| The Subjects were exposed to mixed
gamma-ray and fission-spectrum neutron radiation in the "Recuplex"
accidental nuclear excursion which occurred at Hanford, Washington, on
April 7, 1962. The accident occurred when a critical concentration of dissolved
plutonium salts was inadvertently allowed to accumulate in a tank of nonsafe
geometry. Three normal, healthy men received appreciable exposures. One
additional man was thought initially to have received a moderate exposure,
but he was later estimated to have received less than 1 rad. |
| The first blood samples were obtained
4 hrs after accident occurred. A second set of samples were obtained at
approximately 44 hours. Both lots of samples were put into culture at Hanford
and maintained at 37oC in a portable incubator during their transportation
to Oak Ridge. A third set of samples was drawn about 1 week after the accident
and shipped to Oak Ridge under refrigeration, but the cultures from these
samples failed to yield satisfactory mitoses. A fourth set was therefore
drawn at about 2 weeks and put in culture at Hanford. Fifth, sixth, seventh,
eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh sets of samples were obtained at about
4 weeks, 6 weeks, 14 weeks, 25 weeks, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months.
In all cases, 10 ml of blood was obtained for each individual sample. Cultures
were harvested from 66th to 72 hours. |