Nuclear Health and Safety: Radiation Exposures for Some Cloud-Sampling Personnel Need To Be Reexamined
RCED-87-134
Published: Sep 29, 1987. Publicly Released: Oct 28, 1987.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO examined the Department of Defense's (DOD) atmospheric nuclear weapons testing program to determine: (1) how many military personnel participated in the cloud-sampling work between 1952 and 1962 during operations Tumbler-Snapper, Redwing, and Dominic 1; and (2) the extent of their exposure to radiation.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) to correct the GAO-identified errors in the film badge exposure records of cloud-sampling personnel participating in operations Redwing and Dominic 1 and, given the frequency of such errors identified, review for similar errors the film badge exposure record of each Air Force individual who participated in any of the other atmospheric nuclear weapons tests. |
By letter dated May 11, 1988, DOD took strong exception to the recommendation. GAO maintains its original position. The President signed the Radiation-Exposed Veterans Compensation Act of 1988 on May 20, 1988, enabling "radiation exposed" to obtain VA benefits regardless of amount of exposure. Therefore, continuing debate over individual dose measurements is no longer important.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct DNA to use integron readings in conjunction with film badge readings to better define the radiation dose received by cloud-sampling personnel for all atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, including operations Redwing and Dominic 1. |
By letter dated May 11, 1988, DOD took strong exception to the recommendation. GAO maintains its original position. The President signed the Radiation-Exposed Veterans Compensation Act of 1988 on May 20, 1988, enabling "radiation exposed" to obtain VA benefits regardless of amount of exposure. Therefore, continuing debate over individual dose measurements is no longer important.
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Topics
Air Force personnelAircraftHazardous substancesNuclear radiation monitoringNuclear weapons testingOccupational safetyRadiation exposure hazardsSafety standardsAircraft acquisition programNuclear weapons