Evening star., 1949-08-22
Exploding Atoms Inhaled
Every Minute by Humans
Condition Is Natural and Radiation
Resulting Causes No Harm
By Thomas r. Henry

Everywhere the air is full of exploding
atoms.
Nearly everybody inhales few with each
breath. They may be major factor In
evolution.
The extent of this natural radiation at
key spots has been measured by Atomic
Energy Commission scientists to determine
if dangerous situations were being created
in the neighborhoods of their plants.
In each cubic foot of air, it is calculated,
there are approximately $500 600, 900, ,000.-
000,000000.000 atoms. In the neighborhood
of Oak Ridge, Tenn, where the Commis-
sions great isotope plant is located 1t was
found that normally 40 to 400 of these
atoms blow up every hour. They shoot out
gamma rays, beta rays, alpha rays and
neutronS. Escaping radioactive iSotopes from
the plant, it was found, accounted for only
four atom explosions per cubic foot per
hour-a negligible amount.
Explosions Vary.
Oak Ridge IL located in relatively open
country where the air is free of dust. In the
nearby city of Knoxville, it was found, there
are about 1000 atom explosions per cubic
foot of air per hour. In the Colorado noun
tains, where there are large natural deposits
of radioactive vanadium, the chief American
source Of uranium, the explosions per cubic
foot run as high as 10000 per hour.
Still, the Commission points out In it's
semiannual report to Congress. even this
figure is negligible so far as danger to the
human being is concerned. At least men
everywhere have been exposed to somewhat
similar radiation doses every day since the
human race has been on earth. Had it not
been for this radiation man might not have
been here since it Is believed largely re-
sponsible for the mutations in heredity
which constitute the main mechanism of
evolution.
The Atomic Energy Commission scientists
use as their measurement standard the curie
named for the diScoverer of radium. From
Madame Curie's work came the calculation
that in every gram of radium $1,000. 100000
atoms are breaking down every second. The
actual measurements of air radiation are ex-
pressed in hundre6th milionth of a mil
lionth of curie Such an amount can be
detected quite easily by the delicate counters
now in use.
Two Sources of Radiation.
The air radiation comes from two major
sources. One is from radioactive minerals
in the ground. There are uranium, thorium
and actinium everywhere. although gener-
ally in amounts too small to be of any
significance. The second results from bonn
bardment Of gas particles in the high at
mosphere by cosmic rays, which have much
the same effect in creating exploding
isotopes-but on far grander scale-as the
bombardmentS in a cyclotron.
A major problem of the commission has
been to avoid increasing this ubiquitous ra-
dioactivity anywhere to the point where it
might become a possible danger. 1t has
largely been problem of safe disposal Of
radioactive wastes which are bound to occur
In plant operations.
For the most part, the commission scien-
lists believe, the problem has been licked.
The waters of the Clinch River which even.
tualy receives much of the waste from Oak
Ridge. now are less radioactive than most
mineral water and no damage Of any kind to
fish has been observed.
Much of the safety research now is in the
direction of devising very accurate measur.
ing instruments for specific kinds of radia-
non-gamma and beta rays alpha particles
and neutrons. It has been determined that
the latter are the most dangerous with alpha
particles, the natural emanations of radiun,
running second.