This paper summarizes individual and collective dose estimates for the
internal organs of hypothetical yet representative residents of selec
ted communities that received measurable fallout from nuclear detonati
ons at the Nevada Test Site. The doses, which resulted from ingestion
of local and regional food products contaminated,vith over 20 radionuc
lides, were estimated with use of the PATHWAY food-chain-transport mod
el to provide estimates of central tendency and uncertainty. The thyro
id gland received much higher doses than other internal organs and tis
sues. In a very few cases, infants might have received thyroid doses i
n excess of 1 Gy, depending on location, diet, and timing of fallout.
I-131 was the primary thyroid dose contributor, and fresh milk was the
main exposure pathway. With the exception of the thyroid, organ doses
from the ingestion pathway were much smaller (<3%) than those from ex
ternal gamma exposure to deposited fallout. Doses to residents living
closest to the Nevada Test Site were contributed mainly by a few fallo
ut events; doses to more distantly located people were generally small
er, but a greater number of events provided measurable contributions.
The effectiveness of different fallout events in producing internal or
gan doses through ingestion varied dramatically with seasonal timing o
f the test, with maximum dose per unit fallout occurring for early sum
mer depositions when milk cows were on pasture and fresh, local vegeta
bles were used. Within specific communities, internal doses differed b
y age, sex, and lifestyle. Collective internal dose estimates for spec
ific geographic areas are provided.