Estimated Radiation Doses Received by New Mexico Residents from the 1945 Trinity Nuclear Test

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Radiation Dosimetry
• Nuclear Science

Background:

• The 1945 Trinity nuclear test released radioactive fallout over New Mexico.
• Assessing long-term health risks requires accurate estimation of radiation doses to affected populations.
• Previous dose estimations lacked comprehensive data on population demographics and lifestyles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide best estimates of organ radiation absorbed doses for New Mexico residents exposed to Trinity test fallout.
• To analyze dose variations based on ethnicity, age, county, and exposure pathways.
• To inform projected health risks by detailing radiation exposure from the historical nuclear event.

Main Methods:

• Utilized assessment models, historical fallout data, and 2015-2017 lifestyle/dietary data from interviews.
• Estimated doses to five key organs (bone marrow, thyroid, lungs, stomach, colon) from 63 radionuclides.
• Considered external irradiation and internal irradiation via inhalation and ingestion of contaminated food and water.

Main Results:

• Organ doses varied significantly across New Mexico, with highest exposures northeast of the Trinity site.
• Spatial heterogeneity of fallout deposition was the primary driver of dose variation.
• Minor dose differences were observed due to age and ethnicity, linked to diet and lifestyle variations.

Conclusions:

• Only small geographic areas northeast of the Trinity test site received significant radiation exposures.
• The study provides comprehensive dose estimates for New Mexico populations from the Trinity nuclear test.
• Findings are crucial for understanding historical radiation health impacts and informing future risk assessments.