Evening star., 1955-01-29
Atomic
CONTINUED From First Page.


presumably hydrogen bombs
for use 'in revaluation Of the
national industrial dispersal poll
icy.
Tests with mice, the report
said, have caused scientists to
revise upward some earlier esti-
mates Of the long-terln heredi-
tary hazards Of atomic and other
radiation In man.
But one of the Aces top med
ical scientists, DR.. Charles Dur
ham, told q reporter that despite
these findings - actually made
several years ago but not re-
ported until today--AEC,s scien-
lists still hold the amount Of
radiation people have so far
been exposed to from radioactive
fall-out from atomic tests Is still
not important as q genetic
hazard. !"
Unusual Exposure Record.
The commission reported ian
unusual record" of safety from
the standpoint OF radiation ex-
posure in connection with its
Nevada tests.
But. the report added, "sorne
Improvement is possible which
will provide increased assurance
of public safety and reduce the
possibility Of undesirable on
site public exposure"
The 'key irrprovements"--to
be applied in the forthcoming
tests next nionth--include. the
Acc said:
Improved methods OF FORE
casting wind speed and direc-
tions: improved methods of pre-
dieting radioactive "fall-out"
intensity and location: reducing
fall-out by such means as
limiting the force of the ex-
plosion under various condi-
tions; using higher test towers,
and intensified OF -site radio
logical safety operations"
Marshall Island residents ac-
cidentally exposed to radiation
in a test bomb last March /
continue in excellent health, .
the report said.
Blood counts are now approx
imately normal. skin LESSONS have
entirely healed and a regrowth
of hair has occurred"
Praise for Los AIamos.
The commission went to some
lengths to point out that its
Los Alamos IN. Mex. laboratory
was the big wheel In the deyel-
cpoment of the hydrogen bomb.
While the Acc did not say so,
the bouquet may have been de-
signed as a formal rebuttal to
statements made In a recent
book that the Los Alamos lab
dragged its feet on H-bomb de-
velopment. The book, written
by two Time magazine corre-.
spondents, also declared that
while Los Alamos eventually did
most Of the work on the H-bomb,
1t was only under the goad of
another Acc weapons-resaarch
laboratory at Livermore, Calf,
headed at that time by DR.. Ed
ward Teller.
Or. Teller has been publicly
credited by various atomic scien-
lists with having made a bril-
liant discovery that finally broke
a technical bottleneck on H
bomb development.
The report said:
Although many contractors
and laboratories contributed sig
nificantly and earnestly to the
therlmonuclear (hydrogen) weap-
or1S program. the contribution of
the Los Alamos scientific labora-
tory. whose personnel have for
many years worked unstintinely
in the weapons field, was out
standing"
Citation Recalled.
The commission recalled that
on last July 8, President Eisen-
hover awarded a special citation
to this laboratory for outstanding
achievements In the weapons
Held" including both A-weapons
and H-weapons.
The ACC added:
THE cofnmission's other two
principal laboratories in the
weapons program. Sandia Corp.
Tin New Mexico) and the Uni
versity OF California radiation
laboratory Cat Livermore. Calif.)
are also contributing noteworthy
accomplishments"