Title:GRUINARD ISLAND RETURNS TO CIVIL USE [Main Title]
Film Number:DED 207
Other titles:PORTON DOWN VIDEO COLLECTION [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Short video relating the steps taken to decontaminate Gruinard Island in Scotland, site of Second World War anthrax tests, prior to its return to civilian use.
Description: Historical overview shows clips from the 1942-43 trials footage and the 1979 trial which concluded that the whole island - except for the trials site itself - was free of spores. A detailed account of the decontamination procedure in 1986 is then shown. Quantities of the biocide ingredients - formaldehyde and sea water - are transported to the island and decanted into oil drums. Ground is prepared for decontamination. An Argo Cat eight-wheel all terrain vehicle is used to transport people and spray herbicide over the area to be decontaminated. A fire break is also burnt into the hillside. Staff are given health checks. Drums of biocide are brought to site by helicopter; flexible horticultural spray pipes are laid over the area to provide "controlled saturation" of the area. In October 1986, soil cores were collected for testing and the area was re-sown with grass. Sheep were reintroduced a year later for six months and demonstrated no ill-effects and in March 1988 the island was declared ready to return to civil use.
Alternative Title:PORTON DOWN VIDEO COLLECTION [Allocated Series Title]
Colour:Colour
Digitised:
Object_Number:DED 207
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:
Featured Period:
Production Date:1988
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Photographic Section Chemical Defence Establishment Porton Down (Production company)
Basilico, Rene (Production individual)
Capps, Alan (Production individual)
Capps, Alan (Production individual)
Vaughan, Paul (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords:
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: U-matic (large) (Ampex)
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 30; Running time: 17 mins
