USE OF ATOMIC DUST

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26633, 19 January 1952, Page 5

USE OF ATOMIC DUST

POSSIBLE EFFECTS IN WAR CONTAMINATION PLAN FOR CITIES (By a Reuter Correspondent) WASHINGTON. United States radiological warfare experts are investigating the war potentialities of atomic dust as a weapon to “dehumanise” enemy cities without destruction of life or property. Manufacture of atomic dust is no problem. It already exists in radioactive waste materials from atomic piles. Its use in war time to contaminate enemy cities or battle positions would represent a humane iorm of warfare as inhabitants would not be seriously injured or killed if they evacuated the affected areas within 24 hours.

European and United States scientists sav that in theory the silent and invisible atomic dust weapon could lead to bloodless victories in which ijot a life would be lost nor a building damaged. An eminent Austrian authority. Professor Hans Thirring, maintains that modern atomic plants can produce in a relatively short time enough radio-active by-products to contaminate all the major cities of Europe.

Scattered in sufficient quantities over a city or defence installation in the form of dust these by-products with their dangerous but invisible gamma rays could force' an enemy to abandon them until such time as the radio-activity had died down. The professor’s contentions have the qualified support of United States atomic experts in the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory in New Mexico. In a cautiously-worded report last year on the effects of atomic weapons, these experts left no doubt that the possibilities of atomic dust in radiological warfare were receiving close and constant study. Toe American authorities said clearly that such materials could be used to clear a city without causing the tremendous havoc produced by atom bombs or other explosives. No Harm in 24 Hours

The radio-activity released by the dust spray would have little effect on a human body within 24 hours, they said, but anyone remaining beyond that time would be subject to death or serious injury from over-exposure. The progress of radiological warfare research in the United States is a closely-guarded secret. But it is no secret that radioactive dust can be obtained in quantity from the “waste” products of atomic piles and by selective “bombardment.” Before' it can be used as a war weanon, however, the experts have to determine the most effective means of handling it tor spraying over enemy territory. The Los Alamos authorities admit that one of the major problems would be that of shielding workers from lethal rays during the manufacture, storage and delivery of the weapon. It is understood' that workers in atomic plants have to use three-foot thick lead shields for protection when removing radioactive waste materials from atomic piles.

No one in a position of authority as yet, according to United States scientists, has succeeded in developing the atomic dust weapon to a point where it could be effectively employed. However, the great advances in the atomic field in the past few years supports a belief that most of the problems connected with it are on the way towards solution, if they have not already be p n solved. Public attention was focused on atomic dust possibilities when Congressman Albert Gore, of Tennessee, urged President Truman last April to consider using “radiological surface contamination” against the Communists in Korea. He said the United States was capable of creating a radioactive belt across Korea in which, he said, nothing could remain without death or deformity. Army Scepticism

Militarv men were sceptical. They noted that because of the natural decay in radioactive materials, the contamination hazard diminishes with time and also that enemy troops could remain for many hours in the contaminated area without ill-effect. An enemy commander could therefore hold such areas by periodic replacement of troops to avoid overexposure and there would be no danger to troops passing through such an area.

One of the disadvantages in the atomic dust type of warfare, the experts sav, is that it is not possible to build a stockpile for future use as can be done with other weapons. Because there is a steady loss of activity in atomic particles, there would have to be continuous manufacture of active materials even when the weapon was not being used.