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THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN THE USE OF X‐RAYS AND OTHER IONIZING RADIATION: Statement by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation
Author(s) -
Wolfgang Weiss
Publication year - 1957
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1957.tb00081.x
Subject(s) - statement (logic) , medicine , non ionizing radiation , ionizing radiation , medical radiation , law , medical physics , political science , physics , irradiation , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics
1. The United Nations General Assembly, being aware of the problems in public health that are created by the development of atomic energy, established a Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. This Committee has considered that one of its most urgent tasks was to collect as much information as possible on the amount of radiation to which man is exposed today, and on the effects of this radiation. Since it has become evident that radiation due to diagnostic radiology and to radio-therapy constitutes a substantial proportion of the total radiation received by the human race, the Committee considers it desirable to draw attention to information that has been obtained on this subject. 2. Modern medicine has contributed to the control of many diseases and has substantially prolonged the span of human life. These results have depended in part on the use of radiation in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease. There are, however, few examples of scientific progress that are not attended by some disadvantages, however slight. It is desirable therefore to review objectively the possible present or future consequences of increased irradiation of populations which result from these medical applications of radiation. 3. It is now accepted that the irradiation of human beings, and particularly of their germinal tissues, has certain undesirable effects. While many of the somatic effects of radiation may be reversible, germinal irradiation normally has an irreversible and therefore cumulative effect. Any irradiation of the germinal tissues, however slight, thus involves genetic damage which may be small but is nevertheless real. For somatic effects there may however be thresholds for any irreversible effects, although if so these thresholds may well be low. 4. The information so far available indicates that the human race is subjected to natural radiation,' as well as to artificial radiation due to its medical applications, to atomic industry and its effluents and to the radioactive fall-out from nuclear explosions. The Committee is aware of the potential hazards that such radiation involves, and it is collecting and examining information on these subjects.