What are they doing?

active radiations.

In a discussion of the long-
term effects, it concentrates
en the genetic effects. Here
it gives the opinion that the
amount of radiation resulting
from the various tests that
have so far taken place ‘is only
abeut one percent of the radia-
tion arising naturally.

it also concludes that the
genetic effects of such radia-
tion are small compared with
ihe effects from X-ray ma-
chines, or from clocks and
watches with luminous dials.
It does not give much empha-
sis te some of the other effects
thet occur.

The most serious of these
is the spreading over the earth
of cne or two particular radio-
active materials that are pro-
duced in H-bomb explosions.
Particularly important sub-
stances are radioactive plutoni-
um and strontium. These are
being deposited in very small
quantities all over~-the earth.

Ik they just stayed there the
effect would perhaps not be
so much to bother about. But
they do not. These substances
can be taken up by plants,
animals and human beings.

Sheep and cattle in Britain
now have measurable amounts
of radioactive strontium in
their bones and even in their

milk. Thus in due course ‘it
can be eaten or drunk by hu-
man beings and will be de-
posited in their bones.

This happens to the great-
est extent in babies and small
children, whose bones. are
growing rapidly.

In sufficient quantity, radio-
active deposits in the bones are
ikxnown to cause anemias, leuk-
emias and bone cancers, the
majority ot which are fatal
ilinesses.

The total amounts in the
bodies of persons who have
cied in this way vary, but as
little as one millionth of a
gram of radium in the bones
can definitely cause disease.

*

The MRC report does not
give much information on the
ectual amounts that are likely
to be taken in by the popula-
tion It gives an estimate to
the effect that the highest
‘evels of radioactive strontium
in our bones at present as
being about one thousandth of
the “permissible” level.

Figures were given at the
open day held recently at
Harwell, Briton’s atomic re-
search centre, of the increase
in the amount of radioactive
strontium that has fallen out
on Britain since records start-

ed io be kept in 1948.

Since then the amount has
increased six times, and more
can be expected to fall in
future.

The MRC report predicts
that from the explosions that
have already taken place there
will be a rise to about 24 times
the 1948 figure by 1965.

At présent, grass contains
35 times as much strontium as
the same weight of human
bones; sheep bones contain 14
times and cow’s milk. five
times.

It is argued that the present
ievel is safe. But we cannot
assume that things will neces-
sarily stay this way. We can
expect the amounts of stron-
tium in our bones to increase,
but we cannot say to what
ievel nor in how long.

The same sort of- thing is
occurring in the sea. Although
the amounts of calcium and
strontium in seawater are ex-
tremely small, yet fish consume
them and use them in making
their bones.

Measurements of the radio-
activity of fish caught near
Japan has shown in several
places a high concentration of
raidoactivity.

Other reports have ~ been
made of high radioactive con-
tent of fish in rivers into which

the waste products of radio-
active piles are being dis-
charged — even though the
concentration of radioactive
material in the river water was
kept at a very low level.

Whether small amounts of
radioactivity in human bones
are harmful is not known. We
dc know that relatively large
amounts a few hundred
times the amount at present in
our bones, can cause ‘disease.
We just do not know the
effects of smaller amounts.

Until we know, it is crimin-
al stupidity to take chances.
Once the material is in the

bones, it is very, very difficu}
if not impossible, to get it 08
again.

When Prime Minister ¥¥
Anthony Eden announced thé
the H-bomb tests next spril
would proceed, the main com
clusions of the MRC repoh
were certainly known to
British government.

