UNL ASST PIF D West Coast Pish Monitoring The U.S. Food ard Drug Administration in April tegan a routine spot-checkirg of all species of fish ceught in the Pacific to check for the presence of radioactivity. The need for the monitoring progres was discussed by representatives of the State Departrent, the Food and Drug Administration, the Japenese Embessy, and the Commission. FDA represent- atives stated that the monitoring program falls within their statutory responsibility to determine that all imported foods are fit for human consumption. The Japanese representatives contended that the Japenese people might be disturbed to learn that similer precautions were not being taken for their protection. No redioactivity has been detected in fish since FDA monitoring began, Committee or Respiratory Protective Equipment Steps were tazxen in April to investigete the edesuscy of respiratory protective equiprent used in atoric energy plants. A cocmiites was esteblisted to study the problem and to suggest improvezrents in equipctent. Merbers of the committee are AEC contractor personnel. Premature Aging and Life Shortening Studies were continued to determine how radiation contributes to premature aging and life shortening in anirals and humans. These studies may reveal the biological mecranisms involved and the relative effectiveness of large single exposures es opposed to continuous or repested small doses.~ Mich information has been accucclated for analysis end Purther evaluation. Aon eergen _ , a\ ou DOL aANCHIVES wee wee) aU UNCLASSIFIED - 28 - Part VII