gots Sperleteses OER
RADIATION STANDARDS, INCLUDING FALLOUT
Magee
29
Dr. Tartor. I am not sure what their actual statement will be
with regardto this.
Senator Anprerson. Do you happen to know whether the U.N.
agreed on this? Whether the member countries agreed and whether
there was a vast difference and argument between the members?
Dr. Tayztor. I am sure there was a great deal of argument but
there was basic agreement.
Senator Anprrson. Basic agreement on an average figure or basic
agreement that they could not agree?
Dr. Tayztor. On an averagefigure.
Senator Anprrson. Was there a majority viewpoint and little respect for the minority viewpoint ?
Dr. Tayxor. Sir, I was out of the country when these discussions
were being held so I can’t answerthat question.
Senator Anperson. The story of iodine levels rising in Wichita,
Kans., with peaks of 220 to 840 micro-microcuries per liter of milk;
660 on May 15, from 220, and so forth. Kansas City with peaks of
190 and 300 had 600 on May 18.
Are we trying to show that testing doesn’t do any damageor doesn’t
raise any hazards? This is a statement which would surely leave the
impression that there is no real danger in testing; would it not? If
in 1958, the highest year, we had only 1.5 percent of our average per
capita dose that we live with today, and don’t worry about, then we
don’t have to worry about the 1.5 percent.
_ Dr. Tayzor. I was not trying to create that impression. I was
listing the various sources of radiation that we are now exposed to
with their levels as we best understand them in order to put some
perspective on the whole problem. Actually you cannot compare a
medical exposure with a fallout exposure. They are both radiation
exposure but you cannot say 2 millirems of X-rays is the same as 2
millirems from strontium 90.
Senator Anperson. If you cannot compare them, why did you do it?
Dr. Tartor. I have been comparing in this case the gonadal dose,
the genetically important dose.®
Senator ANpERson. You say you cannot do it and then you proceed
to show thatit is only 114 percent.
Dr. Taytor. You cannot compare the overall exposures from fallout with the overall exposures from X-rays.
Senator Anperson. Then why did you?
Dr. Taytor. I have been comparing here the gonadal dose. This
you can compare.
Representative Hosmer. That is what is best known as a dose to
reproductivecells.
Dr. Taytor. Germ cells, yes.
Senator Anperson. You estimate the amounts to 125 millirems per
year?
Dr. Taynor. Yes,sir.
Representative Hosmer. Then you said that fallout contributes
about 114 percentof the per capita dose.
Dr. Tayzor. To the gonads.
5 Hditoer’s note: See supplemental statement of Dr. Taylor, p. 30.
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