-2during that time.
Therefore, attempts to reconstruct the probable exposures
during this period must be indirect.
Knapp used the gamma-ray intensity
above a contaminated field as an index of its I??? content @) . while the
St. Louis Group used this and the beta-particle disintegration rate from
fallout collection trays ©),
and the fission yiera®),
I used the observed beta activity in the air
Knapp and the St. Louis Group were concerned
chiefly with exposures in Southern Utah near the Nevada Test Site, because
that was where the highest individual doses were indicated.
My major con-
cern was the North-Central portion of Utah, because it contained so many
more people.
During the 1963 Congressional Fallout Hearings, Dr. Eric Riess of the
St. Louis Group and I both urged that a study be made of the irradiated
Utah children.
This study, supported by the U. S. Public Health Service,
is now in progress.
:
Originally, the study had 2 objectives:
and (2) estimation of radiation dosage.
well, but the-dose program has lagged.
(1) search for medical effects,
The medical phase is progressing
An unfortunate decision was made to
neglect dosimetry unless significant medical effects could definitely be
established.
In my opinion, this is the most serious defect in an otherwise
excellent study.
Waiting for possible medical effects may forfeit forever
the opportunity to make the best estimates of dose.
Memories fade, records
are destroyed, and these children will soon reach adulthood and scatter
across the nation.
Even if no effects appear, the exposures should be
evaluated as accurately as possible.
If a safe dose exists for 3! in
children, proper study of the 250,000 irradiated Utah infants may provide
the unique chance to establish it.
In this paper I present lower and higher limits for the average doses
received by Utah infants.
I do this for 2 reasons.
First,
I hope that the
uncertainty in these limits will stimulate interest in improving the
dosimetry.
Secondly, despite dose uncertainties, the indicated exposures
are sufficient to justify continued study of the Utah children.
DOS IMETRY
Prior to the 1963 Fallout Hearings, I calculated the number of radiationinduced cancers predicted for the total population of 250,000 Utah children
exposed to fallout [23+ as infants.
I have never before published these