Anne Marie Worischeck, age 10, of Tempe, Ariz., for her question:

WHAT IS FALLOUT?

Fallout is radioactive material that settles over the earth after a hydrogen or atomic bomb has been exploded. Radiation from intense fallout can cause death or sickness.

Fallout can also affect inheritance in living things.It is possible that future generations can be affected.

Local fallout consists of larger and heavier particles that fall to earth within a few hundred miles of an atomic blast. Distant fallout consists of fine radioactive material that may be scattered by winds to any part of the world. Some of the fallout remains in the atmosphere for years before it settles. Fallout has decreased greatly since 100 nations, including the United States and Russia, signed a treaty banning all but underground testing, of nuclear weapons.