be tentyeedan ae
13
RADIATION STANDARDS, INCLUDING FALLOUT
Dr. Dunnam. I think Dr. Hasterlick, who will testify tomorrow or
the next day, has visited there and he can give you a better feel of
;
;
some of the problems.
Senator Anperson. Would this not be an important point to
clear up?
Dr. Dunuam.I think so.
Senator Anprrson. If it is 20 times what might be regarded as
normal exposures, would notthat tell us something about the dangers
from fallout?
Dr. Duna. IJ think it would be very helpful.
Senator Anperson. Then why cannot wedoit?.
|
Representative Price. I think maybe that is a question we can put
to the Commission in someofficial form.
;
Senator AnpERson. Dr. Dunham is here. Is there somebody in the
Commission that does not want it done?
Dr. Dunuam. No; there is no one in the Atomic Energy Commission that doesn’t want it done.
Senator ANDERSON. It seems to me if we can spend $5 million every
other day on one of the explosions that comes to nothing, you might
spend a few thousand dollars in finding out something that people
are interested in.
Dr. Dunnam. I agree.
Representative Price. We will take this up with the Commission.
Thank you very much, Mr. Whipple. The committee appreciates
having your testimony.
(Letter from AEG concerning monazite sands region follows:)
U.S. Atomic ENercy CoMMIsSION,
Washington, D.C., June 28, 1962.
Hon. MELVIN PRIcE,
Chairman, Subcommittee on Research, Development, and Radiation, Joint
Committee on Atomic Energy, Congress of the United States.
Dusk Mr. Price: During discussion before your subcommittee on June 4, questions were raised concerning the role of the Commission in investigating the
poprlations living on the thorium-bearing monazite sands of Kerala in southwest
ndia.
As stated in the testimony, the United States has frequently called attention
to the potential value of studying these populations. The sands have been used
as a source of thorium for many years, and their significance radiobiologically
was noted at the 1955 Atoms for Peace Conference. Dr. Shields Warren of the
U.S. delegation to the U.N. Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic
Radiation, offered the Indian delegation every assistance on behalf of the U.S.
Atomic Energy Commission as early as 1957. There was additional recognition
of the importance of studying these populations during the 1958 Atoms for
Peace Conference, and at the twice-yearly meetings of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR); also, the
World Health Organization convened a special conference on “Investigation of
Areas of High Natural Radiation” (1959), but the impetus from it was small.
The latest report of UNSCEAR, which will be published in September, will
have only a few additional data on the Karala area, There are always many
difficult practical problems involved in the scientific study of such populations.
The Indian Government is, of course, in the best position to evaluate these
factors as they relate to the Karala region.
If we can provide additional information, please let me know.
Sincerely yours,
A. R. LuUEpEcKr, General Manager.
EEEREREORB