over a long period of time were recommended.
Based on these
recommendations and those forthcoming from the International
Commission on Rudiation Protection, the AEC may consider placing
an upper limit of yearly exposure for atomic energy workers.
However, the average exposure to atomic energy workers during
Past operations has been so far below the maximum permissible
level that the placing of a yearly upper limit would not be
expected to impose any major restriction,
The NAS report recommended an upper limit of 50 roentgens
for individual exposure up to age 30, and 10r during the like
period for the general populace.
Except in the case of the

March 1, 1954 incident involving intensive fallout in the

Marshall Island area, no individual outside the testing areas
has been exposed to even the 10r maximum recommended for the
populace as a result of fallout from the U.S. nuclear testing
program.
The NAS report estimates that if the nuclear weapons
tests were continued at the present rate the average exposure
for the general population of the United States over a 30-year
period would be about one-tenth of a roentgen.
In summary, the
report was reassuring as regards nuclear weapons testing; it
did not attempt to face up to the problems of an atomic war;
and, finally, it was preoccupied with the potential hazards
inherent in a developing era of large scale atomic power.
As to the Strontium-90 accumulating in the biosphere, the
AEC will continue its extensive program of maintaining col~
lections stations throughout the world and of analyses of the
samples.
This close and continuing checking system will provide

ample warning of any significant upward trends in the Strontium90 content of the biosphere before hazardous levels would be
approached,
It is indicated in the NAS report that the highest

levels observed throughout the world are about 1/100 of the

Academy's most conservative estimate of permissible concentration
for the population as a whole.
Furthermore, our knowledge of
present pollution from radiostrontium is more exact and more
extensive than that with respect to any other atmospheric
pollution.
The attached summaries of Professor Muller's article and
of the Norwegian matter are self-explanatory.
Sincerely yours,

/s/
Lewis L. Strauss
Chairman
Enclosures:

1,2 and 4 (Unclassified)
3 (Secret - )

Honorable Harold E. Stassen
Special Assistant to the President

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