=
adults.

For equal intakes of radioactivity, children probably would receive

higher exposures due to the smaller organ masses, and in the case of bones a

greater deposition would be expected. Also, there 1s the possibility of tumor
production in the thyroids.of some children at relatively low radiation exposures.

It would appear wise therefore to establish lower limits of intake

of radioactivity for children.
C.

Permissible Intake
The preceding discussion attempted to give estimates of radiation

doses reBulting fram intake of fallout material, together with some possible
biological effects.

How mich intake is actually permitted depends upon many

factors including the essentialness of the food and water to sustaining life,

and one’s philosphy of acceptable biological risks and damage in the face of
other possible hazards such es mass evacuation.

Table Two and Graph Five give

estimates of the amount of contamination in food and water to produce certain
radiation doses to the critical organs.

logical effects fram given doses.

Table Hur indicates possible bio-

Using these references, command decisions

may be made as to permitted intake of radioactivity.

DOE ARCHIVES

Such evaluations as attempted here are necessary and valuable for

planning purposes,but once the fallout occurs the emergency of the situation
may preclude immediate amlysis of the food and water supplies.

Further,

abstaining fram ingestion of food and water because it might be contaminated
could not be continued indefinitely.

Therefore, the following three common

sense rules are suggested:

-15-

1246.

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