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person and that the use of medical and dental Xrays should be
reduced as much as possible consistent with medical necessity,
When a world-wide atomic power industry becomes fully
“developed, the report ‘points out, its accumulated radioactive
waste products may represent more radiation than would be
released in an atomic war,
The prevention of widespread con~
tamination which might expose large numbers of people to
dangerous radiation depends on man's ability to keep these
wastes out of the great network of ocean and air currents, food
and water supplies, upon which he depends for life,
The scientists also state that radiation from fall-out
inevitably contaminates man's food supply.
At present this
contamination is negligible but the maximum tolerable level of
radioactivity in food is not known.
Research on this problem
is, therefore, vital,
The study committees of the National Academy of Sciences
have accordingly recommended that:
We should develop improved techniques to monitor worldwide fall-out from atomic radiation,
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The national agency should control and keep records of
all dumping of radioactive material in the ocean.
fn international body should set up safe standards
without delay, based on present knowledge, for the marine
disposal of radioactive materials,
Research tn marine disposal of radioactive waste products
should be carried out on a cooperative international basis,
Until advances in reactor technology lessen hazards
substantially, reactors located near populated areas should be
sealed against the release of radioactive materials in the
event of an accident,
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