220 FIELD THE SHORTER-TERM BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS OF A FALLOUT are also related to clinical observation and eval- uation, A consensus of this information and available instrumentation determines the opera- tional techniques. Operational plans are then based upon techniques, objectives, and location. The summarized data are then available for emergency action, future detonation planning, and public health evaluation. Another activity that test organizations provide for and which is very beneficial in reducing the total radiation load of the population is the matter of providing emergency measures in case the unexpected takes place. This has been done, Tknow, both in Nevada andin the Pacific, and T thinkit is an important public health service. As we movefrom that point, wefind that the responsibility and work load begins to become more diffuse, It is necessary to think about public relations and pseudo as well as real injuries to people. Jt is expected that most of the complaints and mostof the reported injuries in the area around thetest site in Nevada and in the Pacific will not be actually due to radiation. However, in this country those who can hest help you explain whathas actually occurred in a community or in individual cases are those agencies which we refer to as the local medical service agencies and the public health agencies. Thus the public health services enter the weapons test. picture. As a test period terminates, the radiation persists. Other factors affecting the test organizations and the detonations persist with the radiation. Some of these are manifestations of radioactivity that have both a public health and economic import. Typical are questionsrelated to milk supplies. People are concerned about the radioactivity in their milk. They are particularly concerned about the strontium in their milk. The photo- graphic industry is concerned about particles on photographic paper. Theyare not so much concerned about total activity associated with particles, Another affected group is the nuclear in- dustry. Generally it must meet maximum permissible concentration standards for dis- PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF SHORT TERM HAZARDS 221 charge of radioactivity into the environment. As theactivity from our weapons tests and from foreign tests continues to increase, the radiological latitude which they have diminishes. Another broad aren of importance is: the question of Jong term effects of radioactivity. small matter to be handled between himself and his physician, or whether it is beyond the scope of his personal resources. In a few instances where only one acule exposure has occurred and weapons tests are a factor, he might seek some type of compensation directly through the increased exposure to radiation of We know qualitatively that radiation is an officer or employee of the Department. of Defense, he has available a relatively compleic system of hospital and medical care services both before and after discharge. Survivors’ Dr. Hensnaw. Some of the health problems Here we enter an area: which is not clearly defined. can increase the eaneer rates under certain conditions. We knowthatit may cause genetic effects and we knowit could change our aging pattern, and might change such things as thyroid function. However, as efforts are made to assess these quantitatively in population groups, normality must. first he determined. from the Atomic Energy Commission. If he benefita for active duty officer personnel are also available, However, the person notassociated with the AECor the military organizations is in a much weaker position to take care This is difficult. Is the cancer incidence in anyform actuallyincreasing? If it is, what is of himself in case of an unfortunate incident. thyroidism increasing orisn't it, and how would tions as the Social Security Administration Is hypo- He has his individual resources, and he has public hospitalization. He has such organiza- we expect this to manifest itself in terms of population groups? If it does, what are the normal levels for these particular clinical which provides benefits for him and his family in many instances. In other cases, the State compensation laws are applicable. But in the eause? Is radiation the cause? manifestations population? that seem to affect our If we have determined in a given situation that radiation has caused some increase in an observable way, then the sources become more important. However, their determination for a specific injury or group of injuries may be the broad picture, the individual has no one place to go and no specific resource to fall back on. He fails back on the health and welfare resources of the communities as they exist today. Thus there is a very broad area of potential difficult. These are some of the things that make the problem of radiological public health responsibility in case these acute effects that you folks have discussed here today, create directly or synergistically public health effects making measurements and having data in a physical sense. It is a matter of being able to assess these data in termsof effects on people. Since my time is up, I should like to remind some of you, and tell others who are not particularly difficult. It is not as simple as If a person is injured due to someradiation exposure complex involving the concept of total dose, who is actually responsible, and what systems are available for that person lo seek help or to receive some financial reimbursement. for his difficulties? I will name someof these, and I think you will see that the problem is complex, and no one group or no oneindividual bears this total responsibility. In most cases, an injured person first. looks to his own resources. He tries to determine whether this is a relatively of a measureable type. familiar with the activities of the Public Health Service, that in addition to following through these administrative relationships which are very important to all of us, the Service does carry on a broad system of training, research, and support of public health organizations and medical care facilities which can help solve many public health problems which may he created either through military operations or an occupational or medical type in the future. DISCUSSION J. G. Terrill are international in character. Waste disposal into the sea is just one. I would like to ask whether any developments are under way for cooperation at the international level, say at the World Health Organization? Dr. Terriwn. Yes, there are developments under way within the Public Health Service and within the World Health Organization. I would have mentioned those except for the nature of this meeting. But briefly I will outline these for your information. The Public Health Service is the WHO representative for the United States. About a year and a half ago after conference with Dr. Dunhamof the AEC and Lauriston Taylor of the International Committee on Radiation Protection, it was decided to make every effort to integrate the international activities that Dr. Taylor had undertaken over the past years into the WHO organization. J should say organization system. This has been undertaken, and I understand it has been approved by both groups. This group in turn has set. up a committee that has studied the matter of waste disposal among other things, and also another major concern has been the matter of training, Our Division of International Health in the Public Health Service is cooperating with both WHO and to some degree with the International Division of AEC and the Division of Biology and Medicine, in aneffort to acquaint people throughout the world with our knowledge in waste disposal areas in particular, and in a broadtraining sense generally. Does that answer your question?