I.
INTRODUCTORY Ritu.KKS aND GUMMARY Of 02.0 IMUNY
To the general public, the most important question about
fallout from nuclear tests is:
“what is the risk of medical
harm to the popuiation as a result of fallout; if there is a
risk, what can be done to reduce it?"
wince its inception,
the United States program of nuclear tests has included a
considerable effort to determine the deposition of fallout
outside the actual test area, to estimate the possible medical
hasard of such fallout to persons exposed to it, and to warn
of needed countermeasures when the occasion arises.
Contributing
to this effort has been the work of the AEC, the agency
directly responsible for nuclear test operations, the U. S.
hublic Health Service, and the hearings conducted by the
Congressional Joint Committee on Atomic Energy.
Two separate aspects of the problem need to be considered:
(a) The medical risks to the tota] population resulting from
the widespread dissemination of radioactivity from tests which
occur anywhere in the world.
(b)
The medical risks to docal
populations, resulting from relatively short-range fallout
which spreads rapidly from the test site in Nevada to surrounding
communities, and sometimes - depending on weather condi-
tions - to dixntan*: areas in the continentai United States.
The
first of these p.o»' ens has been given extensive consideration
recently; the St. ‘.uis Citizens' Committee for Nuclear Infor
mation (CNI) has previously submitted extensive testimony relevant
to it.