continued from page 4
was that it was of no consequence. The Surgeon General of the Army* at the time stated:
"(1) Hazards from ingested or inhaled radioactive material can he completely discounted.
(2) The hazard of lingering radiation externally is insignificant.
(Both remarks apply to any conceivable tactical situation."[11-2]
Finally, this report stated that:
(3)"A great deal of attention should be directed toward: c. De-emphasizing the effects of lingering radiation and internally absorbed radioactive material following atomic bomb bursts."As a consequence, any medical and or humanitarian concern for the overexposure of GH personnel at the recently concluded Eniwetok tests was doomed by the position taken by the Surgeon General of the Army. In 1979, as my correspondence with the DNA increased and owing to a growing dissatisfaction with answers to my questions, I was greatly helped by the office of my then Congressman (now Senator) William S. Cohen. As a result, the DNA began to respond to my letters by writing Rep. Cohen. Then, in 1980, in response to yet another of my missives on the subject of the meeting, the DNA responded:
"The fallout was measured for intensity and characterized as to whether or not it constituted a biological hazard. Based on the investigations that were done, it was determined that the fallout radioactivity did not constitute an internal hazard. The particles were quite large--100 microns and larger in diameter -- thus the probability of inhalation was quite low -- to be an inhalation threat, particle sizes of 10 microns or lower are required."[12]
General Cooney observed that:
"It was not immediately apparent whether inhalation of the fall-out (sic) material was a serious health hazard.
Continue
*The surgeon General of the Army from 1947 to 1951 was Maj. Gen, Raymond Bliss, from 1951 to 1955 it was Maj. Gen. George Armstrong.
Operation Greenhouse || Email: Robert Campbell
Atomic Test Series and Dates || T-Shirts || Videos
NAAV Medical Data Base InformationAtomic Veterans History Project ©1997-2000
For use of the material found on this web site, please send us an email with your request.