Numerous national and international authorities have conducted such studies. It is beyond the scope of this history to discuss these studies in any detail; however, some relevant findings are summarized below (1): Risk Estimates for Fatal Cancers from Gamma Radiation Cancer deaths per million Source* man-rem BEIR I (1972) ICRP (1977) UNSCEAR (1977) BEIR III (1980) 115-621 125 100 67-226%** The risk estimates presented above are in terms of cancer deaths per million man-rem; UNSCEAR, for example, predicted 100 deaths for a population of 1 million persons receiving a whole-body radiation dose of 1.0 rem. The UNSCEAR data can be translated to one fatal cancer among 10,000 persons receiving a dose of 1.0 rem. The latest findings published by the NAS BEIR III Committee predict slightly over two radiation-induced fatal cancers among a population of 10,000 so exposed. According to current cancer risk esti- mates, approximately 1,600 fatal cancers occur naturally in a population of 10,000 persons (16 percent). Therefore, one or two additional cases would fall within the random variation of such data, thereby making it virtually impossible to detect an increased incidence rate among a population of 10,000 receiving a dose of 1.0 rem. Obviously a much higher dose or larger group would be needed to detect an increase with any statistical significance (1). *The BEIR report was prepared by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation. ICRP is the International Committee on Radiological Protection, and UNSCEAR is the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. *kThe number cited is the majority opinion. One dissenting member estimated cancer deaths at the 158-501, and another dissenting member estimated 10-28 deaths per million man rem. 180