ENCLOSURE III CRITIQUE OF BRITISH MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL THE HAZARDS TO MAN OF NUCLEAR AND ALLIED RADIATIONS A Report to the British Medical Research Council The British Medical Research Council is a governmental body and was directed by the Prime Minister on 29 March 1955 to appoint a committee under the chairnanship of Sir Harold Himsworth to review the existing scientific evidence on the medical aspects of nuclear and allied radiation. This report consists of eight chapters. The first four chapters deal with basic understandings of radiation and its biological effects, the fifth chapter with existing and foreseeable exposures due both to peacetime uses of atomic energy as well as to nuclear detonations in testing and in warfare, the sixth part with recommendations of permissible exposure and the seventh and eight parts with summaries and conclusions Chapter I is an introduction to the report. Chapter II discusses in simple terms the nature of radiation and its action on living cells. It deals with well known units, methods of measurement and biological effects. Chapter III discusses the effects of radiation on the health of the individual. It ineludes discussions of the earl effects upon the Japanese at Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the later development of an increased incidence of leukemia among the survivors. The British state they have demonstrated an increased incidence of leukemia in patients with arthritis of the spine treated with x-rays. They cite also American statistics on the increased evidence of leukemia in radiologia They conclude that radiations can induce leukemia but do not - 17 - Enclosure I