50
WORLDWIDE EFFECTS OF ATOMIC WEAPONS
SAMPLING AND RESEARCH PROGRAM
made.*) Several of the more active of the older samples from TRINITY and
the active rain water collected in eastern Massachusetts will be useful for
the calibration mentioned. Inasmuch as human samplesare importantin all
phases of the investigation, it is desirable to have at least one sample
soil types may influence the amounts of Sr°° reaching humansoraffecting
other important bionomiccycles.
With these factors in mind, the following six areas are suggested for
investigation in the pilot program: (1) northern Utah or southwestern
Idaho, (2) Kansas or Iowa, (3) New England (Boston), (4) South
available during the early stages of the experimental program. (Arrangements for such human bone samples from the Boston area have already
been made by A. K. Solomon of the Harvard Medical School.)
America, (5) England, and (6) Japan.
There are fallout data already available from most of these areas. Area
1 is selected as representing an area of maximum fallout. Area 2 represents lesser fallout, but is important as the center of the grain-growing
The discussion of the factors involved in this problem as presented in
the earlier sections of this report serves as a guide to the type of sample
and the location from which samples should be taken. It is fairly obvious
that the samples should be obtained both from locations that are near to
detonation sites and that represent exposure to high fallouts and from
exposure. The areas so chosen might also represent a variation in other
than distance and exposure. All such variables as dietary habits, source
Sotdiet 4
and types of food, water and milk sources, amount of rainfall, and loca!
*Private communication, Merril Eisenbud, “Strontium Analysis of NYOO Fallout Samples,”
July 23, 1953:
“The method of analysis consisted of dissolving in acid the ashed fallout samples.
The alkaline metals were precipitated as oxalate and were followed by two separations
of strontium as the nitrate. Collected samples spiked with strontium-90 yield an 80%
to 85% recovery.
“The confirmatory yttrium milking procedure has not at this writing been completed. The strontium assays follow:
region. Area 3 hasstill less fallout, but is an area where considerable
information is already available on radioactive contamination of rain,
ts
locations downstream from the detonations representing areas of lesser
streams, and reservoirs. South America, Area 4, provides an area in the
southern hemisphere; and England, Area 5, is in a northern-hemisphere
area where exposure should be very low, but samples readily obtainable.
Japan, Area 6, is included because excellent arrangementsare presently in
effect there for obtaining human specimens from all age groups. Then,
too, the Japanese specimens will represent a much longer exposure time
and will also provide an opportunity to observe any effects of different
diets and living habits on the concentration of Sr’ in humans.
In each of these six areas, the following types and numbers of samples
should be considered:
Human material, 12 samples .....
0 to 10 years old, epiphysial end of rib,
pooled—2 samples, 2 teeth
10 to 20 years old, epiphysial end of rib,
pooled—z samples, 2 teeth
Over 20 years old, epiphysial end of rib,
pooled—-2 samples, 2 teeth
Livestock, 10 samples ...........
Young animal, rib—3 samples
Mature animal, rib—3 samples
Bone meal—3 samples
Teeth—1 sample
Counts per Minute
Place
Date
Total
Strontium
% Strontium
T/S 1 Boise
6/5
6600
760
11.3%
6/5
6/5
7500
2600
250
82
3.3%
4.2%
11/5
8800
218
2.5%
11/4
26900
750
28%
2 Boise
3 Gooding
IVY 4 Iwo
5
6 Manila
11/6
1700
39
2.3%
Cow milk, or milk solids—3 samples
Foodstuffs, 8 samples ...........
Theoretical
T/S 5%
Ivy 7!
/2% |
3-89
Waters, 3 samples
2-90
614-89
Soils, 3 samples
1-90
Reference Hunter
and Ballou.”
St
Feces, human, pooled—1t sample
Local truck farms—1 grain, 1 root, 1 leaf
The total number of samples from each area is thus 36, giving a worldwide total of 216.