Yet it has decided that #
though its own experts do 1
iknow the effects of this t@
on the population of the wor®
that though it may cause SI
ness and disease, it will #
ahead, unless the people SW
it. ‘

& oS 6
Mid-year report on circulation |
a
; GREATER VANCOUVER PROVINCE
Dear Reader. CLUB PROPOSED ACHIEVED |
Press clubs are asked to take CLUB PROPOSED ACHIEVED tae Se ee ee 25 ” 1
a good look at-the figures on 2 Fort; Langley 2 60 14 |
this page, which show the 1956 Advance oe ee 65 Sa Hamibope:: -s-2 5 e s 40 10 J
subscription targets accepted at A. E. Smith --------------- 50 Wadner< 2 ee 35 a a
the beginning of the year, and UY ee ie 60 31 Maplex Rinks 22 2 15 30 4
the progress made to date. Building Prades. 2. 45 13 Michel-Natal -.------------ 40 12 i
Although a few clubs have Pe Meek ie 60 20 ee: ee ee sae a = 3
done very well, and one (Ad- f UR tee tae te ou 4
sae a eo een kh rek i ak ee aoe ee ss ra New Westminster -------_- 100 30 |
ready over the ectrical =-~--------------- Noto Hs. 52 ee 25 10 7
op, the picture oN See aS Ee ES 40 21 Powell, River <=. se 70 20 ;
“as a whole needs Sarammew f 52 125 48 i aga Sate Sore es a - 7 |
changing for the Hasti East 15 34 sa sod bi SE ogres mame A
ate” Ac op astings East --_--------- South Surrey ------------- 60 12 |
now we are Mamttene. 35 ot 100 54 LU Ee ae ee ee 120 32 :
running 92 subs . : Vernon § -_----------------- 30 14 =
CR eee oe laid Little Mountain ----------- 50 22 Correspondence _____-_____ 25 13
year a rj ; 5 MeUnNeMey te 80 26 — : ,
yeat and during June we suf y Wein oo age 270
fered a loss of 13. But many May Mount ‘Pleasant ___.____--_- 65 30
and June renewals are still not ee ee 40 12 VANCOUVER ISLAND “A
picked up, and we should beeable CLUB PROPOSED ACHIEVED
to register a healthy gain in SS ee ee 90 26 Ahern. .te eae 200 68° a
mee, mar 1D gue expire this” 30 9 Campbell River —_____-_- 70 18 a
month and if we renew these, . 10 4 Courtenay so 535 oe oe 75 28
plus some older ones that are Peng Pai ----------------- Cumberland = ce & ea 90 33
outstandiig we can make an Philip Halperin --_-------- 65 12 Duncan Peo oe. 0 Lic;
overall gaip. ‘ Lake Cowichan |_______- 70 17
. ae aig See eM PR ere Ae 4 A
First reports indicate that Serre = ' NangIMO se Rk. - 350 134
many readers like our new form- SeREOONA. Se 40 13 Raney coe oe 35 13
at. Despite the fact that this is Manic ee fees (8 po Vitworix: 24.-. ~~. = --- 225 92
the holiday season, we hope to : —_— —_—
win many new readers in the Victory Square ---------- 125 68 TOTAL eae et 1165 414
next couple of months. Wintortrenhs 635 ee 40 9
One thing we urgently need is West End 120 24 PROVINCIAL POINTS
weeee = cwOet “shresmen.- People or OS ee Brit “ PROPOSED
ean’t buy our paper unless they aol: A 70 24 ins a a SS oe oa 15
see it. A couple of our best street South Burnaby _______-____ 125 62 Geachreck yes ne eae a 20
salesmen have left town for jobs spies. * fee See eS ae
elsewhere, and they leave a gap Vancouver Heights ----_-_- 50 22 Prince Feoer he geen 10
that is hard to fill. North Van. (City) —.__-_-- = So ere ae 4
Our office is much too quiet ie Salmon Arm _._______ 20
these days, especially after the North Van. (District) --_-.. — 38 ‘Sointula Se Se 45
excitement of the financial drive. th  Vanconve ss Provi oy RS ,
Sie. ane Gekiave th" Wimiiee North an geen Bele 7 rovince Miscellaneous 200
doldrums. on cracking on City Miscellaneous ---..... 370 101 TOTAL : 360 “140
chic-hadican PROVINCE TOTAL _ 2375 824
Rita Whyte TOTAL, -..------..-.. 2500 964 GRAND TOTAL ____ _ 4875 1788

July 6, 1956 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE — PAG

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