ofICIAL USE ONT
OFFICIAL USE ONLY
We urgently need accelerated research in the problems
.
of:.
genetics; radiation pathology; mixing between various
parts of the atmosphere and the oceans; the. concentration of
- radioactive materials by plants andanimals, both on itand and
ay the ooeans} * geophysical and geochemical aspects of the
“uitamate.disposal of radioactive wastes;
selection of biologically
Buitable sites for varlous atomic faciZities, such as nuclear
power plants; and safety devices for the control of accidental
9
power surges in reactors,
If, through careful control of all atomic activity, general
|
exposures to radiation are limited to what geneticists consider
rep;sonable, there should be no direct ill effects on the people
who receive the radiation.
Larger exposures, however, of 100
roentgens and up, to the whole body or a large part of it are
harmful,
But much higher doses may be safely delivered to
limited parts of the body under controlled conditions of
medical treatments,
One of the pathological effects of radiation is a general
increase in the rate of aging and a conseguent shortening of
life,
Dose levels such as the geneticists believe reasonable,
or as have been established for persons working with radiation,
do not appear to have this effect,
However, it is not known
what minimum dose, if any, would be needed to give a noticeable
reduction in life span if very large numbers of people were
exposed,
Radiation can enhance man's food supply through solution
of practical problems in the use of fertilizer, the production
of new and superior strains of food plants by mutations, and the
sterilization of packaged food with reduction of the need for
refrigeration and extension of shelf life of many products,
OFFICIAL USE ONLY
soe: