Request for Help: Atomic era contamination for south pacific

[andrew_mcewan@nrl.moh.govt.nz]

Ken Smith wrote
"I received a call from one of our collection planning librarians. She
stated that during the late 1950's, there were peace activists (names of
which I don't have at the moment) that sailed into the area at the time of
an above ground test in the South Pacific. Their notes, maps and equipment
that accompanied them on this boat were donated to the University. The
material has been sitting in a warehouse for while. So the information I
have is very limited. Now the University is wanting to resurrect this
material to develop a special collection, but questions about the material
and it's contamination levels have arisen."

There may be a confusion of dates here.  US tests were conducted at Bikini and
Enewetak during the 1950s, but the Marshall Islands are in the North Pacific.
The UK conducted tests at Christmas and Malden Islands, which are about the
equator, in 1957-58.  The French tests in the South Pacific (Mururoa and
Fangataufa Atolls) did not start until 1966.

Andrew McEwan

_________________________
Andrew C McEwan PhD
National Radiation Laboratory
PO Box 25-099
Christchurch, New Zealand

Ph 64 3 366 5059
Fax 64 3 366 1156
Andrew_McEwan@nrl.moh.govt.nz


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