jung 971

 

OFFICE OF THE MEDFORD
ASSISTANT PROVOST TUFTS UNIVERSITY MASSACHUSETTS 02155

June 4, 1971

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Stamford University

School of Medicine

Palo Alto, California 94305

Dear Dr, Lederberg:

I am sure you are very busy but I should like your
thoughts on a matter of regional concern in the Boston area.

Like others, I have not made a complete peace
with nuclear power stations. Presently it is proposed to divert some
water which has been passed through a Vermont nuclear power station
into a reservoir serving the eastern portion of Massachusetts. The
reservoir serves over half of the Massachusetts population.

I wrote to the Governor asking him to reconsider
this diversion of the activated water. He in turn asked the
Commissioner of Health to respond. Attached is the Commissioner's
reply. Notice the inclusion of a paper by Dr. Benedict projecting
the average amount of picocuries which will become available in the
Quabbin Reservoir. The plant is not yet built. Obviously I am
concerned because it represents another avenue of additional radio-
activity coming into humans. The question is not that it is "safe"
as some of the AEC adherents claim here but how much harm will
something like this cause.

Frankly I do not know how to proceed from avail-
able radiation in water to the potential genetic harm. I wonder if
you know of relevant research on this matter or of comparable data
from a nuclear power situation which we can rely upon.

Obviously I would most welcome whatever thoughts
you have on the issue.
Dr. Joshua Lederberg -2- June 4, 1971

I am now on enough Federal and State commissions
to make any counter arguments felt but I wish to have the best
information available.

I understand from a friend that you published an

article in the Washington Post some weeks ago concerning nuclear
power and heredity. father than pass on his interpretation of the

report, I would ask if you have a photocopy of it. I should

appreciate it very much.
B heal

ack B, Bresler, Ph.D.

  

JBB/mee
Att.