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The aroas covered by the committees are:
genetics, pathology,
agriculture and food supplies, and disposal of radioactive wastes,
The scientists also stated that atomic weapons testing has
not raised world-wide radiation to biologically dangerous
levels, nor will it do so if continued at the same rate as in the
past.
They say there is no evidence that the tests have
affected weather or climate,
The report makes clear that of the body's physiological
systems, the inheritence mechanism is by far the
to radiation,
most sensitive
Any radiation, no matter how little, which reaches
the human reproductive cells can cause mutations (changes in
the «»aterlal governing heredity) that are passed on to succeeding
generations,
Human gene mutations which produce observable
effects are believed to be almost always harmful,
For these reasons, the scientists recommend a timit
on the amount of radiation reaching people's reproductive
glands over and above the amount they receive naturally from
©
cosmic rays and radioactive deposits,
This limit, as an average
for the population as a whole, is set at 10 roentgons from
conception to age 30,
strength of radiation,
(A roentgen is a unit measuring the
fn average dental Xray, for example,
delivers 5 roentgens to the patient's jaw but only five
.
thousanith of a roentgen of stray radiation to more remote parts
’
of the body such as the sex glands,)
At present, the report states, the average U, S. citizen
is getting about three roentgens or 30 per cent of the
—
recommended limit in medical and dental kKrays.
The scientists propose that records should be kept of
tt
owt T
OF
the total accumulated lifetime exposure to radiation of every
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a
aro