STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
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STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE March 8, 1972
Department of Genetics

Mr. Richard S. Lewis

Editor

Bulletin of The Atomic Scientists
1020-24 East 58th Street

Chicago, Illinois 60637

Dear Mr. Lewis,

Dr. Sternglass believes that the human fetus is especially
sensitive to radiation, by a factor of 1000-fold compared to the
adult. Even though differentials of this magnitude are unsubstantiated
by animal studies, the conclusion is theoretically indefeasible and
empirically difficult to refute, Epidemiological studies are
hampered by the primitive state of medical data collection and by
the low doses to which, happily, human exposure is generally limited.
It is also notoriously difficult to isolate the relevant variables.
Much of Sternglass' argument is based on a still unpublished report
(Lave, L.B.et al.) which is not here available for critical analysis.

These confusions are all good reasons for stressing the natural
radiation background rather than the calculated biodetriment as the
basis for radiation policy. The dollar equivalents assigned to the
biodetriment in my article would attribute at least 10% of our over-
all health burden to natural environmental radiation. Were we to
increase that figure very much we would leave no room for contagion,
chemical pollution, dyshygienic life styles and genetic polymorphisms.

To the extent that new cautions about the sensitivity of fetuses
have spared them their average quota of medical x-rays, other
sources of radiation indeed will bear a larger culpability. However,
the natural background, 100 mr at sea level, and much higher at -
altitude, stands as an inescapable yardstick for judging the predictable
impact of other forms of radiation,like nuclear power, I believe that,
pending scientific data more reliable and more reassuring than are now
available, we do well to retain standards for population exposure from
nuclear power that fall 1) within a few percent of that figure and
2) far below the fluctuations related to altitude and construction
materials, I am gratified that after much delay and inexcusable
confusion the AEC in 1971 promulgated regulations consistent with these
standards. Medical x-rays are, of course, absolutely justified for many
indispensable applications, but tighter discipline could minimize
medically useless tests and technically careless spillage of radiation.

Sincerely a

~ 4
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{/ Joshua Lederberg
Z Professor of Genetics /

LT. J. P. KENNEDY, JR. LABORATORIES FOR MOLECULAR MEDICINE, DEDICATED TO RESEARCH IN MENTAL RETARDATION

   
 

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY HEREDITY NEUROBICLOGY DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE

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