t : bale PEBEBD AS POOPSIN igs or rot. aul oe Tea nt RADIATION STANDARDS, INCLUDING FALLOUT Il Representative Prics. Doctor, there is not much you can do about it? opedpantie SeOL abipeat ee Lab ect te re ob , sok ee Dr. Wuirrte. I don’t think it is important enough to do anything about it. Representative Pricr. On page 9, in your comparison between fallout and nuclear plants, are you implying that fallout exceeds the limits set by regulations on nuclear plants? Dr. Wuirrix, No; I am not implying that. To my knowledge, in the strict legal sense of the term, I can think of no case where this — has been true. My point in mentioningthis is that the nuclear plant levels have actually been so very low that I think that we would be quite excited if we found that levels from such a plant were approaching levels we have seen from fallout. Representative Price. What industries were you specifically referring to when you stated that the individual accepts knowingly and willingly radiation hazards when he goes to work? Dr. Wuiprte. Work in atomic energy plants, work in radiation clinics, isotope clinics; is this what you mean ? Representative Price. Yes. Is there anything outside of your Atomic Energy Commission facilities or other private industries where heis exposedto these radiation hazards ? Dr. Wuiprix. Yes; there are many. Representative Price. What were you thinking about. Were you thinking of private industry, also? Dr. Wurprtz. Yes; I was thinkingfirst of the medical and dental practice of radiology, the physicians and nurses and so forth. These are radiation occupations. The industrial] radiographers, the people who take pictures of welds and castings. The industries that work with radioactive isotopes, for example, in the preparation of selfluminous sources such as radium dials, wristwatches, industrial gages, beta gages, thickness, and level gages. There is quitea list of radiation industries outside of the Atomic Energy Commission. Representative Price. In your colloquy, I think with both Senator Anderson and Mr. Holifield, at least partially, you have answered my next question, but I would like to reask it. On page 11 you state that medical and dental] exposure is one of the two major contributors to the total population exposure. How does this amount compare to what we receive from fallout on the average ! Dr. Wurrrte. The round numbers, and I am sorry I cannot quote an exact source—perhaps Dr. Taylor can remember where I am getting these numbers—is a tenth of a rem from natural sources. The estimate, and you can realize it 1s only an estimate, to the total population from medical and dental practice, another tenth of a rem per year; and something like three-thousandths of a rem per year from fallout during the last few years per year. Representative Price. Mr. Holifield. Chairman Hoiiriety. No questions. Representative Pricz. Mr. Hosmer? Representative Hosmer. No questions. Senator Anpersow. I like the statement very much. Representative Pricer. Mr. Bates? Representative Bares. No questions. 86853—62—pt. 1-2 seman