UNITED STATES
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20545

July 30, 1970

 

Dr. Joshua Lederberg

Department of Genetics

Stanford University School of Medicine
Palo Alto, California 94304

Dear Josh:

Thanks for sending me the preprint of your column a few days ago
in which you estimated mutational effects from radiation exposure.
I have not yet had to deal with any repercussions from the column
but I rather think that they will be coming.

Let me be sure I understand how you reached your estimate of ten
billion dollars per year. If the 10% increase in mutations with
exposures at the permissible limits added this amount to the

present bill I believe you are saying the health cost of mutation
related diseases are about one hundred billion per year. Is this
correct? One-ninth of our gross national product is being devoted

to mutation related diseases and if these are 25% of the total number
of diseases then that would be almost one-half of our GNP being spent
for health. Obviously this looks like an improper interpretation of
what you meant but I am afraid it will be one which we will see in our
incoming mail.

It is too bad, of course, as you have pointed out that there is a
continuing decline of funds available for support of various
laboratories. It does not appear that there will likely be any
change in this situation in the near future and I suspect that any
extensive efforts by scientists to change the trend by political
agitation may result in an acceleration of the loss of revenue.

On the subject of Gofman and Tamplin, I am enclosing a copy of the
Washington Star article that indicates that they believe that you
are a strong supporter of their estimates. Do you really wish them
to classify you in this manner?
Dr. Joshua Lederberg ~2- July 30, 1970

Thanks again for letting me see your column before it appeared.

Sincerely,

oft

Totter, Director
Vision of Biology and Medicine

Enclosure:
As Stated