIAGNOSIS: Pink eye
LOCATION: Caliente, Nevada Emery Conaway DATE: 10 Jul 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: 30-40% of herd both old and young animals. Variance of the
infection in all stages from mild conjunctivitis to complete loss of the eye
due to epithelial, bovine.
REMARKS: See Journal No. 2, 10 July 1956.
DIAGNOSIS: Fracture of atlanto-axial articulation
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada DATE: 12 Jul 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Ovine, one, mature male, bighorn
REMARKS: See Case No. OW-10b-56.
DIAGNOSIS: Tick infestation, ears
LOCATION: Nipton, California Ted Bernhardt DATE: 13 Jul 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One equine
REMARKS: From diagnostic file of the Veterinary Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
DIAGNOSIS: Myiasis (grubs in back)
LOCATION: Searchlight, Nevada Ken Queen DATE: 23 Jul 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One equine
REMARKS: The diagnostic files of the Veterinary Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
DIAGNOSIS: Fracture, bilateral of pubii and ischii
LOCATION: St. George, Utah DATE: 23 Jul 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine, one, mature female
REMARKS: See Case No. B-14-56.
61
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DIAGNOSIS: Distemper, equine , ,-g
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada Lew Atkin DATt- <* dui °°
ANIMALS AFFECTED: 3 equine MQwana
REMARKS: From diagnostic files of the Veterinary Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
DIAGNOSIS: Vaginitis, granular
LOCATION: Clark County, Nevada DATE: Aug bb
ANIMALS AFFECTED: 30% of the dairy herds in Clark County are affected
REMARKS: From the diagnostic files of the Veterinary Center, Las Vegas,
Nevada.
DIAGNOSIS: Distemper, equine
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada Vegas Stock Farm DATE: 1 Aug 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: 50 head of equine
REMARKS: From the diagnostic files of the Veterinary Center, Las Vegas,
Nevada.
DIAGNOSIS: Laminitis, equine
LOCATION: Indian Springs, Nevada Gray DATE: 1 Aug 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One equine
REMARKS: Due to overfeeding of "Omaline." From the diagnostic file of the
Veterinary Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
DIAGNOSIS: Distemper, equine
LOCATION: Searchlight, Nevada Carl Myers DATE: 6 Aug 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: 2 equine
REMARKS: From the diagnostic files of the Veterinary Center, Las Vegas,
Nevada.
DIAGNOSIS: Distemper, equine
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada Tommy Clemmens DATE: 8 Aug 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: 2 equine
REMARKS: From the diagnostic files of the Veterinary Center, Las Vegas,
Nevada.
DIAGNOSIS: Distemper, equine
LOCATION: Clark County, Nevada DATE: 31 Aug 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: equine
REMARKS: See much equine distemper in Clark County, 60% infection, especially
in the summer, right after Helldorado Days. From the diagnostic files of the
Veterinary Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
DIAGNOSIS: Asphyxiation
LOCATION: Desert Game Range, Las Vegas, Nevada DATE: 8 Nov 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One ovine, wild, female
REMARKS: See Case No. OW-15-56.
DIAGNOSIS: None made—suspected parasitism
LOCATION: Boulder City, Nevada DATE- Nov 56
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Captive prairie falcon
INVESTIGATOR: Johnson
ANALYSES: Necropsy
62
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REMARKS: Investigated at request of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
DIAGNOSIS: Starvation
LOCATION: Caliente, Nevada (Delamar Valley) DATE: 4 Jan 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One bovine
REMARKS: Refr: Case No. B-l-57. Three other animals were dead at the nearby
watering pond. Starvation was probably the predisposing cause of death, how-
ever, these animals were not examined.
DIAGNOSIS: Photosensitization
LOCATION: Hamlin Valley, Utah DATE: 22 Jan 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Ovine
REMARKS: A species of Cymgpterus found in the vicinity of Hamlin Valley, Utah
is described by Dr. Wendell Brooksby as causing a type of photosensitization in
sheep. He uses the common name of Wild Carrot in describing the plant. Areas
of sheep affected are the unwooled portions of the skin, namely the nose, lips,
vulva, and teats. (Cymopterus basaltious (Jones) of western Utah - Clokey;
Flora of the Charleston Mtns.)
