Effect of radiation on human heredity : report of a study group convened by WHO, together with papers presented by various members of the group.

  • World Health Organization.
Date:
1957
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Credit: Effect of radiation on human heredity : report of a study group convened by WHO, together with papers presented by various members of the group. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    16/176 (page 12)
    1 * 12 EFFECT OF RADIATION ON HUMAN HEREDITY In recent years, considerable quantitative knowledge has been accumu¬ lated on the basic mechanisms of genetics. There are strong grounds for believing that most genetic effects are very closely additive so that a small amount of radiation received by each of a large number of individuals can do an appreciable amount of damage to the population as a whole. There are, however, many gaps in knowledge particularly concerning these effects in man. These gaps will only be closed after a great expansion of general and ad hoc research in genetics and other fields of biology. The Group has received the following resolution passed by the First International Congress of Human Genetics in Copenhagen, and it notes and agrees (while at the same time noting that WHO's work is only concerned with the peaceful use of atomic energy) that: The damage produced by ionizing radiation on the hereditary material is real and should be taken seriously into consideration in both the peaceful and military uses of nuclear energy as well as in all medical, commercial and industrial practices in which X-rays or other ionizing radiation is emitted. It is recommended that the investigation of the amount and type of damage and of related genetic questions, be greatly extended and intensified with a view to safe-guarding the well-being of future generations. The Group agrees with the memorandum, entitled Human and Medical Genetics, which was submitted in 1955 by the Government of Denmark to the World Health Organization.! This Group takes note of the report of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America^ and that of the Medical Research Council of Great Britain.^ It is not intended to reproduce any of the material in these reports, but the Group notes the substantial similarity of the findings and recommendations of these reports and is in essential agreement with them. 2. Natural and Man-made Sources of Ionizing Radiation The present sources of ionizing radiations of interest for the treatment of problems related to the genetic effects in man include the following: Natural sources 1. Cosmic radiation. 2. Naturally occurring amounts of radium, thorium and potassium in the earth's crust. 3. Content of natural radioactive elements in living tissues. ^ » Off. Ree. Wld Hlth Org., 68, 147 * United States of America, National Academy of Sciences (1956) The biological effects of atomic radia¬ tion, Washington, D.C. * Great Britain, Medical Research Council (1956) The hazards to man of nuclear and allied radiations, London #