University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan This group first discussed the application of atomic energy techniques to the agricultural sciences, They feel great advances will be forthcoming, but perhaps not as soon as some claim, They note the value of radioactive tracer studies in im- proving our knowledge of how most economically to apply fertilizers, and to improve plant nutrition, They note the great poten- tial value ofionizing radiation to induce mutations in speeding up erop improvement programs, They point up the invaluable contribution tracer studies can make to our understanding of animal nutrition, They touched on the problem of radioisotapes as posai- ble contaminants in food products and point out that present law classes radioisotopes of any sort or in any amount as poisons, They urge a more realistic approach to this inasmuch aa no food product ia or ever has been literally free of radioactivity. There is a general diacus&ion of possible effects. of fallout and the like on the ecology of the country, The committee recommends that it may well be in the public interest to expand. the present. programs to a continuous study of the changes in levels of background radiation and the movements of radioactivity in the system, (This is in essence an activity that the AKG has alrea underway and is expanding very much along the lines recommended. Finally, there is a statement concerning use of radie~_ tion for food processing, They note that relatively low exppsures will destroy parasites in meat and inhibit sprouting in potatoes and ontons, They also note that for sterilization extremely large doses are required (millions of roentgens). They felt this area of development was moving as rapidly as warranted and that the interest of the consumer will be adequately protected, They ex~ pect at.a later date to review the evidence for wholesomeness and acceptability of irradiated foods, mmittee on Disposal NAS ispersal of R 1 Jo s_Hoy gs. tive W; rersity be ‘This group considered: the riagnitade «of the problem not a6 it is today but as it will become with full scale production: of power by nuclear reactors, They note that to date essentially none of these wastes has been returned to the environment, being stored in tanks, It is They point out the importance of deveiap- ing more economic methods of handling these wastes to the total development of atomic power, They have no quarrel with present practices but are concerned at the future magnitude of the problem. -~9~ REP Ry ) JA THE COLLEGTIONS. OF THE ancES OF THE ~