Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Continued) Displacement of absorbed radiocesium is greatly affected by the potassium ions, but not highly affected by NaNO, or CaCl, compared with sr4 y% Zirconium and ruthenium absorbed by soil exhibit a much lower susceptibility to desorption into neutral salt solution, though their absorption is less complete. The disturbance of the equilibrium occurs also by absorption or desorption. Part Il. The results of experiments on uptake of fission products by several agricultural plants are described. In water culture, the bulk of radioactive isotopes of cesium and strontium is held in the above-ground organ of plant, while Zr, Rh'* and Ce are mainly retained in the root system. Sr and Csarelikely to accumulate in reproductive organs of plants in larger quantities than Zr, Ru, and Ce. The plant uptake is affected by the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution. Plants’ uptake of fission products from soils is considerably smaller than from aqueous solution, and cesium was found to be less absorbable from soil, compared with other isotopes, while cesium is among the fission products most strongly absorbed by plants in water culture. These facts can be explained by the absorptive and desorptive capacity of the isotopes of the soil. The properties of soil as well as the application of lime, potassium or mineralfertilizers greatly affect the plant uptake. When a solution of fission products was applied to leaves of a plant, radioisotopes were observed to pass to other organs. Radiocesium was the most transmovable amongthe isotopes tested. G/R.47 PRELIMINARY DATA ON THE EFFECTS OF ATOMIC BOMB EXPLOSIONS ON THE CONCENTRATION OF ARTIFICIAL RADIOACTIVITY IN THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE ANDIN THE SOIL Contains description of methods of measurementof radioactive products in the air at ground level and high altitude and gives results of observations. Also contains the following conclusions: 1. The existing technique for detecting the presence of artificial radioactivity in the lower atmosphere and the technique for determining the integral activity for aerosols deposited on the earth’s surface makes it possible to estimate the level of contamination of the soil by radiostrontium (Sr®), 2. The accumulation of radiostrontium in the soil in various areas of USSR territory is attributable partly to the explosion of atomic bombs in USA and partly to explosions set off in USSR. The lower limit of activity of the Sr®° which has accumulated in the past two years (1954-1955) is as high as about 30 millicuries per km? in certain towns (cf., for example, Adler). 3. Since radiostrontium is readily caught up in the biological cycle, suitable projects must be put in hand to determine the permissible levels of contamina- tion of the soil with radiostrontium (Sr®’) and other biologically dangerous isotopes. G/R.48 PROGRAMME OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON THE EFFECTS OF IONIZING RADIATIONS ON THE HEALTH OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS Describes a programmeof research intending to study the effects of radiation at dosages 1 or 2 orders of magnitude above background intensity, of contamination of the air and soil and life in areas of high natural radioactivity. G/R.49 SUMMARIES OF PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE CONFERENCE ON THE REMOTE CONSEQUENCES OF INJURIES CAUSED BY THE ACTION OF IONIZING RADIATION Mostly concerned with effects of various radionuclides and external radiation on different mammalian populations (hematology, carcinogenesis, fertility mostly studied). Twenty-two papers are summarized. G/R.50 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STUDY OF THE METABOLISM OF CESIUM, STRONTIUM, AND A MIXTURE OF BETA EMITTERS IN COWS The metabolism of Cs'8’, sr®3-® and a number of mixed beta emitters has been studied in cows (milk, urine, feces, tissues). 191