STATEMENT ON THE HAZARDS OF RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1962 · Pediatrics (U.S.)

OSTI ID:4736021

Farr, L E

In a meeting on January 22 and 23, 1962 the Committee on Environmental Hazards considered the problems posed for pediatricians by fallout by radioactive materials on the United States. It reviewed data on the duration, amounts, and hazards of radioactive I/sup 131/ and Sr/sup 90/ in fallout, data and reports of new processes for removal of Sr/sup 90/ from milk, as well as reports on long- term studies of Japanese survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and people of the Marshall Islands who were exposed to fallout from nuclear weapons testing. It concluded that the present Sr/sup 90/ content of milk is less than that which is capable of inducing recognizable deleterious effects in infant, child, or adult during average lifetimes. Laboratory methods for the removal of Sr/sup 90/ from milk are now being tested, and if it becomes necessary, these can probably be developed through pilot stages to commercially applicable procedures. About 80% of Sr/sup 90/ ingested will be immediately excreted so that the body burden increases more slowly than does the environmental contamination. The cow thus eliminates 80% of environmental Sr from its milk. The present level of I/sup 131/ in foods, liquids, and atmosphere is also well below the levels at which alerting of the population is required by governmental standards, which are very conservative. Blocking doses of stable I are not at this time necessary. Prophylactic administration of carrier I as a blocking agent presents the probability of developing iodism in large numbers of children by well-intentioned but uniformed practitioners. Should I/sup 131/ or Sr/sup 90/ in the environmental significantly increase, those agencies charged with protection of the population will inform these groups responsible for the development of appropriate recommendations and procedures. (H.H.D.)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-17-006350
• OSTI ID: 4736021
• Journal Information: Pediatrics (U.S.), Journal Name: Pediatrics (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 29; ISSN PEDIA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ADSORPTION
AGE
ATMOSPHERE
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BODY
CATTLE
CONTAMINATION
DECONTAMINATION
ENVIRONMENT
EXCRETION
FALLOUT
FOOD
HEALTH AND SAFETY
HIROSHIMA
INGESTION
IODINE 131
LIQUIDS
MAN
MARSHALL ISLANDS
MEDICINE
MILK
MONITORING
NAGASAKI
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
POPULATIONS
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION PROTECTION
REVIEW
SAFETY
STANDARDS
STOMACH
STRONTIUM 90
TOXICITY
URINE