Fall-out low

Press, 17 August 1978, Page 3

Fall-out low

PA Wellington Nuclear fall-out levels measured In New Zealand last year were the lowest since measurements began in 1960, says the National Radiation Laboratory. Deposits of strontium 90 at nine New Zealand recording stations averaged less than 0.1 millicuries per square kilo* metre, according to an annual report on environmental radioactivity released yesterday. This was one thirtysixth of the deposits recorded in 1964, said the report by the laboratory’s director (Dr H. R. Atkinson). The 1964 deposits resulted from large United States and Soviet atmospheric tests in 1961-62.

Concentrations of strontium 90 and caesium 137 in New Zealand milk reflected the changes in fall-out deposit. He said that five Pacific island stations had been monitoring levels continuously in the area sines French underground nuclear testing began in 1975. “Fresh fission products, from possible venting dun ing underground tests, have been detected since this programme started. “The levels recorded during 1977 were very small fractions of the reference levels and do not constitute a public health hazard. “The radiation dose to the general population resulting from the long-term average levels is small,” Dr Atkinson said.