KARACHI: A rise in general radioactivity of the atmosphere has been noticed in West Pakistan resulting from the Soviet nuclear blasts, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission announced here yesterday. The rise in radioactivity has been detected at Lahore and Quetta on different dates.

The average rise in radioactivity of the atmosphere over West Pakistan to date has been 50 per cent over the normal background activity, the announcement said.

No rise in radioactivity has, however, been noticed in East Pakistan presumably because of the south-western air currents over the region at this time of the year which have prevented the settling of the radioactive fallout resulting from the Soviet blast in the north, the commission said.

It clarified, however, that the 50 per cent average rise in West Pakistan since the commencement of nuclear tests by Russia is far below the level which could be considered dangerous to human health. — Agencies