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fallout
fallout minute particles of radioactive material produced by nuclear explosions (see atomic bomb ; hydrogen bomb ; Chernobyl ) or by discharge from nuclear-power or atomic installations and scattered throughout the earth's atmosphere by winds and convection currents. Heavier fallout particles tend to settle to earth around the explosion site and downwind from it soon after the explosion. Lighter particles may stay in the atmosphere for years. Radioactive decay products in fallout include strontium-90, potassium-40, carbon-14, and iodine-131. They may contaminate food supplies if taken up by plants and animals or contaminate water supplies by falling into streams. If they accumulate in the human body, they can form concentrated internal sources of dangerous radiation. Fallout may thus be a cause of leukemia , bone cancer , and other diseases. It can also cause genetic damage. |
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"fallout." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "fallout." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-fallout.html "fallout." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-fallout.html |
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fallout
fall·out / ˈfôlˌout/ • n. radioactive particles that are carried into the atmosphere after a nuclear explosion or accident and gradually fall back as dust or in precipitation. ∎ fig. the adverse side effects or results of a situation: the growing political fallout. ∎ airborne substances resulting from an industrial process or accident: acid fallout from power stations. |
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"fallout." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "fallout." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-fallout.html "fallout." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-fallout.html |
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fallout
fallout n.
1. the precipitation to earth of radioactive particulate matter from a nuclear cloud. 2. the particulate matter itself. |
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Cite this article
"fallout." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "fallout." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-fallout.html "fallout." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-fallout.html |
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fallout
fallout
•about, bout, clout, devout, doubt, down-and-out, drought, flout, gout, grout, knout, Kraut, lout, mahout, misdoubt, nowt, out, out-and-out, owt, pout, Prout, right about, rout, scout, shout, snout, spout, sprout, stout, thereabout, thereout, throughout, timeout, tout, trout, way-out, without
•layout, payout
•buyout • blowout • layabout
•gadabout • roundabout • knockabout
•walkabout • runabout • turnabout
•hereabout • roustabout
•handout, standout
•readout • hideout • dugout • blackout
•checkout
•breakout, stakeout, takeout
•strikeout
•knockout, lockout
•walkout
•cookout, lookout
•workout • sell-out • fallout • pull-out
•umlaut • litter lout • spin-out
•burnout, turnout
•hangout • wipeout
•copout, dropout
•waterspout • beansprout • clearout
•sauerkraut • washout • printout
•white-out • shoot-out
•cut-out, shut-out
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"fallout." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "fallout." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-fallout.html "fallout." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-fallout.html |
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