RADIATION EFFECTS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28180, 19 January 1957, Page 4

RADIATION EFFECTS

Warning By Geneticist (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON. Jan. 16. A prominent geneticist said today that he estimated that 6000 babies born to the present generation would be handicapped because of hydrogen-bomb testing. Moreover, the rate of such births would increase proportionately as radiation effects were passed on to future generations, he said. Dr. Warren Weaver, chairman of a National Academy of Sciences committee on the genetic effects of atomic radiation, told a Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Disarmament that he personally believed the United States must continue testing atomic weapons in view of the world situation today. But he said that he would not quarrel with those who thought testing should be halted because of the genetic risk to the human race.

Dr. Weaver said that an estimated 30.000,000 handicapped babies would be born to the current generation, of which radiation would account for 6000. On a percentage basis, he said, the figure was small, but considered alone it looked large. He said that the deadly strontium 90 released by nuclear explosions already had reached a measurable level in milk, cheese and other dairy products. He said that the isotope tended to concentrate in dairy foods. It had not yet reached anything like dangerous levels, Dr. Weaver said, but even so it could lead to increasing amounts of leukemia and bone cancer in persons consuming the dairy products.

Dr. Weaver said that one reason for the disagreement among scientists as to the dangers of atomic testing was the lack of information on the effect of radiation.

He said that the “natural” background of radiation on earth was 4.3 per cent. The advent of X-ray and other developments raised the background to" 7.3 per Cent, and fall-out from bomb testing had brought it to 7.4 per cent. As weapon testing continued the percentage was bound to increase. Also to be considered was the effect of nuclear power units and other peaceful uses of atomic energy would have on the radiation level.