DIAGNOSIS: Lymphomatosis, visceral
LOCATION: Mrs. Maichle, on Maichle Lane off DATE: 24 Jan 57
Mesquite Road, Paradise Valley, Clark County, Las Vegas, Nevada.
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One chicken
REMARKS: Bird was a mature (est. 2 yrs) heavy hen. Not laying, very emaciated
suffering from some diarrhea. Comb and wattles were quite cyanotic. Post
mortem revealed extensive visceral lymphomatosis involving the reproductive and
intestinal tract primarily.
DIAGNOSIS: Starvation
LOCATION: Caliente, Nevada DATE: 30 Mar 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine, one
REMARKS: See Case No. B-2-57.
DIAGNOSIS: Tumor, soft tissue exostosis, bilateral
LOCATION: Warm Springs, Nevada (Fallini Ranch) DATE: 13 Jun 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One male canine
REMARKS: See Case No. c-4-57.
DIAGNOSIS: Dermatolomycosis (ringworm)
LOCATION: Bradshaw Ranch - Duckwater, Utah DATE: Jun 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Horses
INVESTIGATOR: Johnson
REMARKS: Skin scrapings.
DIAGNOSIS: Photosensitization from eating certain plants
LOCATION: Bishop Ranch, Mountain Air, New Mexico DATE: Jun 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Horses
INVESTIGATOR: Nordstrom & Sharp
REMARKS: Norstrom was Federal Veterinarian & Sharp State Veterinarian.
63
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DIAGNOSIS: Enteritis, hemorrhagic
LOCATION: Alamo, Nevada DATE: 5 Jul b/
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One male calf, bovine
REMARKS: See Case No. D-6-57.
DIAGNOSIS: Beta burns
LOCATION: Alamo, Nevada DATE: 12 Jul 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Three female bovine
REMARKS: See Case No. B-9-57.
DIAGNOSIS: Pneumonia, bilateral
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada (Desert Game Range) DATE: 17 Jul 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One female ovine, lamb, wild
REMARKS: See Case No. OW-8-57.
DIAGNOSIS: Pneumonia, bilateral, with hepatization and abscessation
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada (Desert Game Range) DATE: 19 Jul 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One female ovine, wild
REMARKS: See Case No. OW-7-57.
DIAGNOSIS: Metritis, sanguine-purulent
LOCATION: Alamo, Nevada DATE: 19 Jul 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One female bovine
REMARKS: See Case No. B-10-57.
DIAGNOSIS: Anaplasmosis (suspect)
LOCATION: Hiko, Nevada DATE: 20 Jul 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One female bovine
REMARKS: See Case No. B-ll-57.
DIAGNOSIS: Dermatomycosis
LOCATION: Duckwater, Nevada DATE: 22 Jul 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One male horse (cast) and one female
REMARKS: See Case No. E-5-57.
DIAGNOSIS: Beta burns
LOCATION: Hamich Valley, Nevada DATE: 22 Jul 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: One male equine
REMARKS: See Case No. E-12-57.
DIAGNOSIS: Blue tongue
LOCATION: Hughes Ranch, Mesquite, Nevada DATE- Auq 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Sheep
INVESTIGATOR: Johnson
ANALYSES: Serology, histopathological
REMARKS: 0-55.
DIAGNOSIS: Pneumonia—diagnosis made on description of lesions that was
provided by owner
LOCATION: Otteson Ranch, Huntington, Utah DATE: Aug 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Sheep in spring of 1955
INVESTIGATOR: Johnson & Ingraham
64
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ANALYSES: None
REMARKS: Claim had previously been denied (1955) by the AEC.
DIAGNOSIS: Infectious conjunctivitis
LOCATION: Falleni Ranch, Warm Spring, Nevada DATE: Sep 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Cow
INVESTIGATOR: Johnson, Rae, Williams & Brown
ANALYSES: None
REMARKS: Investigation in connection with Operation Plumbbob.
