~ 13 Page 10, lines 12-18 - "It has long been known that those tissues
in which there is more active cell division suffer the earliest and most seve
severe radiation damage effects, and
that this includes the blood forming
cells in lymphatic glands and in bone marrow.
,
.
Such effects
include the destruction of rapidly multiplying cells that produce the
blood platelets which assist in the control of blood clotting. Similarly
the population of leucocytes is reduced with a corresponding reduction
in resistance to disease."
Comments:
These sentences apply primarily to the acute radiation effects
seen after high exposure levels.
Their relevance to the effects of
alpha emitting radionuclides is not clear,
Page 10, lines 18-21 - "These effects plus the accompanying chromosome
structural changes can give rise to the earlier incidence not only of
cancers, but bbs ybote pattern of diseases of the cardiovascular and
renal systems
?
."
Comments:
The author, referring to the
fact that radiation can damage or
destroy cells that produce blood platelets and leukocytes, states
that, "These effects plus the accompanying chromosome structural changes
can give rise to the earlier incidence not only of cancers, but the
whole pattern of diseases of the cardiovascular and renal systems‘? +38) 1
This statement, the manner in which it is made, and the sweeping
implications of it are misleading, non-sequitus and unaccompanied by
adequate meaningful explanation of foundation.
It attempts to faction-
alize mechanistic connections- which are so remote and speculative, and
neglectful of known aspects of the mechanisms, as to practically meaningless.
The references [37 (a publication appearing in 1938) and 38]
do not
provide substantive support for the sweeping mechanistic aspects of the
statement.