Apprehensisn of Long Range Contamination of Japan and its Fishing Grounds | Japenese apprehensions over the posibility of long range radiologieal. contamination were very Similar to these we en~ countered in tha United States as a result of NPG operations. A difference in Japan is due to the fact that none, if any, of the counting equipment is calibrated, Gi tubes are used without shields, — and under conditions where the background count is apt to be highly variable, This, ccupled with the fact that they do not know the background activities of such things as soil and biological materials, makes it very difficult to evaluate the reports. Many of the reports of "ash” falling in verious parts of Japan are undoubtedly dust’ or soot falls that oecur normally in any industrial crea from time to time. Reputable scientists have examined samples of potassium rich soil and have reported their date is gross counts without any reference to normal soil background. For this reason I find it very difficult to take serious the frequent public report >of SO to 100 counts per minute for the unspecified size of samples reported from time to time, At ay conference with the Japan scientists ond government officials on March 2h, I explained the procedures we use in the States for measuring fallout. IT urged them to use similar procodures for the sake of uniformity and offered to loan them the equipment we used. They seemed eager to accept and I requested 4 sets of equipment which has since arrived from the States. However, since the arrival of this equipment, I have delayed giving it to the Japanese because in their present state of mind little good could come of it. I do believe, however, that when the present confusion subsides, it will be usefil for the Japanese to maintain a fallout monitoring network and I think we should cooperate with them to the fullest extent. In a conference with Dr. Kobayoshi on March 26, I informed hin =f my conversation with Dr. Bugher and his offer in behalf of the Atomic Energy Commission to provide financial support for marine bislogical Studies directed at the long range contamination of the Pacific. Or. Kobayoshi, through his interpretor, expressed his apprectation for this offer but did not pursue the matter further and has not approached me since, With regard to fallout on the Japanese isicnds themselves, it is to be remembered that the position of those islands in relation to possible sites of weapons testing is such that the Russian testing program is apt to produce more fallout than events in the Marshalls or Nevada. Eatiasting the Whele Body Dose I doubt that it will be possible to make a satisfactory estimate 2°: either the Beta or Gemma dose the fisherman received. We know that the ash fell in such quantities thet the deck of the ship became white, and — there was sufficient material to develop visible footprints. Unfortunatzcy, this is the limit of our information 2n how auch ash‘fell and how long it remained on the ship. The fishermen washed the decks in order to -enc-2 the ash and according to their reports their washing was effective. “hen the vessel arrived in Yaizu much cf whet remained was removed. ta “s . ~ | |