vor The ationas Radiation Protection Committen recommends a maxima permissible concantration of redium water for continuous uso of jpx107° elcrocuries per cubic centimeter. This is equivalent to x 10° per nilliliter or amies par gram. Approximately the same valuc measured in curios ver gram would apply to the total quantity of food congumai, Thus, it is indionted from these studies that tap water and the common foods ugec in the Unitec States appear to be wall within the peatticsible limtis ror radiu. Ratation Bifects on Tobaceo and Poteto Plants. (UNCLASSIFIED) A species of tobacco wan planted this yeer in the gam Meld at Rroolhaven National Leboretosy. Results show thet irradiation a moderately high rete of spontanscus tumors. Tn the gua the tumor~inductdon rate at fairky high dosage retes (300 r/day) wes growtiy increased over the sentzel] ict, not only in vambere of tumrs par plant but in sige of the individual tumrs. Thin is the first report of e tumor in plants induced by gan radiation, sithough radiation induced tuncrs have been recognized in animals for many year's. 2xperiments on the effect of radiation on the “keeping” qualities of potatoes were completed ty Brookhaven National Laboratory recently. A quantity of potatoes was secured and divided into five lots, four of Wich were given various radiation doses and the fifth kept as a omtrol. _The potatoes later were all stored undar conditions comparalle to standard potato atorage conditions, and samples were tein periodically from each lot and tested for taste and then craded scoording to steamy potato grading procedures. At the fins] test period on August 15, the control lot was essentially spolled, whereas those that had been exposed to 20,000 r wore still Grade 4 potatces in all respectz. Fotatoes axposed to about 50,000 r might be classed as Grade B potatoes, and those are inhibited by relatively small doses of radiation, end consequently the starch is not broken dam. At the higher doses, epparantly, there 4a encugh cellular destruction to cause a general breakdown over 4 long period of tins. Whether those explanations are correct or not is debatable, but there seas to be Little doubt now that thin is a real phanomenon, sinco it was observed lest year quite acaidentally in con nection with cane other work, and the axporiment this year was designed Spaciiicaliy te prove this polst. min: of Mood Platelets. (UNCLASSIFIZD) Discowery of groups and types for t was armounced recently by the How England Hedical Canter at Doston, Massachusetts. Platelets are colorless, diskshaped bodies found in the blood of humans and all other memaals. Thay a cesT, there DORARCHIVES