on such places,

If it appears that fallout may occur which is in

multiple roentgens or approaches the conservative off-site guide of
3.9 roentgens in one year, the shot would of course be postponed.
Computations allow sizable margins for the errors which necessarily
accompany pin-pointed forecasts of wind directions,
‘
Monitoring Teams in Test Site Area

. ‘

I

' The off-site monitoring program for Operation Plumbbob was

organized to take numerous radiological measurements and to provide

close liaison with the citizens of nearby communities.

U. S. Public

Health Service personnel assigned to the Test Organization operate
the programs under which the area around the Test Site was divided
into 17 zones. One or more technically qualified men have been

assigned to live in each zone. Their duties consist not only of
normal monitoring activities but also, prior to and during the test
series, of learning the communities and families in their zones,
getting to know the people and being known by them. Teams are stationed at Las Vegas, Alamo, Caliente, Pioche, Ely, Tonopah, Mercury,
Lincoln Mine, Overton, Mesquite, and Eureka (Nevada); St. George,

Cedar City and Beaver (Utah); Barstow and Bishop (California); and
Kingman (Arizona).
i

In addition to the zonemoriitors there are eight mobile monitering teams on call to go to any locality to assist if needed or to
travel to areas outside the 17 zones.
(Twelve fixed~station teams and four mobile teams were utilized
during the 1955 Nevada series.)

The monitors distribute and collect film badges (used for

measurement of radiation dosage), monitor radioactivity on the ground
and in the air, collect water and milk samples, and answer public
inquiries regarding test fallout.
' Film Badges

Since photographic film is extremely sensitive to radiation,

badges containing film have been used extensively in the atomic
energy program to measure radiation exposure.

During the 1955 series, badges were placed on the interiors and

exteriors of buildings in the Test Site area, on trees, fence posts

and fences in communities and in the open country.

In addition, some

of the residents of the nearby area wore badges as a means of aiding
the Test Organization in determining the radiation exposure actually
experienced by persons in the area, A total of 555 such film badge
"stations" were used in the 1955 series.

More than 2,000 film badgestations have been established for
the 1957 series. In several small communities near the Test Site,
all residents except infants and small children have been asked to.

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