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Amazing distance and range: Why does the flight distance of zinc-cadmium sulfide amazed scientists?
During the Cold War, the U.S. Army Chemical Corps conducted an operation called Operation LAC (Large Coverage), which involved the spread of tiny zinc-cadmium sulfide (ZnCdS) particles across the United States and Canada, To test the proliferation patterns and geographical scope of chemical or biological weapons.This action not only aroused the scientific community, but also provided important data and insights for future military operations.
According to the data, Operation LAC's range extends from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, is the largest test conducted by the Chemical Corps.
Early Test
Before Operation LAC, several experiments have verified the concept of large-scale coverage.According to relevant Canadian archives, three preliminary tests are particularly important.In September 1950, in a simulated attack, six tests were conducted in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the conclusion was that a port city could be attacked from the sea.From March to April 1952, five trials were conducted along the coast of South Carolina and Georgia, and it was concluded that under certain meteorological conditions, aerosol clouds spreading from the ground could reach hundreds of miles of coverage.Experiments conducted in the North Sea and the East Coast of the United Kingdom in 1957 proved that the spread of particles was feasible under most meteorological conditions.
Implementation of Operation LAC
Operation LAC was launched by the U.S. Army Chemical Corps in 1957 and 1958.The operation involved a large amount of spraying zinc-cadmium sulfide, using a C-119 "flight box" transport aircraft loaned by the U.S. Air Force.The first test took place on December 2, 1957, with the path extending from South Dakota to International Falls in Minnesota.The purpose of the test is to determine the diffusion and geographical range of biological or chemical agents.
During the test, some zinc-cadmium sulfide particles were blown to Canada by the wind, and even particles that were 1,200 miles away from the release point were found at the New York Observatory.
According to data, a 400-mile flight path will generally release 5,000 pounds of zinc-cadmium sulfide, while in the fiscal year 1958, the total flight hours of the project were close to 100 hours, including more than 1,400 miles. voyage.
Specific test
The test on December 2, 1957 was not fully implemented due to the attack of the southern cold current.Nevertheless, the military believes this is a partially successful test, as some of the particles were detected in New York State 1,200 miles away.The tests at the Dougwe test site in February 1958 were similar, with the dispersion of particles being carried into the Gulf of Mexico by another stream of Canadian cold air.Other tests show that through this airborne dispersion method, particles can be detected on both sides of the track, which means that the coverage is very wide.
Risks and Controversies
In Operation LAC, even though Bacillus globigii was used to simulate biological warfare agents (such as anthrax) at that time, because the bacteria was thought to have little effect on humans at the time, it is now considered a human pathogen. .Rumors about the health effects of zinc-cadmium sulfides have continued to emerge, although research by the U.S. National Research Council noted that contact at this level of zinc-cadmium sulfide was not found to cause illness in people after detailed independent assessments.
Nevertheless, the use of zinc-cadmium sulfide remains controversial, with critics accusing the Army of "actually viewing the nation as a laboratory."
Cadmium sulfide is classified as a possible human carcinogen according to the EPA report.The subsequent impact of Operation LAC and the potential threat to public health are still worth further discussion and attracting widespread attention.
With the advancement of science and technology, these historical actions have also made us reflect on how today's military behavior should consider the environment and human health more carefully, and how will we balance science and ethics in the future?
