Federal Research on the Biological and Health Effects of Ionizing Radiation; Committee on Federal Research on the Biological and Health Effects of Ionizing Radiation, Division of Medical Sciences, Assembly of Life Sciences, National Research Council

xviii, 169, [3] pages. Footnotes. References. Tables. Ex-library book with library markings. The 1981 National Research Council report, Federal Research on the Biological and Health Effects of Ionizing Radiation, critically evaluated U.S. government radiation research, highlighting inefficiencies and a need for better interagency coordination. It strongly recommended a centralized, proactive strategy to address research gaps, particularly regarding low-dose exposure, setting the foundation for modern radiation safety standards. Research on the biological and health effects of ionizing radiation has doubtless been more intensive than the study of these effects using any other agent. This book is an excellent summary of the federally supported work since WWII and includes a broad review of all pertinent studies in the field of radiation biology. There is a slight pro-nuclear flavor to the text but it is handled discretely and is actually somewhat subdued, considering the subject matter. This book is the result of the National Academy of Sciences being asked by the Director of the National Institutes of Health, to evaluate the scope and quality of research on the biological and health effects of ionizing radiation supported or conducted by agencies of the federal government. …