The explosion sucks up bits of the ground around the bomb, carries them high into the air, blasts them into tiny particles and irradiates them. These particles can be carried hundreds, or even thousands of miles, as they slowly drift down to earth in a a "fallout cloud." Where the cloud passes and lands, it showers radioactivity. Exposure to uncontrolled radioactivity can be harmful to living organisms. Because winds are very unpredictable, the fallout information shown here is based upon the average winds. Small changes in the wind can cause large changes in the results.
| Month of Blast | Average Total Rad.* | Description |
| January | 100 Rads |
- No fatalities
- Temporary reduced immune system functioning
- Possible temporary male sterility
- More susceptible to illness and infection
- Medical supervision not needed
|
| February | 590 Rads |
- 60 to 90% fatal.
- Death (if occurs) in 2 to 12 weeks.
- Nausea, loss of appetite
- Malaise, fatigue
- Hair loss
- Serious digestive upset
- Temporary male sterility
- Permanent female sterility
- More susceptible to illness and infection
- Intense medical care required
- Treatment: blood transfusions, antibiotics
|
| March | 160 Rads |
- Nausea
- Low incidence of death
- Temporary reduced immune system functioning
- Temporary male sterility
- More susceptible to illness and infection
- Medical supervision suggested
|
| April | 630 Rads |
- 90% to 100% fatal.
- Death (if occurs) in 1 to 6 weeks
- Nausea, loss of appetite
- Malaise, fatigue
- Hair loss
- Life-threatening digestive upset
- Internal bleeding
- Temporary male sterility
- Permanent female sterility
- More susceptible to illness and infection
- Intense medical care required
- Treatment: bone marrow transplant
|
| May | 300 Rads |
- 35% fatal
- Death (if occurs) in 2 to 12 weeks
- Nausea, loss of appetite
- Malaise, fatigue
- Temporary reduced immune system functioning
- Temporary male sterility
- More susceptible to illness and infection
- Medical care required
- Treatment: blood transfusions, antibiotics
|
| June | 680 Rads |
- 90% to 100% fatal.
- Death (if occurs) in 1 to 6 weeks
- Nausea, loss of appetite
- Malaise, fatigue
- Hair loss
- Life-threatening digestive upset
- Internal bleeding
- Temporary male sterility
- Permanent female sterility
- More susceptible to illness and infection
- Intense medical care required
- Treatment: bone marrow transplant
|
| July | 640 Rads |
- 90% to 100% fatal.
- Death (if occurs) in 1 to 6 weeks
- Nausea, loss of appetite
- Malaise, fatigue
- Hair loss
- Life-threatening digestive upset
- Internal bleeding
- Temporary male sterility
- Permanent female sterility
- More susceptible to illness and infection
- Intense medical care required
- Treatment: bone marrow transplant
|
| August | 540 Rads |
- 60 to 90% fatal.
- Death (if occurs) in 2 to 12 weeks.
- Nausea, loss of appetite
- Malaise, fatigue
- Hair loss
- Serious digestive upset
- Temporary male sterility
- Permanent female sterility
- More susceptible to illness and infection
- Intense medical care required
- Treatment: blood transfusions, antibiotics
|
| September | 610 Rads |
- 90% to 100% fatal.
- Death (if occurs) in 1 to 6 weeks
- Nausea, loss of appetite
- Malaise, fatigue
- Hair loss
- Life-threatening digestive upset
- Internal bleeding
- Temporary male sterility
- Permanent female sterility
- More susceptible to illness and infection
- Intense medical care required
- Treatment: bone marrow transplant
|
| October | 670 Rads |
- 90% to 100% fatal.
- Death (if occurs) in 1 to 6 weeks
- Nausea, loss of appetite
- Malaise, fatigue
- Hair loss
- Life-threatening digestive upset
- Internal bleeding
- Temporary male sterility
- Permanent female sterility
- More susceptible to illness and infection
- Intense medical care required
- Treatment: bone marrow transplant
|
| November | 150 Rads |
- Nausea
- Low incidence of death
- Temporary reduced immune system functioning
- Temporary male sterility
- More susceptible to illness and infection
- Medical supervision suggested
|
| December | 620 Rads |
- 90% to 100% fatal.
- Death (if occurs) in 1 to 6 weeks
- Nausea, loss of appetite
- Malaise, fatigue
- Hair loss
- Life-threatening digestive upset
- Internal bleeding
- Temporary male sterility
- Permanent female sterility
- More susceptible to illness and infection
- Intense medical care required
- Treatment: bone marrow transplant
|