It is worthy of note that even today--20-30 years after the testing, and 2-3 years after CDC's initial identification of a possible increased incidence of leukemia among Shot SMOKY participants--that this single anomaly is the only indication we have of a possible health problem. The CDC epidemiological study of SMOKY participants continues. Although the leukemia incidence among this group appears abnormal, the incidence of all other cancers currently appears to be about as expected. The CDC epidemiological Study is attempting to determine the cause of this increased leukemia incidence, whether it be radiation exposures at nuclear tests or some other cause such as medical X-rays or environmental carcinogens. It is hoped that the DoD/DoEsponsored morbidity/mortality study by the National Academy of Sciences will show whether the SMOKY statistics are an isolated phenomenon, or whether other groups of test participants may also display an increased incidence of disease. In any case, there is a current problem with public perceptions. If there actually is an increased level of risk for test participants, it is very slight. Yet the alarmist publicity of the past year or two has blown it all out of proportion, and has unduly frightened many test participants. In an attempt to place the problem in proper perspective, the President's Interagency Task Force on the Health Effects of Tonizing Radiation has recently presented, in comprehensive fashion, all available scientific information pertinent to the issue. The Task Force Report points out that, of the 250,000 DoD test participants, some 40,000 would be expected to die of cancer exposure from the tests. from causes not related to radiation In contrast, the Report states that if current estimates of exposure are correct, the accepted views of medical science indicate that there might eventually be 12 cancer deaths from among the 250,000 which are statistically related to test radiation exposure. Thus, national efforts to handle the health aspects of atmospheric test participants must be carried out without alarming the great majority. The publicity programs and notification F re \ r 5 1 h a r é ‘ re rd ut m4 pes programs of DoD's NTPR effort are designed to do this.