I read this on naturalnews.com thought i would share.
Facts about nuclear radiation fallout
In the case of nuclear war, radiation decays surprisingly quickly. Even if you live in an area hit almost directly by a nuclear strike, you would not have to spend more than two weeks living in an underground shelter.
The rule you need to know is the "seven-ten" rule which states that every seven to the nth hours after the initial blast, the level of radiation falls by a factor of ten. Here's how the math works:
• Suppose a blast happens near your residence that causes the level of radiation in the air around you to be 1000 Rads / hour. That's a deadly dose, obviously, so you don't want to be running around outside during this time, or you will quickly die.
• 7 hours after the blast, that radiation would fall to 100 Rads / hour. This is still a deadly dose, of course.
• 49 hours after the blast (7 x 7), the radiation would fall to roughly 10 Rads / hour -- a level that's still deadly but starting to approach a margin of safety.
• 343 hours after the blast (7 x 7 x 7), the radiation would fall to roughly 1 Rad / hour. This is roughly two weeks after the blast. And this is the point where moving around in the blast zone becomes relatively "safe."
• 2400 hours after the blast (7 x 7 x 7 x 7), the radiation would fall to roughly 0.1 Rad / hour.
... and so on. Remember, this is called the "seven-ten" rule of guesstimating nuclear fallout radiation levels. Those of you who are mathematically inclined will notice this is not a straight line but a logarithmic curve. Such are the laws of physics, eh?
In great contrast to nuclear weapons which are, believe it or not, relatively "clean" radiological events, the nuclear meltdown of a nuclear power plant is orders of magnitude more deadly and persistent. That's why the area around Chernobyl, for example, is still not habitable by humans more than two decades later. If you live anywhere near a nuclear power plant that suffers a meltdown, take your potassium iodide and immediately flee the area. Do not return... EVER!
Sweet, thanks for that information - I didn't know that. I learned something new today... my job here is done.
I hate to dampen the parade, but though fusion bombs are "cleaner" than the original fissions dropped on Japan, there is significant contamination left for long after a nuclear blast.
The blast will send off immense amounts of energy that will irradiate surrounding materials. The initial materials may have shorter life spans, but the casings of the bomb core, and materials irradiated after the fact will not. There are areas where fusion test bombs were set off that are still not safe to be at years after the tests have been completed.
I would hesitate getting relied upon information from naturalnews.com It looks like some bizarre mix of socialist and homeosomething or other propoganda? I couldnt even find the story referenced above.
https://www.internationalpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=7738
I remember Mike Adams from back when I had my live podcast at PPRN.
He was one of the other hosts for a while.
I had some respect for the guy back then.
Now, however, since he made a statement that claims that all governments want to be like North Korea in regards to the way they control their citizens, I have lost all respect for him.
In my opinion, he is just another one of those guys who use fear mongering and scare tactics to sell products and take advantage of the ever growing prepper community.
I at least hope that he made some reference to a reputable scientific study before making these claims.
Knowing him though, probably not.
Bikini Atoll which was used for testing nuclear weapons from 1946 to 1958 still is not habitable. I think that says a lot.
The 7/10 rule still applies to modern nuclear weapons. This rule only applies to the fallout.
The Neutron induced radiation
"The blast will send off immense amounts of energy that will irradiate surrounding materials." This only a problem within the blast zone and a very small area just outside of the blast zone. This type of irradiated material will decay rapidly and for most is a non issue.
Fallout
Fallout will be the concern for most. The amount of fallout is dependent on the type of burst.
Airburst
An airburst is described as a blast where the fireball never touches the ground. Used primarily for it's EMP qualities. Will create little fallout and little to no physical damage (hight dependent).
Surfaceburst
A surface burst is described as a blast where the fireball touches the ground. This is the typical type of blast that most would be concerned with. This type of burst will create a lot of physical destruction, a great deal of fallout and a moderate EMP.
Subsurfaceburst
A subsurfaceburst is described as a burst where the fireball remains completely or mostly below ground. This type of burst created little fallout and minimal EMP but in turn creates a huge ground shockwave.
Types of radiation in the fallout
There are four basic types of radiation.
Alpha
Alpha radiation is big and slow. It can be stopped bye a sheet of paper, your clothes, even the dead skin cells on your body. So why do we care about it? It's when Alpha gets into our body that it can wreak havoc. But as long as you wear a respirator and keep all food and water supplies covered your good.
Beta
Beta is quicker and smaller. It can penetrate the skin and cause burns. It' can be stopped with a few inches of wood or less than an inch of steel. All inhalation and ingestion precautions used for Alpha should be used for Beta as well.
Gamma
Gamma is a photon similar to light. It can penetrate any material. Nothing stops it. But you can lessen it's effects with dense materials such as led, steel concrete etc. All inhalation and ingestion precautions used for Alpha should be used for Gamma as well.
Neutron
Neutron radiation (not neutron induced radiation) is when a neutron is ejected from an atom. This type of radiation is particularly dangerous because it is the only type of radiation that can make other materials radioactive. Thankfully it is also in the least quantity. Hydrogen rich materials (water, damp earth) are the best shielding for neutron radiation.
Now onto the nuclear material and bomb casing.
Bomb casing
See neutron induced radiation.
Nuclear material
The nuclear material that is contained within the bomb will remain highly radioactive well beyond any of our lifetimes. Now having said this it is not your biggest threat. The nuclear material is in such a minute amount and in such fine particulate that it will make up less than 1millionth of one percent of the fallout.
So in conclusion. Can you survive the fireball? No? Okay NIA isn't a worry then Use the 7/10 rule for fallout.
Simple radiation safety
Three basic rules of radiation safety are TIME, DISTANCE and SHIELDING.
TIME
Spend the least amount of time around it that you can.
DISTANCE
Keep as far away from it as you can.
Use the inverse square law to calculate a safe distance (only useful if you have a meter) If you double your distance the radiation level goes down four times. if you go back 7 times that distance then your radiation level drops 49 times.
SHIELDING
Shielding is a must if you are in a fixed location. If you have a basement remain there and stay in room that are in the middle of the house (OOhh, good use of distance as well!)
Other things to consider are:
1. Do not venture out while there is active fallout. Wait until it passes. Less chance of an inhalation issue. The majority of fallout will only last a couple of hours most in any given location.
2. Once fallout ceases (assuming you have adequate respirator and a tyvek style suit.) suit up and clean the fallout from the roof and remove the top 2-3" soil around the shelter for about 5'. This will provide better distance from the radiation.
3. Spread the wealth. Don't send one person to do the whole job. 10 people getting 100 microsieverts is much better than 1 person getting 1000 microseverts or 1 milisievert.
Hope this answered more questions than it created.
Ex military CBRN Pirate