Milk From Farms Near Windscale Stopped From Our Special Correspondent Tests of milk from cows near the Atomic Energy Authority's plant at Windscale, Cumberland, have shown an increase in the radio iodine content since one of the nuclear reactors became over- heated on Thursday night. It has been decided temporarily to suspend the dis- tribution of milk from certain farms in the area. Ever since the mishap experts have carried out cxtensive tests in the area for any increase of radioactivity which might endanger the public. They have found that levels of external radiation are very s..aall and are not dangerous. A particular watch was kept on milk samples, as it was thought that radio- active emissions from Windscale might be picked up by animals grazing in the area. This radioactivity was not likelv to become detectable in the milk for a day or so. and the early samples showed little increase. SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN But samplcs taken from Fridav even- ing's milking were found on Saturdav to have a radio iodine content six tinmes the permissible level. This permissible !evel relates to the lifetime fluid intake of an adult and is the occupational tolerance level for adults. The increase in the radio iodine content is not regarded as dangerous for adults. but since milk is largely drunk by young children and forms a higher ratio of fluid intake to body weight, it has been decided to suspend distribution of milk from local farms. This information was given at a Press conference in London yesterdav by officials of the Atomic Energy Authority. They added that later tests of samples from Saturday's milkings had shown a slight increase in the radioactive content. Samples of the milk are being sent each night to Harwell. where a check test is made. The area affected by the ban on milk distribution is seven miles long by two miles wide, with a population of between 5.000 and 7.000. There are about 100 farms in the area. Dr. A. S. McLean, chief medical officer of the authority's industrial group. said: " Although we do not sav the situation is dangerous. we thought the only prudent course was to stop the unnecessary exposure of babies in that area." STORED IN CANS Farmers have been told to store their milk in cans provided by the Milk Marketing Board until a decision is taken about its ultimate use. It was sug- gested by a spokesman at yesterday's ?ress conference that it might ultimately ie used for making butter and cheese, .ince radio iodine decays very rapidly. rhe authority's director of public rela- ions, Mr. E. H. Underwood, said that lone of the affected milk would be used or any purpose unless the authority was :uite certain that it was harmless. Dr. W. G. Marlev. head of the health rhysics division at Harwell, said that the eneral radioactivity in the area was con- ;iderably less than the background level in many other places-particularly in parts of India and Brazil. Mr. F. R. Farmer, the chief safety officer to the industrial group, said that only two people living in the area had so far taken advantage of an offer by the authority to provide a medical examination. Dr. MIcLean said that oniv a few of the employees at Windscale were contaminated during the incident, and in most cases washing with soap and water was sufficient to cleanse them. In one or two cases contamination lasted a few days. Mr. Farmer said the mishap at Wind- scale was not a " nuclear accident." The activity released was probably onlv one- thousandth or one-ten thousandth of the activitv in the reactor. At the time of the accident the reactor was shut down. Conditions at Windscale were now nornmal, and the second pile was work- ing. The pile where the accident occurred was completely shut down. Tempera- tures were low and there was no appre- ciable activity. INQUIRY TO BE HELD An inquiry into the accident is to be held, and the findings will be made known, probablv in about 10 days. The Prime Minister was informed of the accident soon after it occurred and has b.en kept inforrned *,f developments c since. There is as yet no indication how long the ban on the distribution of milk will continue. A careful watch will be kept on the sampies each day. and it may be several weeks before the ban is lifted. The scientists are confident that radio- activity from the particular isotope which has caused the trouble-iodine 131-will die away to a safe level within a few weeks. No danger to the public is expected from vegetables and other foodstuffs from the area. The level of strontium in the district is not now appreciably higher than it was before the accident. The circumstances of the mis- hap were such that the experts expected a greater release of a volatile substance such as radio iodine. MILK FROM FARMS NEAR WINDSCALE STOPPED RADIO IODINE CONTENT SIX TIMES PERMISSIBLE LEVEL