Subseries 5 - Voice of Women: Baby Teeth Study

0.20 m of textual records

Subseries consists of records documenting the work done by Dr. Franklin and VOW to test baby teeth for levels of Strontium-90, a radioactive isotope in fallout from nuclear weapons testing. From 1962-1964, women across the country collected milk teeth from their children which were submitted to the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry, together with information on the family’s residence, diet, etc. in order to be collected and analyzed for ‘natural’ radioactivity. According to Dr. Franklin, with the increased radioactive pollution caused by atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, the composition of children’s bones and teeth would be drastically altered because of the presence of the new radioactive pollutants. The milk teeth of children born before the massive atomic testing would provide the last evidence of bone and teeth laid down under pre-radioactive pollution conditions. Unfortunately these teeth were never analyzed as promised. They were shipped to Chalk River, however, those in power decided not to proceed and in spite of many attempts, the teeth were either not analyzed or the results were not made public. Dr. Franklin believes the analyses were never carried out. This was a severe disappointment to Dr. Franklin and members of the Voice of Women who participated in the program. Nevertheless, the work of VOW was a major contribution to the cessation of atmospheric weapons testing.

Records in this subseries include background material on fallout and Strontium-90; the VOW fallout brief background, draft, and final brief; research data, notes, and graphs; public education material; news clippings; and correspondence.

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See also: The Voice of Women fonds is held at Library and Archives Canada