CONFIDENTIAL
Cabinet Meeting, May 12, 1960
-
page 4
other government officials just as OCDM stands prepared to accom modate
therm, Mr. Gates replied that the problem had been taken under st hdy
immediately in his Department.
WN
Radiation Protection Guidance (CP 60-109) - In Dr, Flemming's
absence, Dr. Kistiakowsky summarized the Cabinet paper, drawin
particular attention to the presumption that any radiation at all has
some effect on living tissue, either somatic or genetic. The Coundi
felt it had made this assumption necessarily in the absence of any
experimentation proving there would be no effect from small doses
Dr. Kistiakowsky noted that the new term ''radiation protection gui
would serve as a replacement for ‘maximum permissible exposure
Dr. Kistiakowsky referred to the imminence of hearings by the Coq
gressional Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, and the desirability
of having this paper approved and published prior to the hearings,
affirmed his own concurrence in the reco:inmendations.
Mr. McConestated that the AEC fully concurs in the paper and the
desirability of early publication. He said the practices of the
Commission are consistent with the recommendations.
Mr. McCone then put additional emphasis on the statement on page
which denied,
under present knowledge,
the existence of a thresho
below which radiation would not have harmful effects. This and th
differentiation between atomic industrial workers and the populatioy
as a whole could become points of controversy, he thought.
The President ascertained that measurements of radiation for the
purposes of this guide began from zero and that zero included
natural radiation from the atmosphere and such radiation as an
individual might receive from medical treatment.
Mr. McCone compared this entire problem with that of motor vehidles
and highways, where any speed at all could be dangerous, but offic als
as a practical matter must determine what are ''safe"' speeds.
Mr. McCone then discussed certain technical aspects of AEC oper 10nS
as pertains to radiation. He noted that the Commission did not kno Wy
of any instance in which there would be a need for making use of the
option set forth in recommendation #7, but that it had been included
in case of future need,
Dr. Kistiakowsky stated that Sec. Flemming thoroughlyaccepted
these recommendations.
Mr. Rogers inquired if it would be possible to state that the effect
of a very small dose of radiation would not necessarily be harmful,
for the existing language would almost inevitably be taken out of
context and built into great controversy. This gave rise to an extensive discussion in which Messrs.
Gates, Scribner,
CONFIDENTIAL
Mueller and
Cy m~eo
tare
‘“fe
F
EO, 12.55, Sec,
VICfey
py7 7R pate
-