SUMMARY
In August 1945, Kodak discovered radioactive contamination in its packaging board, causing X-ray film to fog. Physicist Julian Webb traced the spots to a specific production run on August 6, 1945, and determined the radiation signature pointed to fission products, not natural sources. He concluded the contamination originated from fallout from the atomic bomb test in New Mexico on July 16, 1945, which had been carried by wind and rain to Midwestern river systems used by strawboard mills.
TAKEAWAYS
Kodak's X-ray film fogged due to radioactive contamination in packaging board.
Physicist Julian Webb identified the contamination source as fallout from the first atomic bomb test.
The fallout traveled approximately 1,000 miles from New Mexico to Midwestern river systems.
Webb published his findings four years later, detailing the link between film fogging and the bomb test.