Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-01


The fallout still will be FAR
short Of figures which would
cause concern or Justify coun-
termeasures," the council re-
port said yesterday. Fallout will
diminish in 1864 and 1865. &C.
cording to the report, II at
mospheric testing Is not re-
sumed. -
No Diet Changes
The increased fallout Will
cause a higher concentration
Of strontium-90 in bone form
ing in infants, q key measure
ment. But this concentration,
a spokesman said, probably
would have to be at least four
times the level expected to
warrant special steps. such as
dietary changes.
With the expected levels. the
diet should not be changed, the
council said. Such changes
would probably do more harm
than good, according to the
report.
The report estimated that
20 per cent Of 1855 fallout
should have fallen by the end
Of this month, If rainfall Is
normal. -
This fallout is primarily
from 1862 tests by the United
States and the Soviet Union,
primarily the latter.
To Double Defects
In an earlier report, the
council had said serious hered-
itary defects might affect 10
children born to parents ex-
posed to fallout from tests
conducted through 1861. The
1862 tests double this esti-
mated number Of defects.
Earlier estimates also put the
total number of hereditary
changes among all future gem
erations ever to be born in the
United States as 5000 from the
tests through 1861. A source
said this figure should now be
doubled. The new 5000 figure
will be spread out through
hundreds Of generations.
These changes are perhaps
the most worrisome Of the
problems concerned with test
fallout. In terms Of chilly,
overall statistics, however, the
rate Of hereditary defects will
be small.
Percentage Small
The 220 children with serious
defects possible from fallout
will, for example, be only q
small percentage of the 100 NIL
lion births in the coming gem
Grafton. The effects of drugs
on the unborn may be far
greater in terms Of cases Of
club foot and cleft lip and
other defects Of fallout.
The accumulated whole-body
radiation dose from all tests
through 1862, was predicted by
the council as reaching one
thirtieth Cor 10 millirem in 80
years. of the ordinary radiation
exposure from natural sources
such as soil, rocks and building
materials.
The council report was pre-
pared to make data available
before congressional hearings
on fallout begin Monday.
Heavier Blasts in Russia
The 57-page report contained
these additional points:
THE substantial increase in,
fallout is due primarily to.
Soviet nuclear tests.
Since the Soviet Union end
ed the three-year moratorium
by resuming nuclear tests in
1861. Soviet testing has pro-
duced IS megatons OF fisson
yield and United States testing
l6 megatons ("
Data show that precipita-
ton is the most important
mechanism in depositing ira
dioactive) material on the sur
face" Of the earth. Thus fallout
in rainy parts Of the United
States may be about double
what occurs in dry parts.
The rainy areas include the
eastern half Of the United
States. plus the western parts
of oregon and Washington and
the northwestern area Of CALI
fornia. (Rainy parts OF the
northern hemisphere outside
the United States should get
similar fallout. a spokesman
said.) f~f
Since 10 per cent OF the an
nual rainfall generally occurs
in the first six months OF each
year. more fallout is expected
early in the year than in the
latter half.
Top FallOut in April, May
THE large increase predicted
tfor this year. was not general
ly evident in measurements
made through March. However,
the maximum fallout rates are
expected 10 have occurred dur
Ing the months Of April and
May. so surveillance measure
ments OF nuclides such as cesi-
UNI 1877 and strontium 80
should show sharp increases by
June II these predictions are
approximately correct :"
The Federal Radiation Coun-
ell is made up OF the Secretaries
- Vakaw So. - 60.