Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-02
Atomic Common Balls
Have Varied Potential
Proton Beums Released
By Explosion Are Checked

By Thomas R. Henry
Effects of bombardment Of living
things by heavy cannon balls" of the
atomic world are being studied by
Atomic Energy Commission scientists.
These heavy projectiles are neutrons,
elementary particles which are bound
up in the interiors of the nuclei of
atoms. They weigh approximately
1000 times as much as electrons.
Beams Of these protons, moving at ap-
proximately the speed Of light, are shot
forth when an atomic bomb explodes
and in experiments with reactorS for
the production Of atomic energy.
AS tools Of science, the experiments
to date indicate. they may have great
potentialities for both good and evil.
Their effects have been compared with
that of the X-rays, or more powerful
gamma rays which are Of the same
nature. which also are one Of the haz-
ards of work with nuclear fission.
Biological effects are being studied
by exposing rats and mice to rays OF
these neutrons at Los Alamos and
comparing the effects with those Of
comparable doses of X-radiation. Gen.
orally. 1t has been found, the two types
OF radiation have similar effects but
the neutronS are about half again more
potent in producing these effects. One
effect of X-radiation is production of
eye cataracts. Here neutrons are IS
times more effective than x-rays.
Effect Is Different.
In experiments at the Brookhaven
laboratory with barley seedlings it was
found that the number killed by X
radiation increased with the dose but
with neutron radiation. regardless Of
the dose. either all were killed or all
survived. When seeds were irradiated
with the two types before planting it
was found that the seedlings from those
dosed with X-rays varied greatly in
height. Those from seeds bombarded
with protons were all Of the same
height.
It has long been known that X-radia-
ton produces genetic changes which
are passed on from generation to gen.
Grafton. They usually are changes for
the worse. The experimenters are try
ing to determine whether similar or
more genetic changes are produced by
neutrons in mice, fruit flies. corn. and
smuts and ruSts which damage crops
and which are minute living organ
isns. Presumably very similar genetic
changes might be produced in man.
Meanwhile, new facts are coming
to light on the effects of the dreaded
X-ray and gamma radiation. At the
Carnegie Institution of WaShington's
genetic laboratory at Cold Spring Har-
Dor, Long Island, large breeding popu-
lations of fruit flies are being exposed
to relatively light X-radiation all the
time. AS was expected, the number Of
mutations found in the offspring in
creased over what would occur norm
ally, and many of them were bad. But.
on the whole, the population remained
normal and increased in numbers. The
exposed flies seemed a little healthier
than wild fly populations which were
not exposed.
Some Advantage Seen.
'It would appear" says the report
of the Atomic Energy Commission on
this work, that there is some advan-
tage in low-level radiation Of some Of
the lower animals. despite the increased
number Of mutations. Apparently some
populations have a greater tolerance
for low-level radiation than studies Of
it's effect on the individual organism
have suggested"
Widely discussed in the atomic age
have been the possible effects on the
unborn of exposure Of mothers to
various kinds of radiation. Apparently.
experiments with rats at the New Eng
land Deaconess Hospital at Boston in
dictate, 1t depends on the time the
dosage is received. When pregnant
mothers were irradiated during the
first eight days Of pregnancy. the young
were born without any deformities.
From the ninth to the 10Th days.
however, each day brought different
striking defects in the brains Of the
new born rats. During the nine-to-14
day period, defects were produced in
the eyes and in the skeletons. The NAL
formations produced at specific time
intervals indicate that there are pc
RODS of lower resistance to radiation
in the body during embryonic develop
ment.
In other experiments it was found
that the synthesized element plutoni-
UNI, the chief ingredient Of the atomic
bomb produced by irradiating uranium
with neutrons from the rare uranium
235. is far more poisonous than either
radium or any form Of uranium when
taken into the system. Its chief effects
are on the bone.