Show Study I I U Grant To Aid Fallout Study I I The U. U S. S Public Health Service has awarded a three- three year grant to the University of Utah to in- in the rate at which radioactive fallout may be moving from Utah's high mountains into streams and reservoirs and then onto ir irrigated irrigated irrigated ir- ir farms TilE TIE AGENCY'S National Center for Radiological Health made the award this week to Dr Robert C. C Pendleton associate associate associate as as- professor of biological sciences and director of the University's Department of Radiological Health and Dr Charles W. W Mays associate research professor of anatomy and assistant research professor sor of oC radiology For the last seven years Dr Pendleton and Dr Mays with a team of University scientists and graduate students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents have been investigating the effects of atomic fallout on Utah particularly the accumulation accumulation accumulation ac ac- ac- ac of radioactive isotopes isotopes isotopes iso iso- topes in the high mountains in wildlife and in the states state's milk supplies I DR PENDLETON says findings findings findings find find- ings indicate a gradual buildup buildup build build- up of radioactivity in the high mountain country since the University studies began in 1962 The mountains he adds are more susceptible to fallout than the lower valleys b because because be be- cause rains winds and other meteorological conditions conditions conditions con con- surrounding the higher elevations precipitate more nuclear showers from radioactive radioactive radioactive radio radio- active clouds passing over over- head READINGS ON samples in inthe inthe inthe the high mountains range up to 40 times higher than those from lower elevations Dr Pendleton says According to the earlier studies studies studies stu stu- stu- stu dies 85 per cent or more of the fallout in Utah since atomic atom atom- ic testing began has accumulated accumulated accumulated in the top four centimeters centimeters centimeters centi centi- meters of the earth If these isotopes could remain in mountain soils at least un un- un- un der present test bans and nuclear controls they would decay over the years BUT DR Pendleton and other University scientists have found numerous hot hotspots hotspots hotspots spots created by erosion on grazed watersheds water water- sheds The radioactive isotopes are arc washing down into streams reservoirs and irrigation ditches Dr Pendleton says They are accumulating on certain poorly drained farms STUDIES DURING the next three years will concentrate on the rate of movement of two long-lived long isotopes strontium strontium strontium stron stron- 90 and cesium from the mountain watersheds watersheds watersheds water water- sheds to Utah croplands i Regular expeditions are I planned into Utah primitive I areas including the High in Northeastern Utah the Tushar Mountains in Beaver and P Piute ute Counties Courties and Boulder Mountain in Wayne County THE RESEARCH will also center around hot spot dairy farms which have the highest levels of radioactive nuclides in milk soil and vegetation Dr Pendleton says teams of scientists will cooperate with Utah farmers in collecting samples to be bej assayed in the University's radiobiology laboratory in Salt Lake City The resulting resulting resulting result- result ing data will be fed into nto the schools school's computer system for analysis Dr Pendleton is confident the research will lead to development development development de de- de- de of farm practices that will lower the quantities quantities' of strontium 90 and cesium entering Utah's milk sup sup- plies THE TilE UNIVERSITY scientist list said there is no reason reason for undue concern at the present time over fallout levels since milk and other othe foods produced in Utah Utah Utah- except those in the high mountains mountains moun- moun moun-ju moun are generally less contaminated contaminated con- con laminated with radioactive materials than foods in other states This is because Utah for the most part is a d dI dry state with fallout collecting I in higher elevations t I |