OFFICIAL USE ONLY v DRAFT-NOT FOR PUBLIC ISSUANCE OFFICIAL USE ONLY From: 407135 Eugene H. Kone, Public Relation Consultant National Academy of Sciences 2101 Constitution Avenue, N, W, Washington 25, D.C. Tel, EXecutive 3-8100 Reseased for MORNING of WEDNESDAY, June 13, 1956 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES REPORTS ON "THE BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ATOMIC RADIATIONS" Washington, D, C,, June 12--: The National Academy of Sciences in releasing a report on a year-long study of the biological effects of atomic radiations, warned todry that radiation from any source--bombs, nuclear reactors, the natural environment, even medical Xrays--is harmful to life, The report emphasized that exposure of individuals and of the world's population as a whole be carefully controlled and regulated and it recommended that individual records be kept of the lifetime radiation expesure of all persons, With proper safeguards, the report added, a full-scals, worldwide, peaceful atomic energy ~rogram should not bring lw with it undue blological hazards. f vigorous program of research is needed, however, to make clear what the necessary safeguards are, Research is also pointing the way to dramatic benefits which radiation techniques can being in mary fields such as medicine, biology and agriculture, These major conclusions were announced at the headquarters of the Academy by its president, Dr, Detlev W. Bronk, and by f six committee chairmen who are leading more than one hundred U.S, scientists in a continuing study of radiation problems, ~~ 1 = OFFICIAL USE ONLY —

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