DIAGNOSIS: Beta burns
LOCATION: White Rock Spring, NTS DATE: Sep 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Horse
INVESTIGATOR: Johnson
ANALYSES: None
REMARKS: E-18-57. Horse signed over to K. Case by owner for compensation for
catching and hauling from area.
DIAGNOSIS: Dermatophytosis (ringworm)
LOCATION: Buke Home, Whitney, Nevada DATE: Nov 57
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Horses
INVESTIGATOR: Johnson
ANALYSES: Skin scrapings
REMARKS: E-21-57.
DIAGNOSIS: Tetanus?
LOCATION: Stewart Ranch, Pioche, Nevada DATE: Aug 58
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Horse
INVESTIGATOR: Farmer & Johnson
ANALYSES: None
REMARKS: Horse died in 1957--diagnosis based on symptoms described by hired
man.
DIAGNOSIS: Dogs—mammary tumor, internal parasites, cattle—infections
keratitis (pink eye)
LOCATION: Clifford Ranch, Tonopah, Nevada DATA: Sep 58
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Dogs and cattle
INVESTIGATOR: Farmer
ANALYSES: Fecal analysis
REMARKS: Clifford expressed concerned about skin conditions of children
during 1951 and 1953 and diabetes in 6-year-old daughter.
DIAGNOSIS: Molybdenum toxicity
LOCATION: Walch Ranch, Adaven, Nevada DATE: Dec 58
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Herford heifers
INVESTIGATOR: Farmer
ANALYSES: Histological.
DIAGNOSIS: Grass tetany
LOCATION: Delmue and Lytle Ranch, Pioche, Nevada DATE: Apr 59
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Cattle
INVESTIGATOR: Farmer
65
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ANALYSES: None
REMARKS: In monthly activities report.
DIAGNOSIS: Grass tetany
LOCATION: Conoway Ranch, Pioche, Nevada DATE: Jun 59
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Cattle
INVESTIGATOR: Farmer
ANALYSES: None
REMARKS: In monthly activities report.
DIAGNOSIS: Vibrionic abortion or enzootic abortion
LOCATION: Bennet Ranch, Watauga, SD
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Sheep
INVESTIGATOR: Farmer & Fountain
ANALYSES: Raidological surveys
REMARKS: Also investigated sheep died in
gated by State and Federal Veterinarians.
DIAGNOSIS: Tumorous growth
LOCATION: Stewart Ranch, Alamo, Nevada
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Cow
INVESTIGATOR: Fountain
ANALYSES: None
REMARKS: In monthly activities report.
DIAGNOSIS: Infectious keratitis
LOCATION: Fallini Ranch, Warm Springs, Nevada
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Cattle
INVESTIGATOR: Fountain
ANALYSES: None
REMARKS: In monthly activities report.
DIAGNOSIS: Fungal dermatitis
LOCATION: North Las Vegas, Nevada
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Ground squirrel
INVESTIGATOR: Brechbill and Smith
ANALYSES: Histopathology and clinical laboratory tests
REMARKS: Investigated at request of U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and
Wildlife.
DATE: Jun 60
winter and spring of 1959. Investi
DATE: Aug 61
DATE: Jul 62
DATE: Aug 64
DATE: Sep 64
DIAGNOSIS: Pneumonia, sinusitis, abscesses, and old age
LOCATION: Corn Creek, Nevada
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Two desert bighorn sheep
INVESTIGATOR: Engel and Smith
ANALYSES: None
REMARKS: Investigated at request of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Desert
National Wildlife Ranch.
DIAGNOSIS: Fibrinous pleuritis and septicemia
LOCATION: Joshua Tree National Monument
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Desert bighorn sheep
INVESTIGATOR: Engel
DATE: Oct 64
66
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ANALYSES: Histopathologic, radiologic
REMARKS: Investigated at the request of Monument officials.
DIAGNOSIS: No definite—advanced decomposition of carcases precluded
adequate necropsy.
LOCATION: Delamar Valley, Nevada DATE: Nov 1964
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Mule deer
INVESTIGATOR: Engel
ANALYSES: Gamma spectroscopy of tissues, botanical analyses of rumen contents
and toxin analyses of water samples
REMARKS: Nevada Fish and Game requested assistance in investigating deer
dieoff. History suggested "calf diptheria."
