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19 July 2008

Answer to Question #2437 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Nuclear or Radioactive Devices — Nuclear Weapons

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

If you are 100 miles to the south of a nuclear target, 100 miles north of a nuclear target, and say 400 miles to the east of several nuclear targets, how long should you stay in a fallout shelter if there was an attack, both initially and long term? How long before you could be outdoors all day and night? How long before you could plant a garden in the earth or let your animals graze?

Answers to your questions would depend strongly and in a complicated way on local conditions that develop from the detonations. The particular conditions result from a large number of highly variable factors, which include weapon yields, height of detonation, weather conditions, terrain, and others. You can find some helpful information on the CDC Web site emergency response page.

James E. Turner, CHP, PhD

Answer posted on 9 April 2003. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.