NATURAL SOURCES RADIATION RISE

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29800, 17 April 1962, Page 17

NATURAL SOURCES RADIATION RISE

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON. April 16. The evidence indicated that there had been increased radiation from natural sources in the Last 30 years. Sir Ernest Marsden told the Wellington physics branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand tonight. This was apart from fallout. he said. If this were so then it was the physicist’s job to find ou: why it was occurring. Any suggestions that he made in this matter were not designed to frighten people. He believed, however. that every possible avenue must be followed up. None of the possibilities had yet been proved. Sir Ernest Marsden said much more radium was being processed in the world now. This could be significant. Topdressing with superphosphate could also be a factor; the rock phosphate was about 50 times more active than i the soil and the super was 'about 20 times more active.

Samples studied at the Grassland Institute at Palmerston North showed that the soil activity did not alter very much after topdreesing. On the other hand, the activity of the rye grass grown in that soil did. The white clover did not, however, alter much. In his opinion the increase

in the rye occurred because the topdreasing increased the acidity of the soil and thia meant there was leas calcium. If there were only a little calcium and at the same time strontium and rad.Um were present the grass would tend to pick up the radiation. On the whole the activity of modern wheat was much higher. The fertiliser question could come into this and also modern breeding methods could be r factor. Sir Ernest Marsden mentioned that Rhodesia. Brazil and Niue Island showed a higher than normal degree of radioactivity in certain parts.