Greatest Toll from Radioactivity
May Be Among Tomorrow’s Children
Editor’s Note: What effect
might today’s fallout from So
viet bomb testing have on chil
dren yet unborn? Scientists
aren’t agreed on the extent of
the danger, though most gen
eticists consider some harm
likely. This is the second of
three articles on fallout.
By Alton Blakasls*
NEW YORK <*> — The greatest
toll from the Soviet Union’s mon
ster 50-megaton. H-Bomb may be
among tomorrow’s children.
It’s radiation fallout might doom
hundreds of future generations—
to early death or physical or men
tal defects from hereditary dam
age.
Almost all geneticists assume
that any increase in radiation
could cause genetic damage to
some people.
Most think the effect from pre
sent fallout—and that added now
by the Soviets—will be a very
slight fraction of one per cent in
crease over the number of chil
dren presently bom with gen
etic defects. The increase could
be so slight as not to be detect
able.
But with 100 million children
born in this world each year,
even a slight increase in the rate
of defective births could mean
sizeable numbers of damaged or
still-bom humans in 50 to 100
• years or more.
Dr. Linus Pauling, famous
California Institute of Technol
ogy chemist and a crusader
against 'bomb testing, does esti
mate a number:
From a 50-megaton bomb alone,
40,000 infants bom with physi
cal or menjtal defects in the next
few generations throughout the
world, he says. And 400,000 more
genetically injured during the
next 6,000 years through radio
active carbon-14 created by such
a bomb. "V
Other Scientists Disagree
Other scientists disagree with
his estimate, particularly that
Kdealing with carbon-14.
The difficulty in any estimate
is that some crucial facts are not
known about human genes, pro
duced in the «ex glands, which
determine the inherited charac
teristics that babies will have.
It is known that radiation can
alto: or mutate genes, and mat
most mutations are harmful.
It is not known if genes can
resist tiny amounts of radiation,
such as represented by fallout
atoms which enter sex glands or
genes.
All the evidence from experi
Kments with animals, fruit flies,
and single cells indicate there is
no threshold or tolerable level.
Thus, geneticists assume any
increase in radiation is potentially
harmful.
One ecour aging note, from
mouse experiments, is that cnron
ic exposure to a low dose of ra
diation (10 roentgens a day) given
over a number of days produces
fewer mutations than an equal
total dose given all at once. Ex
posure of sex glands to fallout
atoms can be chronic or long
lasting, and at an almost infinitesi
mally small’dose.
Many experts assume that
natural background radiation has
always been causing some of the
genetic mutations to which the
human race is subject. Heat and
chemicals are more powerful
causes of genetic changes.
A National Academy of Sci
ences Committee has estimated
two billion children will be born
in the world during the next 30
years, and that some four million
of them would possess tangible
genetic effects from natural or
spontaneous causes.
Different authorities estimate 2
to 10 per cent of such genetic de
fects might be due to natural
background radiation.
So, even a slight increase in
radioactivity produced by bomb
tests could increase this rate of
genetic mutations. The experts all
agree the increase would not be
enough to cause any worry about
the future of the human race by
any means.
Various Estimates
Various estimates can be made,
as Dr. Pauling does, of the abso
lute numbers of persons who
might be affected by the addi
tional radiation from fallout. All
such guesses start from the un
known as to what natural radia
tion actually is doing.
Dr. Pauling sees a sizable total
number of future infants affect
ed—out of many, many billions
who would be born in the next
6,000 years—from carbon-14 cre
ated by H-Bombs.
The H-Bomb reaction releases
neutrons which can change nitro
gen atoms in the air into carbon
14. Cosmic rays from space do
the same thing, and create the
natural carbon-14 which enters
all living things on earth. .
Dr. Pauling estimates a 50
megaton H-Bomb would create
enough carbon-14 to cause 40,000
deaths or defects from genetic
changes in the next 6,000 years.
Reason: Carbon-14 can (become
part of the chemical material of
genes, and damage genes by the
rays it emits, ox because it then
changes back to nitrogen.
Other scientists hold Dr. Paul
ing has far over-estimated the
amount of carbon-14 from bombs
which would be available io af
fect humans.
And some say that through
modem medicine and humani
tarian treatment, we are keep
ing alive people ill or weaik of
defective genes, and the fact they
can have children may result in
passing along more defective
genes than would ever result from
fallout radiation,
pi* A consensus of the experts:
Bomb testing represents a de
finite but small hazard to hu
man posterity. )
Next: Fallout’s bad actors.
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Ice Island Records
Shock Waves from
Russia’s Big Blast
SEATTLE — Atmospheric
shock waves from Russia’s super
bomb' explosion last Monday
morning joggled pressure-record
ing instruments for half an hour
on the Arctic Ocean floating Ice
Island, Arlis II.
This was reported Thursday by
Arnold Hanson, University of
Washington research assistant in
Meteorology, who returned from
four-and-a-half months duty on
the floating scientific laboratory
which is about 500 miles north
west of Point Barrow.
The disturbance hit the island
about two-and-a-half hours after
the explosion, Hanson said.
