RADIOLOGICAL Di“iia ox AG G28 — ae CIVIL DEFENSE PROGRAM The peculiar dangers characteristic of atomic attack are those arising from the presence of ionizing radiations, a physical phenomenon _ loosely termed radioactivity. While it 1s hoped that international control of atomic energy, which would eliminate the possibility of atomic attack, may be achieved, our national security demands immediate development and implementation of a specific plan for radiological defense as a part of the national civil defense progran, All those passive measures of atomic defense directed toward the prevention or mitigation of versonnel injuries resulting from overexposure to radiological hazards are collectively termed radiclogical defense. As related to atomic attack, any and all risks arising from, or attribut- able to, the presence of tonizing radiations are called radiological hazards, With respect both to atomic attack and to radiological defense, the term ionizing radiations may be taken to mean those nuclear emanations, gamma rays, neutrons, beta varticles and alpha »articles, which are capable of penetrating the human body to varying depths, They may cause injury through ionization of the countless tiny cells of which all living tissue is composed, For purposes of this discussion, there is no need to be concerned with their detalled chysical characteristics. BEST COPY AVAILABLE ESTIMATES OF ©SROBABLG EFFECTS OF ATOMIC APTACK Use of Bomb Assumed, The possibility of employment of atomic weapons in attack against our country increases with time, but detailed discussion NODE, HAH @ MET Ae -/fe oe Do “oe TT. pee Lie Ce ee® . (bere 7G noe ARCHIVES