27 APPENDIX Radioactivity in the Oceans* The widespread use of nuclear energy for peaceful or mili- tary purposes necessitates studies to determine the effects of radioactive contamination upon the oceans and the life therein. The Committee on Effects of Atomic Radiation on Oceanography and Fisheries in its report to the National Academy of Sciences made certain general recommendations concerning national policy in this area. Both the Committee on Oceanography and the Com- mittee on Effects of Atomic Radiation on Oceanography and Fisheries believe that more specific and detailed recommendations can now be made. l. A single agency should be given the overall responsi- bility and authority for regulating the introduction of radio- active materials in the oceans. Monitoring of disposal sites should be done by some agency other than the regulating agency. It is recommended that either the Coast and Geodetic Survey or the Public Health Service be made responsible for engineering studies in and near disposal areas, for routine monitoring of disposal areas and their surroundings and for a continuing assessment of the effects on the environments of added radioactive materials. 2. Vigorous programs should be started for the purpose of determining the circulation and mixing processes which control the dispersion of introduced contaminants in coastal and estuarine environments and in the open ocean. These studies represent the major part of the proposed budget in this area. 3. A program should be pursued aimed at determining the inorganic transfer of radioactive elements from sea water to the sediments. 4. Studies should be made of the effects of living organisms on the distribution of radioactive elements introduced into the sea. 5. The genetic effects of radiation upon marine organisms should be studied. * See"Literature Cited," (21)