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Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
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MEMORANDUM FOR CHAIRMAN SKABOS0 On Februery 25, 1966, Mr. John A. Hall concluded nn pgreeoent with designed to provide follow-up studies on the Peloajares area contami nated by Pu02 aerosol on January 17, 1966. In brief, we were to provide the equipment end technical essistrnce and the JEN ell the rest to pccoaplish the following four-point program: 1) Survey of people exposed to the ceroaol to try to determine body burden of Pu. 2) S mpling of the eir-duat above the contaaineted avers. 3) Scopling of the contaminated areas to study transport of Pu02 through the soil. 4) Sampling of the local farm produce and plants to atudy uptake of Pu via roots end/or leaves. The last of the equipment provided via H-Division of Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory was put into operation on April 10, 1967. It was at this point that Mr. Hall determined that the Division of Biology and Medicine should carry on this support and liaison as generally stated in concluding paragraph 5 of the Annex to the Otero-Hall Agreement. This disengages any military context from present and future collaboration and support with the Government of Spain.
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was In Madrid April 22 through May 9, 1967, to coaplete this transfer, establish contacts, review the progrea and ascertain future require* nents for the JES to continue the studies begun. The loportent points of his trip report sret 1) The surveillance-research prograa is under the direction of Drs. Rat&os and Iranzo, Director and Assistant Director, respectively, of the Division of Health and Protection of J£H. They are experienced, conservative, thoroughly professional sen with full recognition of the uncertain ties surrounding concepts of allowable levels of contaalnatlon. Their understanding of the Spanish peasant end Spanish offlcialdoa is such as warrant 2) The first sets of observations on people vere not rclieble due to contamination of urine samples. These rotosurcrejnts were made using LASL techniques and cross checked with 1ASL{ LASL has expressed confidence in the skills and proficiency of the JOi technicians. 3) It has been found that the soil of the Pplomeres area normally has about three tines the level of total alpha counts found in the rest of Spain. Therefore, any total alpha count just a little above general background must be analyzed spectroaetrically for the 5.1 KeV alpha of this moans most srsaples of urines, soils end produce rust be counted for 1003 minutes at the rate of eight per day. These samples are backing up rapidly even when the alpha spectrometer operates perfectly. 4) Plutonium-239 can be found in the soil within the contaminated zones but in a chence-dlstrlbuted, fine, particulate fashion—one grna of soil may have in excess of half e cicrocurie while the next grea, laterally or vertically, may be below background. Generally, the depth range between 5 and 35 cm has the highest levels followed by the surface and the greater than 35 cm levels; this is the result of
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5) The 24-hour air seaplet froa four location! over contaalnatad lend hcv« not vliown alpha activity. 6) In general, pleat! and frulta that vere originally present ahov contaalnatlon} washing reduces the count rate! sooevhat. Dot* In this category are few a! emphesla h*» been put on the people. Surveillance end evaluation of the cash crop-* tofflatoea--nnd locally eaten produce require faster, aore quantitative counting equipment. 7) Eighty of the Palooarea cl titans srost likely to be ctmtaalnated are being resurveyed in the whole body counter In Madrid under condition* aost likely to give reliable chest counts end urine samples. The latter data are not yet available due to failure of the alpha spectrometer; both sets of data are needed for judgment of contamination by Pu^^. S) Dr. Ramos has used such of the tlxae, space and funds of hla department to csrry out this work and requires assistance froa ua. If the progrea la to sreet Its own on-going health protection programs. Specifically, he needs about $25,003 per year for sample collection, part salary for personnel, shipping supplies end expendables; much of the materiel used for onalyses cannot be re-used. In addition, LASL should provide an additional coaplete clpha-spectroaeter setup, and a rapid 17 Rev ganssa-ray spectrometer for surveillance of the produce end locally consumed foods. He and the JEM plan a public statement when the data are In head; he has told the people up till the present correctly that their counts are within the range of 9) Dr. Ramos is sensitive about the name Peloamrea and has suggested instead "Projecto Indalo*' taking the nase froa the string-men cave drawings of about 20,000 years of age at the nearby Cuevas de /.Imanzero. Additional details can be provided with maps, slides, etc
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The filvlslos of Biology cod Kedlclne pleos to fund the cooing • half-celender year end then fund on * calendar year. Further, It la planned to bring Dra. fcoos end Iranzo Into cloae contact vith our acientiats vorklng on plutonlua and. In general, nske the* feel they are part of our v«ry active internal-eaittcr progrem. Dlviaion of Biology and Medicine