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Show I 'Fallout? Tint EmoHgh to Worry About9 Says ABC Following the explosion of the "grand-daddy" A-bomb n Yucca Flats last Monday morning a number of resi-lents resi-lents of southern Utah have speculated on the possibility f fallout in this particular area. A number of residents witnessed the blast at 6:30 a. m. tnd still later in the morning a faint cloud, drifting from :he west came directly over southern Utah and dispersed iirectly above Cedar City. In all likelihood the cloud was from the atomic explosion. Now the question of fallout has become real and some seople in the area with geiger counters have expressed i themselves that they believed hat an extensive fallout had oc-:urred. oc-:urred. For the answer to this question ques-tion the Iron County Record went iirectly to the monitoring team stationed in Cedar City for the purpose of determining whether ar not a fallout occurred in this area. Negative Reply It was assured by Dr. Clinton Powell and Edgar Seagle, newly stationed monitors in Cedar City, that no apparent fallout was recorded re-corded as a result of any of the four blasts that have taken place in the current series. To find out how the team substantiates sub-stantiates this statement we followed fol-lowed and discussed the process that is taken prior to and after each and every shot in the series. One of the most important features fea-tures of the tests run by the monitoring mon-itoring team is the tests made prior to the shot. They evaluate the amount of radioactivity in the air and ground in Iron and Garfield counties prior to the shot, giving them an accurate gauge as to the actual amount, if any, of fallout that might occur. Following a shot the team makes four specific tests, each a separate and distinct operation, to determine fallout. These four tests include (1) a check on major ma-jor roads within the area; (2) a check of film badges, some GO in the county, is made to determine the amount of radiation that is 'absorbed at various locales and by people; (3) an air sampling is taken, and (4) a fallout tray is placed in Cedar Citv which is then sent to Camp Mercury for analysis. Types Explained Each of the four types of checks should be given an explanation. First of all, the check on roads. This particular phase of the check starts In advance of each shot. The team makes a check with , a highly sensitive instrument, instru-ment, similar to a geiger counter coun-ter that most prospectors would have, on the major highways. On Highway 91 they check from the Washington County line to the Beaver County line. Along Highway High-way 56 they make a check out to the Nevada state line and make detours to Lind, Beryl and Zane. On Highway 20 the team moves over to Highway 89 and then south to the Kane County line, through Panguitch and towns on that artery. A log of these checks and radioactivities ra-dioactivities at various points is recorded to establish a base to determine any fallout following the shot. Immediately after each test shot the team backtracks over the road and tests for any unusual un-usual reading that might result from fallout. In connection with the instrument used Dr. Powell pointed out that the sensitive instrument in-strument used for the pre-shot tests Is for a slmnle detection. If on their return trip following a blast, they should find something unusual they would have to shift to a machine that is not quite so sensitive to evaluate a fallout that would be of any consequence. conse-quence. Film Badges Read Film badges, the second major check, are another means of evaluating eval-uating fallout. Approximately 60 badges have been placed in the two-county area. Practically every school in the vicinity has a school in the vicinity has a badge (Continued on Page B8) AEC MONITORING (Continued from Page Bl) inside and outside and most of the principals have badges. These record the amount of radio activity acti-vity that is absorbed at the various var-ious locations throughout the time they remain. A lead strip covers a portion of the badge. This eliminates from the film, the beta radiation so that at the Mercury Camp they can disting-guish disting-guish between the three different differ-ent types of radiation. Two films are used in the badges, similar too the two different types of gei- ger counters used by the monitoring moni-toring team. A highly sensitive ifilm records practically any radiation ra-diation in the air or that might be in the air at the particular location, while the second film , strip inside the badge records jonly radiation on a major basis; radiation In the amount that it could be at all dangerous. These badges are changed on word from the headquarters at Camp Mercury Mer-cury and offer a permanent record rec-ord of accumulated radiation. Air Sampling Method Third type of detection is the Air Sampling method. An apparatus appar-atus that works similar to the houshold vacuum cleaner is used in this method. Air is simply sucked through this apparatus for a period of about 24 hours after af-ter each blast, unless fallout is very definitely detected, then the process is continued for a longer period of time. Air, right ; here in Cedar City, is sucked j through the machine and a very j fine filter that is interchanged j periodically, picks up all dust par i tides in the air. These filter; : are then checked for radio acti vity by the local monitors and then forwarded to the headquarters headquar-ters for further tests. This method meth-od is probably the most accurate accur-ate as to the amount of fallout for it siphons a considerable larger lar-ger amount of air than would normally pass over a given spot, thus concentrating any particles of fallout. "Fallout Tray" The fourth method of detec tion is what is known as a fallout fall-out tray. A metal plate is simply exposed outside, covered with a sticky substance. Fallout or particles parti-cles that settle on the plate are trapped, giving a quite accurate indication of fallout that would normally settle depending on the conditions at the time. Tests on the fallout tray are not made here. When the trays are taken in they are immediately covered with plastic to eliminate the escape es-cape of particles and sent to the Mercury laboratory for analysis. Dr. Powell pointed out that the Instruments used for the check-, ing of these various operations 'are calibrated prior to every shot and after every shot with a ra-i ra-i dioactive source that they have r stored in a "lead safe" right in I their apartment. By checking . against this known piece of ra-5 ra-5 dioactive material they can de-. de-. termlne the accuracy of their equipment. I The monitoring team, although (working with the Atomic Energy .Commission, is actually a function func-tion of the United States Public I Health department assigned to (the off-site monitoring details, the attorney who has been hired |