22. Mrs. Butlerasked the Minister of Health, as representing the Minister for Science, what information has been made public in this country with regard to radioactive particles of measurable size found in fall-out in Great Britain by scientists advising the Government; what official studies have been made of possible special biological effects in man of such concentrated radioactivity; and what are the radioactive elements present in these particles.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithInformation on radioactive particles in fall-out at that date was given in Appendix M of the Medical Research Council's "Report on the Hazards to Man of Nuclear and Allied Radiations", 1956, which will be revised and brought up to date later this year. This Report states that the concentration of these particles in air in the United Kingdom is such that they are unlikely to constitute a problem in ordinary civilian life. As I informed the hon. Lady in my reply of 17th December, 1959, it is the total radioactivity from fall-out which is considered to be of main significance for human health, and research into the effect of such radioactivity on man is constantly in progress. Research on the possible biological effects in man of isolated large particles is not practicable.
Mrs. ButlerBut is the Minister aware that living tissue is better able to survive widespread damage from low-dose radiation than concentrated damage at a high rate and that Austrian figures less than a year ago showed Zirconium 95 and Niobium 95 activity in lungs more than 100 times the natural radium activity? Is it not important that Government scientists should study the biological effects of these particles and publish their results at a very early date, because the first the public in this country knew about the existence of these particles, apart from the appendix which the right hon. and learned Gentleman has mentioned, was from a manufacturer of photographic materials last year?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe hon. Lady will appreciate that these large particles of measurable size to which her Question refers are not, in fact, different in kind 826 from other fall-out particles. The general subject, as she so well knows, is under constant research. The problem of the effect of these particles on the human lung is, in fact, being considered by a special panel of the Medical Research Council's committee on protection against ionising radiation.
§ 23. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Health, as representing the Minister for Science, what increase in radioactivity in Great Britain has been recorded since the recent French atomic test explosion in the Sahara.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithNo fall-out attributable to the French test has been detected in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. AllaunCan the Minister confirm that because of the wind direction the fall-out was mainly over East Africa, the Middle East and India? Can he give any information about this?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI have answered the hon. Gentleman's Question on the basis of our monitoring services in the United Kingdom. I will certainly ask my noble Friend to extend our inquiries further if the hon. Gentleman would like me to do so.