2.

Investigation of the effects of neutrons using biological
dosimeters showed that at the distance at which gamma
radiation is still a significant biomedical hasard the
contribution of neutrons to the total dese is not significant. The neutron flux is variable and will depend upon
the assembly of the weapon.

3.

Anatomical, histological, and other features of atomic bomb

flash burns can be satisfactorily produced by intense thermal
sources now available in the laboratory.

It was demonstrated that no burning takes place during 20-30
milliseconds after detonation of an atomic bomb, and that all
thermal injury occurred in less than one second,

It was also

shown that ultraviolet light from the bomb did not contribute

significantly tothe thermal injury.

4.

Foxholes afford reasonable emergency shelter against blast
and radiation, depending, of course, upon yield and distance
from ground zero,

5.

6.

Occupants of aircraft passing through the stem of an atomic
cloud are exposed to greater hazard from gamma radiation from
external sources than from radiation from inhaled bomb debris.

The use of plants, such as Tradescantia, as biological dosin~

eters may be feasible. The number of breaks in the chromo~
somes of Tradescantia axposed to bomb radiation correlated
very closely with dosages for I and gamm rays, and for neutron
dosage when gamma radiation was sereaned out, thus providing

as exact a measure of radiation as film badges or instruments.
Research Activities

Savannah River Site Bilolo

y (UNCLASSIFIED) Two

conferences were held in April in connection with the Biological
Survey being conducted under the general direction of the Savannah
River Project. All phases of the program were reviewed in detail.
The over-all survey is aimed to assure that initial shanges
in the fauna and flora of the region due to plant operation or
released radioactivity shall be recognized immadiately and corrected.
The program is divided into the following four major subdivisions:

DO ARCHIVES

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