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46
RADIOACTIVITY
Considerable public concern has been voiced concerning the effect on
health of radioactivity resulting from testing of nuclear weapons, as well as
from the many new uses to which radioactive substances are now being put.
In October, the Minister of Housing and Local Government circulated to local
authorities a Memorandum setting out in some detail the various sources of
radioactivity and the efforts which Central Government was making to deal with
any risks arising there from. I submitted the following summary of this
Memorandum to the December meeting of the Public Health Committee:-
"MINISTRY OP HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
MEMORANDUM ON GOVERNMENT ACTION ON RADIOACTIVITY
FOR THE INFORMATION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES
As instructed, I have pleasure in submitting the following summary of the
above Memorandum:-
1. SOURCES. Apart from natural sources which have always been present
there have developed in modern times a variety of man-made sources
from which the public are or might be subject to irradiation The
Government regards itself as having a primary responsibility to ensure
that the overall dose of radioactivity from all sources is properly
assessed and, so far as possible, controlled
2. HAZARDS. Possible hazards to people within establishments may arise
from the use of X-ray apparatus or from radioactive materials used in
medicine, industry or research
(a) Medical and dental equipment. The largest contribution to the
population's radiation dose is made by diagnostic X-rays This
aspect is kept under review by the Health Departments and a Committee
under the Chairmanship of Lord Adrian is considering the present
practice on diagnostic radiology and in radiotherapy of non-malignant
conditions.
(b) Factories. The health and safety of workers in factories is the
responsibility of the Ministry of Labour and National Service
Special regulations cover the use of luminising compounds in
factories Many factory inspectors have been specially trained
in the precautions to be observed to ensure the safe handling and
use of radioisotopes.
(c) Research establishments. These establishments do not come under
the Factories Acts, but it has been decided that the safety and
health of workers in such establishments using ionising radiations,
other than hospital research establishments, should be the concern
of the Ministry of Labour and National Service.
(d) Shoe-fitting fluoro scop es. The Medical Research Council considers
that this equipment makes only a minor addition to the
natural dose of radiation. The Home Office have agreed with the
manufacturers and associations representative of users, protective
measures to keep the radiation dose to a minimum.
(e) Technical colleges and schools. The supply of radioactive
substances to schools is limited to those where the use has been
authorised by the Ministry of Education and that Ministry has
issued memoranda to local education authorities on procedures in
technical colleges and schools.