§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the use of dosimeters during atomic tests in the South Pacific in the 1950s.
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§ Mr. PattiePersonal dosimeters were issued to all test personnel who might be exposed to radiation. Normally they were of the passive film badge type which embody a piece of film material sensitive to radiation. When processed, the degree of darkening of the film, if any, indicates the level of radiation exposure. The film badges are sensitive down to 0.2 millisievert (20 millirem). Additionally, environmental monitoring equipment was deployed to provide a means of warning those responsible for radiological safety if radiation levels were different from those expected.
§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether cobalt was incorporated in atomic bomb tests at Maralinga in 1957.
§ Mr. PattieYes. It is normal practice to include tracers in nuclear test devices to assist with the interpretation of the results and cobalt was used for this purpose in 1957. These tracers do not alter either the way in which the nuclear device works or the effects it produces.