DIAGNOSIS: Parasitism and poor nutrition
LOCATION: Baxterville, Mississippi DATE: Nov 64
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Cows
INVESTIGATOR: Smith and Ross
ANALYSES: Hematological
REMARKS: Dr. Ross is a private practioner from Hattiesburg. Investigated at
request of USPHS project officer.
DIAGNOSIS: None made as no information on symptoms or necropsy. Owner
suspected ingestion of battery fragments.
LOCATION: Dribble Site, Mississippi DATE: Dec 64
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Three cows and one hog
INVESTIGATOR: Harvey and Smith
ANALYSES: Chemical analysis of battery
REMARKS: Only 1 gram of battery missing—insufficient toxins to cause death.
Investigated at request of USPHS project officer.
DIAGNOSIS: Widely metastized hemangioendothelioma. Originated from liver.
LOCATION: Corn Creek, Nevada DATE: Jan 65
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Aged, penned bighorn sheep
INVESTIGATOR: Engel
ANALYSES: Histopathological
REMARKS: Investigated at request of Desert National Wildlife Range officials.
DIAGNOSIS: Hardware disease
LOCATION: Paradise Valley, Nevada DATE: May 65
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Bovine
INVESTIGATOR: Cannon and Brechbill
ANALYSES: Radiological
REMARKS: Necropsied by Dr. Cannon, Winnemucca, Nevada.
DIAGNOSIS: Pyometra and peritonitis
LOCATION: McCullough Mountains, Clark County, Nevada DATE: Sep 65
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Desert bighorn sheep
INVESTIGATOR: Engel
ANALYSES: Histopath and radiologic
REMARKS: Investigated at request of Nevada Fish and Game.
67
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DIAGNOSIS: Cornybacterium pyogenes abscesses
LOCATION: Ruby Mountains and Delamar Range, Nevada DATE: Fall bb
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Mule deer
INVESTIGATOR: Smith
ANALYSES: Bacteriological and gamma spectroscopy
REMARKS: Hunter inquiries.
DIAGNOSIS: Bog spavin
LOCATION: Lida, Nevada DATE: 1965
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Horse
INVESTIGATOR: Smith and Fitzsimmons
ANALYSES:
REMARKS: Investigated at request of offsite monitors.
DIAGNOSIS: Trauma from fall
LOCATION: Cabeza Priete Game Range, California DATE: Apr 67
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Desert bighorn sheep
INVESTIGATOR: Hull
ANALYSES: Histopathological and radiological
REMARKS: Requested by refuge manager.
DIAGNOSIS: White spots on back of horse—possible causes pressure necrosis;
chemical, beta, or thermal burns.
LOCATION: Hiko, Nevada DATE: Oct 65
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Horses
INVESTIGATOR: Smith and Kimmel
ANALYSES: Hematological, physical examination, skin scrapings
REMARKS: No definite diagnosis—owner more curious than concerned.
DIAGNOSIS: Infectious keratitis (pink eye)
LOCATION: Hiko, Nevada DATE: Oct 66
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Cattle
INVESTIGATOR: Smith and Kimmel
ANALYSES:
REMARKS: Same owner as horses (see above) appropriate treatment.
DIAGNOSIS: Drought—lack of moisture
LOCATION: Lower Virgin River DATE: Oct 66
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Vegetation die-off
INVESTIGATOR: Mason and Brechbill
ANALYSES: Radiological survey, soil profiles, and radiological analysis of
soi 1.
REMARKS: Investigated
DIAGNOSIS: Gunshot
LOCATION: Little Pine Spring, McCullough Mountain, DATE: Jan 66
Clark County, Nevada
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Collared peccary
INVESTIGATOR: Brechbill
ANALYSES: Necropsy only
REMARKS: Investigated at request of Nevada Fish and Game.
68
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DIAGNOSIS: Normal
LOCATION: Nevada Test Site DATE: 69
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Two bats, fox, ringtail cats
INVESTIGATOR: Smith
ANALYSES: Laboratory tests
REMARKS: Negative for rabies.
