Radiation affecting film at Trinity test site

[nonuniform]

Has anyone ever visited the Trinity test site in NM with a film camera? Did you notice if the radiation affected your film at all? Planning to go to the open house next month. Was also going to compare the amount of radiation from an airport scanner to the radiation levels listed on the Trinity website.

 

[jankap]

Perhaps the Sedan test site is more effective.

 

[nonuniform]

Perhaps the Sedan test site is more effective.

I don't know what that means.

 

[neal3k]

It doesn't look like it will be a problem:

https://www.wsmr.army.mil/Trinity/Pa...isthesite.aspx

 

[titrisol]

I don't know what that means.

Sedan Crater is the result of the Sedan nuclear test and is located within the Nevada Test Site, 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Groom Lake, Nevada (Area 51). The crater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 21, 1994.

 

[sojournerphoto]

This moved me when I first read it

https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-most-dangerous-film-in-the-world/

 

[JoeV]

On one visit to Trinity Site several decades ago, a fellow visitor brought a small handheld Geiger counter. It didn’t register much above background level until he dug down about an inch into the topsoil. I don’t recall the reading, but it was slightly above background levels. I wouldn’t expect any issues using film, especially handheld 1.5 - 2 meters above the ground.

I might think about wearing a filter mask if it’s windy, and washing your shoes off before returning home.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

On one visit to Trinity Site several decades ago, a fellow visitor brought a small handheld Geiger counter. It didn’t register much above background level until he dug down about an inch into the topsoil. I don’t recall the reading, but it was slightly above background levels. I wouldn’t expect any issues using film, especially handheld 1.5 - 2 meters above the ground.

I might think about wearing a filter mask if it’s windy, and washing your shoes off before returning home.

And next month will be the peak of what we in New Mexico call "Windy Season". The wind blows hard, and nearly non-stop. Mask up.
There's a lot of debate, still, about the safety of this area. The government basically didn't have a clue about what they were doing when they conducted the Trinity test, and the "Downwinders", those living in the Tularosa Basin at the time of the blast, were neither warned, nor supported afterwards as their health and the health of the soil and livestock suffered horrible consequences. Current younger generations are still suffering from the effects, as the government continues to deny any real culpability. Of course, the victims were poor Hispanic farmers, marginalized and without a voice.
Another ugly incident in our nation's history.

 

[nonuniform]

And next month will be the peak of what we in New Mexico call "Windy Season". The wind blows hard, and nearly non-stop. Mask up.
There's a lot of debate, still, about the safety of this area. The government basically didn't have a clue about what they were doing when they conducted the Trinity test, and the "Downwinders", those living in the Tularosa Basin at the time of the blast, were neither warned, nor supported afterwards as their health and the health of the soil and livestock suffered horrible consequences. Current younger generations are still suffering from the effects, as the government continues to deny any real culpability. Of course, the victims were poor Hispanic farmers, marginalized and without a voice.
Another ugly incident in our nation's history.

Agree, we have a history of mistreating those less fortunate, or that stood in the way.

I'm well aware of the wind, I live in NM. Long-time desert dweller!

Thanks for all of your comments, everyone, I had a feeling that spending an hour at Trinity would have little impact on the film. Just thought I'd check.

 

[hap]

As a radiologist I asked the question to our RAdiation Safety Office who is also President Elect of the Health Physicist Society. She goes around in the South West with a geiger counter for ....FUN. Had her look at the US Army website for White Sands. She agreed that the radiation burden very low and did not expect the residual to affect photographic film. There were errors regarding estimates for some radiology tests....the most far off was a CT scan at 200mrem. That is way too low.

 

[Canyongazer]

If government didn't have a clue The Man, Dr. Robert Oppenheimer did:
Of witnesses to the the blast he said: Some laughed, some cried, most were silent.
I was reminded of a line from the Bhagavad Gita, he said,
"Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."