Estimation of external exposure doses for the personnel involved in the Totsk military exercises on 14 September 1954

The paper considers the main radiation factors to which the participants of the Totsk exercise (14.09.54) were exposed after the air nuclear explosion of 40 kt power. It has been shown that the radiation loads from instantaneous neutrons and γ-irradiation were negligible. The primary role in the exposure of the military staff during the exercise was played by the ground activation, mostly, with thermal neutrons. The paper presents a methodology for assessing absorbed doses of external exposure for the staff involved in the Totsk exercise using γ-irradiation of products of ground activation with thermal neutrons. Based on the reconstructed routes of different groups of the involved staff, effective equivalent doses from external exposure were estimated. For example, the external dose for the staff of infantry battalions was estimated at about 2 rem and for those of neutral radiation reconnaissance - 25-110 rem. The work has shown that the elemental composition of the ground in the area of the exercise has a considerable effect on the estimated external doses. It has been concluded that in assessment of exposure dose account should be taken of the activation of the used materiel and behaviour of those involved in the exercise including the pilots who crossed the stem of the atomic mushroom.