52 



Senator Hoixings. All right, sir. I wish we had a little more time 

 this morning. I do appreciate your presentation. It is helpful to the 

 committee. 



The next witness is Dr. Herbert Volchok, of the Environmental 

 Studies Division of the Atomic Energy Commission, and Dr. Ted 

 Folsom, Research Oceanographer of the Ocean Research Division 

 of Scripps. 



STATEMENTS OF DR. HERBERT VOLCHOK, CHEMIST, ENVIRON- 

 MENTAL STUDIES DIVISION, ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION, NEW 

 YORK; AND DR. TED FOLSOM, OCEANOGRAPHER, MOUNT SOLE- 

 DAD LABORATORY, SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY, 

 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LA JOLLA, CALIF. 



Dr. Volchok. Mr. Chairman, I have submitted a prepared state- 

 ment which I will read. 



The oceans have been radioactively polluted by man and without 

 doubt, our continued activities wnll add to this burden of contam- 

 ination. As used here, and in general current usage, pollution refers 

 to the presence of harmful or potentially harmful substances in any 

 of the Earth's environmental compartments, due to the activities of 

 man. 



The words contains no implication of degree, hence pollution runs the 

 full gamut, from trace quantities of lead in the glaciers of Greenland, 

 to near hazardous concentrations of carbon monoxide on the freeways 

 of some of our big cities. Hence, we really must take care, especially in 

 communication with the lay public, to indicate the level of contamina- 

 tion in the environment and if possible, to I'elate this level to either 

 known effects or accepted standards. 



Senator Hollings. Dr. Volchok, would you make specific tests of an 

 area, or port facility which has been approved for the acceptance, like 

 the Port of Charleston, where we bring waste materials up the Savan- 

 nah River? 



You remember the time we had that drop there, and we took about 

 600 tons ? To bring that in, would be constantly checking that pai-ticular 

 area of the ocean? 



Dr. Volchok. I sure would. 



Senator Hollixgs. For radioactivity ? 



Dr. Volchok. I would. 



Senator Hollings. Wliat have you found, if anything ? 



Dr. Volchok. I am not competent to answer specifically, but in tliat 

 particular case, which was plutonium I hope it is being checked. 



Dr. FoLSOM. In that connection, there was some preparation made 

 for that sort of an accident in the form of looking at what would 

 have happened if plutonium landed along tlie coast. Some 10 years 

 ago, around 1964, we studied the buildup of plutonium on the coast, 

 and if it had fallen on the coast of Spain, we would have known what 

 to do about it. 



Senator Hollings. Thank you. Go right ahead. 



Dr. Voix^hok. In the following pages, I will synopsize radioactive 

 pollution of the world ocean. I feel compelled, however, to make a few 

 comments in advance, which may be construed as excuses for our fairly 

 incomplete knowledge of this important subject. 



