Our researcher has uncovered this document from 1968 addressed to Professor Butterfield in 1968. Which references a classified Ministry of Aviation book entitled 'Biological effects of thermal radiation" which was classified as confidential.
This blog will explore the documents from the 'Effect of external ionizing radiation on personal' edited by Sir William Penney.
The reports mentioned in points 1 and 2 are classified information, even in 1968, Mr Peirson of the UK Atomic Energy Authority could not find the actual reports from Operation Hurricane, but has not given up the search. We do not know if he ever found them.
The report starts with information relating to the effects of Ionizing radiation on Personnel:
William Penney was well aware of the affects on body tissue of ionizing radiation.
Atomic Weapons development will possibly mean that personnel are exposed to dangerous, uncontrolled doses of ionizing radiation.
Exposure from fissile material, residue of fission or fall-out contamination.
Alpha Particles
Further exposure to alpha particles handling fissile materials, after a ground explosion of poor efficiency, fall-out over an area of several square miles or more, depending on the weapons, the window and weather.
Personnel would be exposed to a hazard or internal alpha irradiation if they inhaled or swallowed much unfissioned material. It can cause bone tumours, can lodge in lungs, cause localised irradiation damage and further tumours.
Beta Particles
A risk if external beta radiation exists for personnel in or entering the fall-out area.
With bursts less than 300 feet high, the dangerous area is likely to be at least several square miles in extent soon after detonation.
Beta particles can penetrate 1/2 inch into the tissues causing moderately intense ionization along their tracks.
About a week after exposure, the burned part turns red again.
Severe burns can lead to painful gangrene. Rarely, cancer develops later on (years) at the site of beta burns.
The most important biological effects of beta particles arise with internal radiation.
We are concerned with at most, spoonful's of debris containing fission products, and at least, a few grains.
Gamma Radiation
Gamma rays are generated during the fission process, this gives rise to the so called gamma flash.
An area of 2-3 miles can cause casualties from Gamma Radiation.
As much shielding as possible must be implemented 'as much protection as possible'
So to summarise, there are three main risk of injury from ionizing radiation:
The fall-out hazard can be from relatively low levels of contamination over a very wide area, even from airburst weapons.
Conclusion
This 'classified' report shows that William Penney knew the effects, knew that the servicemen would be affected by alpha, beta and gamma radiation. He knew that even low levels of fall-out contamination would provide a hazard for the servicemen.
Yet, ships sailed through the fall-out, servicemen were rained on, fall-out falling from the sky onto their food, the water contaminated. A few grains of contaminated material can cause damage, the sand swirled around these men all day, they worked in dusty, hot, sandy conditions. Burns can turn to cancer years later.
As much shielding as possible should be implemented, yet many had just shorts and hats. It is incredible that even to this day, the UK Government denies that the servicemen were put in harms way, yet a report by William Penney himself shows that the hazards were real. The faceless civil servants at the Ministry of Defence should be ashamed.
Part Two tomorrow.
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