U.S. Now Producing Atom On “Industrial Basis”

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 August 1949, Page 8

U.S. Now Producing Atom On “Industrial Basis”

WASHINGTON, July 31. —The United. States Atomic Energy Commission disclosed today that atom bombs were now being produced 5 *on an industrial basis.” The statement was made in the commission’s half-yearly report to Congress. The report also revealed that radio-active cobalt was being used as more effective cancer treatment than radium. The report said that uranium and plutonium for bombs were being made “in greater quantities than ever before.”

It added: “New and effective weapons which were tested at Eniwetok an-1948 are in production. Under the commission’s direction the components of these Weapons are being produced pn an industrial basis by competent manufacturing concerns or special Government facilities throughout the country.” The report said that operations in the field of military application of atomic energy “have continued to accelerate during the last six months.” I Outstanding Points Other outstanding points in the report are:— . ' (1) Experiments are being made m treatment for the relief of pain and distress in two types of heart disease, angina pectoris and congestive heart < failure. I (2) The first human trials of radio- : active cobalt as cancer treatment are being carried out at Ohio State University. About 15 cases of five different types of cancer have been treated. Some tumours have been destroyed and others have been arrested. “The indications are that due to the flexibility and comparative safety of radio-active cobalt, the university Will be able to achieve its original objective of better treatment of cancer. ; Evaluation of the results will require ■ further large-scale work and some : years of time.” : (3) Research is being carried out to diagnose radiation injuries quickly by a blood test. (4) Hornets may be used to detect radiation leaks in atomic energy devices, because they readily absorb one of the by-products of atomic fission. (5) It is possible that bacteria will be used to remove dangerous radioactive materials from atomic energy waste products (just as ordinary sewage is treated). (6) It may be possible to diagnose male sex hormone deficiencies by using radio-active materials. Some of the victims of the Bataan “march of death” had developed breasts like women as a result of malnutrition, and tests showed that starvation had reduced their production of normal j male hormones. (7) Elaborate safeguards are being developed for the protection of.atomic workers. The report also disclosed that the commission had found stand-by uranium resources in the United States that could be used for miltary application if uranium now being obtained here and from abroad became unavailable.

Supply Of Uranium “A comprehensive examination has been made of virtually 9 every rock formation in this country and of mine and smelter products and gas and oil wells and other places where uranium might be found,” the report said. “By June this work had revealed enormous tonnages of materials low in uranium content.” The report said that in connection with the production of fissionable materials for weapons and other uses “action has been, taken to improve and make more certain the supply of uranium ores both from abroad and from sources in the United States.” A member of the commission said that this reference had no connection with recent speculation about American, British, and Canadian relations.

One report was that the United States feared that Britain and Canada would cut off supplies of uranium—of which they had almost a monopoly —unless j the United' States gave them atomic energy secrets. The member said that the report had be&n written before discussions on the relations of the United States, Britain and Canada in the atomic field began. The commission said that all persons two and a half miles or farther from a place where an atomic bomb exploded were safe from radiation injury. Nearly everybody within half a mile, if not protected by earth, steel, or concrete, would die from, radiation effects, blast, fire, or falling buildings. The number of radiation casualties would drop sharply at a mile and a quarter. The commission, after describing the phases of radiation illness, said: “Scientists have found no practical way to prevent the death of cells or tissues injured by radiation. However, the body’s naturally great regenerative powers can be helped along, and research indicates some hope ultimately of finding partially immunising agents in the form of sex hormones and systine, which is an amino acid. These agents have increased the resistance of laboratory mice to radiation.” -