OCR Text |
Show Defense Dept. Wants Names Of Nuclear Test Participants For over a year the U.S. Department of Defense has been attempting to identify former military and civilian defense personnel who participated in the at mosphcric nuclear tests conducted from 1945 to 1962. The Defense Nuclear Agency Is the executive agent for this program. Persons who participated in these tests, which were held largely in Nevada and at Bikini and Enewetak atolls in the Pacific, are urged to contact the Defense Nuclear agency if they didn't in 1978-1979. The Defense Nuclear Agency is attempting to reconstruct a complete history of the atmospheric nuclear test program, including names of participants and any radiation doses they received. One of the purposed of this effort is to enable the National Academy of Sciences and other scientific organizations to determine if there are health hazards resulting from participation in the tests. Based upon research to date, it is believed that radiation exposures were low. While medical science has no proof that exposure to radiation levels as low as these is hazardous to health, it is generally assumed by scientists that even low levels of exposure carry some slight risk. There 1 however, som disagreement within thi scientific communit about the magnitude o this risk. Persons who were participants In the at mospheric nuclear test! program, and wht haven't already done so, are urged to contact the Defense Nuclear Agenc) at toll-free number 800-336-3068 in continental United States; from Virginia, outside the Washington, D.C. area, call toll-free 800-572-6845; from Alaska (or Virginia in the Washington, D.C. area) call 202-274-9161 (collect, if long distance); from Hawaii call collect 808-422-9213. Or write to Defense Nuclear. Agency, Washington, D.C. 20305 Persons concerned that their possible exposure may have adversely affected their health, are urged to either consult their doctor or, if they are a former serviceman, to contact the nearest Veterans Administration Hospital, where they may obtain a physical examination at Government expesnse. |