The Western Shoshone and Southern Paiute put together a council of representatives who represent communities in close proximity to the Nevada Test Site. They formed what is called The Native Community Action Council (NCAC), filled with activists, leaders and elders of the communities.
Many feel that since the beginning of the nuclear age, not many actions have been taken to preserve the health and environment of Western Shoshone and Southern Paiute.
1. The NCAC made observations of environmental abnormalities, effected livestock, health problems, and test descriptions. These were all collected from the above-ground nuclear test era which lasted from 1951-1962.
a. Some elders remembered visible radiation exposure effects from the above-ground nuclear era, while living and working outdoors during the 50’s and 60’s. Some of theses included experiencing reddening of the skin and hair loss. …show more content…
It was discovered that the thyroid glands of rabbits accrued radioactive iodine after the testing of nuclear weapons. This was a huge problem because the Western Shoshone and Southern Paiute families ate several rabbits a week, including the thyroids of these rabbits. children in Duckwater, Nevada, were believed to have received radiation doses 1,000 times greater than the average daily dose from natural sources of radiation after nuclear test events deposited fallout on the community. 2. Based on the consumption of wild rabbits and other small animals, Native residents exposed to fallout as young children experienced roughly twice the thyroid cancer risk of non-Native
Many feel that since the beginning of the nuclear age, not many actions have been taken to preserve the health and environment of Western Shoshone and Southern Paiute.
1. The NCAC made observations of environmental abnormalities, effected livestock, health problems, and test descriptions. These were all collected from the above-ground nuclear test era which lasted from 1951-1962.
a. Some elders remembered visible radiation exposure effects from the above-ground nuclear era, while living and working outdoors during the 50’s and 60’s. Some of theses included experiencing reddening of the skin and hair loss. …show more content…
It was discovered that the thyroid glands of rabbits accrued radioactive iodine after the testing of nuclear weapons. This was a huge problem because the Western Shoshone and Southern Paiute families ate several rabbits a week, including the thyroids of these rabbits. children in Duckwater, Nevada, were believed to have received radiation doses 1,000 times greater than the average daily dose from natural sources of radiation after nuclear test events deposited fallout on the community. 2. Based on the consumption of wild rabbits and other small animals, Native residents exposed to fallout as young children experienced roughly twice the thyroid cancer risk of non-Native