Biological Effects Of Atomic Explosions To Be Investigated

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28057, 27 August 1956, Page 14

Biological Effects Of Atomic Explosions To Be Investigated

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 6.30 p.m.) CANBERRA, Aug. 25. Australia and Britain will make new investigations into the biological effects of atomic explosions during one of the forthcoming atomic weapons tests at Maralinga, the Minister of Supply •Mr Howard Beale) said today. “The purpose of these investigations is to increase our knowledge of how to protect the civilian population in the event of atomic attack,” Mr Beale said. “This will include a study of the effects of ingesting agricultural products which may have become radioactive,” he said. The Minister said a number of sheep, rabbits and other small animals would be used for the tests. Some would not be in the firing area, but later would be fed specially-prepared herbiage which had been placed near the firing site. Information obtained would be added to that learned about the biological effects of the atomic explosions at the first British tests at Monte Bello in 1952, Mr Beale said. The investigations were being sponsored by the British Medical and Research Councils, various service departments. the Home Office, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Australian departments, agencies and universities were closely co-operating, Mr Beale said. The tests at Maralinga, in the South Australian desert, will enable civil defence authorities to plan defences for cities against atomic attack, the Australian atomic weapons tests safety committee said in a statement. A representative selection of targets will be scattered in the Maralinga test area to observe the effects of the atomic blast on them. The tests will give an indication of the best protection against blast, heat and radio-activity. Types of clothing also will be tested, the committee’s statement said. The committee said it was neces-

sary to know, for example, at what degree of blast pressure a building was likely to collapse, or at what distance from nuclear explosions woodwork would catch fire from heat flash The statement said that blast was one of the chief damaging effects of a nuclear explosion, and many of the experiments were concerned with the resistance to blast of various types of structures. Effects of heat on samples of woodwork, paints, plastics, rubber, clothins cardboard, paper and many other kinds of materials to be found in a modern city will also be the subject of experiments. •_ Tests also will oe made with methods of fire-proofingt The committee said that radioactivity was a civil defence problem, and one made difficult because it could not be detected by ordinary senses, and a person protected against blast and heat might still receive enough radiation to produce sickness or death.

Tests would be made to measure the degree of protection against radiation in air raid shelters or ordinary buildings, and to find out the thickness of a layer of earth, concrete or other material required to give protection against radiation. N.Z. OBSERVERS FOR JTESTS FIRST GROUP TO ATTEND (N.Z Press Association -Copyright i (Rec. 10 p.m.) MELBOURNE. Aug. 26. Five New Zealand services observers who will see the new series of British atomic weapons tests at Maralinga, South Australia, will arrive in Melbourne ■ tomorrow. They will stay the night in Melbourne and leave for Maralinga with a party of Australian servicemen on Tuesday morning. The New Zealand group—the first to attend atomic tests in Australia—consists of three Army officers and one representative each of the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.