Abstract
MOST nuclear weapons tests have been associated with repeated releases of fission products within a few weeks, and the iodine-131 in animal thyroids increased progressively with succeeding tests1. In February and April 1960, individual nuclear weapons tests were announced to have occurred in the Sahara Desert. The results on which this report is based were obtained by analysis of preserved thyroid glands sent to the University of Tennessee by volunteer correspondents.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Van Middlesworth, L., Nucleonics, 12, No. 9, 56 (1954); Science, 123, 982 (1956). Comar, C. L., Trum, B. F., Kuhn, III, U. S. G., Wasserman, R. H., Nold, M. M., and Schooley, J. C., ibid., 126, 16 (1957). Wolff, A. H., Public Health Repts., 72, 1121 (1957). Van Middlesworth, L., Nature, 181, 256 (1958). French, N. R., and Van Middlesworth, L., Second United Nations Geneva Conference, P/2497 U.S.A., 516 (1959). Robertson, H. A., and Falconer, I. R., Nature, 184, 1699 (1959).
Van Middlesworth, L., and Melick, R., Med. J. Austral., 665 (1959).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
VAN MIDDLESWORTH, L. World-wide Distribution of Iodine-131 in Animal Thyroids following Announcements of Isolated Nuclear Weapons Tests in North Africa. Nature 188, 748–749 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/188748a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/188748a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Radioiodine in the Biosphere during 1968
Nature (1969)