DIAGNOSIS: Pruritis caused by ringworm and lice
LOCATION: Hot Creek Ranch, Nevada DATE: Spring 70
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Beef cattle
INVESTIGATOR: Smith
ANALYSES: Mycology cultures, histopathological and hematological
REMARKS: Potential claims investigation.
DIAGNOSIS: Halogeton poisoning (oxalate toxicity)
LOCATION: Garrison, Utah DATE: Jan 71
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Domestic sheep
INVESTIGATOR: Brown, Stanley, & Smith
ANALYSES: Botanical, histopathological, chemical, radiological
REMARKS: All other investigative agencies agreed on diagnosis.
DIAGNOSIS: Viral enteritis of undetermined origin
LOCATION: Ursine, Nevada DATE: Feb 71
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Rabbits, chickens, dogs, cats, cockatoos, canaries
INVESTIGATOR: Smith and Giles
ANALYSES: Bacterologic culturing of rabbits and chickens; hematological,
chemical analyses of water; histopathological and radiological examination of
rabbit and chicken tissue.
REMARKS: Diagnosis based on history, and negative analytical results.
DIAGNOSIS: Actinobacilosis
LOCATION: Nyala, Nevada DATE: Feb 71
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Cow
INVESTIGATOR: Smith and James
ANALYSES: None
REMARKS: Diagnosis based on clinical appearance.
DIAGNOSIS: Feline panleukopenia
LOCATION: Duckwater, Nevada DATE: Feb 71
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Cats
INVESTIGATOR: Smith and Giles
ANALYSES: None
REMARKS: Diagnosis based on history.
DIAGNOSIS: Enterotoxomia
LOCATION: Rachel, Nevada DATE: Jun 81
ANIMALS AFFECTED: Goat kid
INVESTIGATOR: Smith and James
ANALYSES: Radiological and histopathological
REMARKS: Diagnosis based on history and necropsy findings.
69
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TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read instructions on the reverse before completing}
1. REPORT NO.
DOE/DP/0539-050
3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSIOI
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
5. REPORT DATE
February 1984
ANIMAL INVESTIGATION PROGRAM FOR THE NEVADA TEST SITE
1957 - 1981.
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR(S)
Donald D. Smith and Stuart C. Black
8. PERFORMING ORGX
EPA 600/6-84-020
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
P.O. Box 15027, Las Vegas, NV 89114
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
DU F104 FA0701
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
IAG No. DE-AI08-76DP00539
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
Nevada Operations Office
U.S. Department of Energy
P.O. Box 14100
Las Vegas, NV 89114
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
Response 1955 - 1981
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
Report prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy under Interagency Agreement
Number DE-AI08-76DP00539.
16. ABSTRACT
This report summarizes the findings of the Animal Investigation Program from its
initiation in 1957 to termination in 1981. The Program investigated the effects of
nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site on domestic and wild animals residing on, and
in the vicinity of the Test Site. Claims of injury to animals were investigated and
a routine program of collecting tissue samples were the principal activities.
Tissue samples collected were examined histopathologically and were analyzed for
specific radionuclides. Analyses of tissue samples from the Nevada Test Site beef
herd occurred semiannually over the entire 25-year period and several other beef
herds were analyzed for up to 10-year periods. Other animals sampled for extended
periods included mule deer and desert bighorn sheep.
The results of the claims investigations are reported as well as analyses for the
radionuclides: tritium, strontium-90, iodine-131, cesium-137, and plutonium-239.
Also, the results of certain special studies, e.g., in animals around other testing
sites such as Mississippi, Colorado, etc., and for special purposes such as at the
Rocky Flats Plant in Colorado, and for iodine-129 in thyroids from Nevada cattle are
included. Most of the data are presented as trends over time. Calculation of
hypothetical doses to man from ingestion of edible tissue are included.
17.
KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTORS
b.lDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS C. COSATI Field/Group
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
RELEASE TO PUBLIC
19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report)
UNCLASSIFIED
21. NO. OF PAGES
75
20. SECURITY CLASS (This page)
UNCLASSIFIED
22. PRICE
EPA Form 2220-1 (R«y. 4-77)
PREVIOUS EDITION IS OBSOLETE
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