vert
ENperts Tell More About Effects of Tes
Victims of F- last
Are Near the Climax
By United Press
TOKIO, March 31—American experts. onnuclear radiation today. said 23 Japanese fishermen exposed to “hot” ashes from the
March 1 hydrogen explosion have entered the critical stage of
their illness.
The experts said one fisherman |activity caused naturally by radium
was seriously ill with “leukopenia,” alone, not counting other natural
a disease which causes bone marrow radioactive elements.
>
to fail in its production of white cor® Published findings of Japanese
puscles.
:
scientists about radioactive elements
Two others showed blood symp- found in the Fuguryu Maru’s atomic
toms that indicated deep penetration dust have not betrayed American
by “gamma”rays.
hydrogen warfare secrets,At the same time a responsible
TURNING POINT NEXT WEEK
If their white blood count begins American official assured the Japrising after April 5, the experts said, anese there probably are no danthe fishermen are not likely to suf- gerously radioactive fish in the Pacific outside the immediate waters
fer long-term ill effects.
. All the 23 were on the Japanese of Bikini lagoon.
This official said there was no
fishing vessel Fukuryu Maru (the
Fortunate Dragon), whith was ‘op- scientific basis for Japanese fears
erating 80miles"from the U.S. test- that the Bikini-Eniwetok tests are
ing grounds in the Marshall Islands polluting fishing waters and
threatening oneP of Japan's key food
at the time of the blast. In order to ease the anxietyabout sources.
He said somee fish from” the midthe hydrogen weapons tests in the
mid-Pacific, responsible American Pacific will register “unsafe” radiosources made the following Tevela- activity on their surface areas, but
still would be safe to eat after they
tions:
@ There is no scientific basis for are skinned and washed.
Toru Nakagawa, Director of the
reports that the burned fishermen
will be rendered sexually impotent Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian
or produce deformed children. “Tests Affairs Bureau, handed a note to
at Hiroshima, Nagasaki and else- U. S. Embassy. officials “requesting
where have' shown that genetic ef- the U. S. Government's considerafects are negative,” one source said. tion of the serious effects of the
@ There is no difference in the atomic bomb tests and the widendirect or indirect types of radiation ing of the danger area of Japanese
injuries caused by the latest hydro- fisheries.”’. The note was the first’ ‘official
gen explosions from those caused
by detonation of atomic bombs over governmental action against the
(| Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Thus, it mid-Pacific tests since the start of
a nationwide. scare resulting from
is not necessary to know theinthe radiation burning of the 23 fishgredients of a hydrogen’ bomb to
ermen,
treat_its radiation victims.@ There is no danger of world:
wide contamination resulting from
Today, The News comes to
atomic tests because the radioactive
clouds are dispersed and diluted in
the air and sea and the radioactive
elements disappear. The “atomic
drip” from bomb tests has added
to the U. S. continental atmosphere
only about 10 per cent of the radio-
the defense of small boys,
small dogs, small eagles and
small owls. Don’t miss Don
May’s story and pictures.on
Page 37.) (6 Oy .
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ACEC RESEARCH & we.”
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