Scientists theorize that atmo
spheric shock from multiple
sources struck the instruments in
a succession of waves, Hanson
said. Only one such wave was
recorded on Sea tile-area instru
ments.
The Arctic station is operated
by the University of Alaska’s
Arctic Bureau.
There was no measureable fall
out at the station, Hanson said.
The island is about 1,800 miles
from the blast site.
Hanson said the shock waves
were “five times greater” than
from another super-bomb a few
days earlier.
“That is not to say the second
bomb was five times larger, how
ever,” Hanson said. “The atmo
sphere has a lot to do with it.”
Hanson also said the Russians
have a floating station about 100
miles from the drifting Ice Island
where the meteorology and cli
matology experts are at work
with other scientific agencies.
“But all we’ve ever seen up
there is one twin-engined Rus
sian aircraft,” he said. “They
leave us alone and we do the
' same.”
Sixteen men have been living
on the island, which last year
split in half. The floating platter
of ice still is about two miles
in diameter and about 70 feet
thick.
“We have been highly unsuc
cessful in fishing up there,” Han
son said. “All we have caught
is two fish and lots of plankton.
“The fish bite best on crackers
tied as flies. Maybe some fisher
men can help us out”
The red-bearded scientist said
his beard was "good protection
against cold winds.” He said the
temperature had dropped to -28
degrees this year and last winter
fell to -58.
About the problems of 16 sci
entists living together with their
scientific data without entertain
ment except reading, the scientist
quipped:
“After a while, you begin to
see girls behind every tree.
“And there aren’t any trees.”
There is no official connection
between the UB. Chamber of
Commerce and the U.S. Junior
Chamber of Commerce, but the
two dtgani Motions cooperate in
many instances.
"Breakthrough" Antenna Improves TV Viewing
A scientific “breakthrough” in TV antenna design now makes
available better television reception for set owners everywhere,
and especially benefits the estimated four and a half million
viewers who live in “fringe” areas where signals are weak and
fuzzy.
Called the “Crossfire,” and developed after years of research
by engineers of Channel Master Corporation, the new antenna
*: makes the first
I practical use of
I the principle of
[Proportional En
ergy Absorption
to give clearer,
stronger all
channel recep
tion everywhere.
In fringe areas
particularly, it
delivers pictures
free of “snow,”
“ghosts,” “flick
ering” and other
interference. The
antenna is also
designe4 for ex
cellent color TV
reception and
; FM radio. '
Harold Harris, Channel Master vice-president in charge of
engineering, in explaining this successful use of the Propor
tional Energy Absorption principle, called the new development
a “major breakthrough” in the art of antenna design. “It is
now possible,” he explained, “to deliver maximum signal
strength to the set 6n all channels, 2 through 13.”
The new Crossfire is protected by a gold-colored coating that
protects it against atmospheric impurities, salt air, and other
corrosive elements. The coating, moreover, does not insulate
contact points. It is actually a conductor, and ensures long, ef
fective antenna life. The coating is also self-healing—scratches
and abrasions are quickly covered by an invisible film which
restores protection against the elements.
SEEK TO ACTIVATE
LEGION AUXILIARY
A meeting of prospective Am
erican Legion Auxiliary members
has been called for tomorrow at
2 p.m. at the home of Mrs. Dor
i othy Murphy — the former resi
dence of Chuck Reader.
Mrs. Murphy is a member of
Auxiliary Post No. 19 of Orlando,
Fla., and is seeking to activate
the Legion Auxiliary of the Nome
Post, which by coincidence is the
No. 19 post.
Mrs. Murphy said: “When you
say ‘I am an American Legion
naire or Auxiliary member’ there
is no doubt where you stand on
Communism. It identifies you as
a God-fearing flag-loving patriot
who believes there is no room in
this country for Commies. You
are part of an immense, out
spoken, active, determined anti
communist force.”
The meeting tomorrow will
consist of discussion with the aim
of forming and activating a lo
[ cal Legion auxiliary. Further in
formation may be obtained by
dialing 2812 or 2327.
Letter-eize and legal file folders
st The Nugget
NOME SANITARY
SERVICE
Dial 2671
P.O. Box 460
-.- ‘ _
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION
Notice is hereby given that Mollie A.
Dexter, Golovin, Alaska, together with
her witnesses, Mrs. Minnie Fagerstrom
and Mrs. Laurie Amaktoollk, both of
Golovin, Alaska, has filed Application
to Purchase for her Homesite.
Fairbanks Serial No. 09167, for lands
described as:
U.S. Survey No. 3651. Alaska,
situated in the Town of Golovin
on the North shore of Golovin
Sound and the establishment of
U.S. Location Monument No. 3661.
containing 1.63 acres.
Any or all persons having knowledge
of any reason why Final Certificate
and patent should sot be issued to said
person should file their protest in the
Fairbanks Land Office within the period
of publication or thirty days thereafter.
JESSE H. JOHNSON, Chief,
Lands Adjudication Unit
Pub: Oct. 13, 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10, 17.
24, Dec. 1. 8, 1961.
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