Project Sunshine was a scientific research project conducted by the United States government in 1953 to study the effects of nuclear weapons on the environment, specifically on the human body. The project aimed to measure the amount of radioactive fallout in the atmosphere and its potential impact on human health.
The project involved collecting bone samples from deceased individuals in various countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, to analyze the levels of strontium-90 and other radioactive isotopes in their bodies.
On January 18, 1955, then-AEC commissioner Dr. Willard Libby said that there was insufficient data regarding the effects of fallout due to a lack of human samples – especially samples taken from children – to analyze. Libby was quoted saying, "I don't know how to get them, but I do say that it is a matter of prime importance to get them, and particularly in the young age group. So, human samples are often of prime importance, and if anybody knows how to do a good job of body snatching, they will really be serving their country."
Over 1500 samples were gathered of which only 500 were analyzed. Many of the 1500 samples were babies and young children and were taken from countries like Canada, Australia and Europe, often without parents consent. According to an investigation, British scientists had obtained children's bodies from various hospitals and shipped the body parts to the United States.
A British mother had claimed that her stillborn baby's legs were removed by British doctors, and to prevent her from finding out, she was not allowed to dress up the baby for the funeral.
The project was controversial and faced criticism from some groups who believed it was unethical and violated the rights of the deceased and their families. The secrecy surrounding the project also contributed to public concerns
In 1958, Project Sunshine was brought to Belgium but done a little bit differently than those done in the United States. In Belgium, soil samples were analyzed instead of human bones. This experiment was mainly done with environmental surveys or by natural and in controlled conditions. The goal was to determine the effect of Strontium-90 in the soils as well as to see how it transfered to the grass and the grazing amimals such as the sheeps and cows, mostly the animals from which humans consume milk and meat.
In recent years, some of the information and samples collected during Project Sunshine have been declassified and made public. The project remains a subject of historical and ethical debate.
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