Discussion of a proposed federal radiation research agenda

The greatest concern should not be what we do not know about the biological effects of radiation or even the important undone epidemiology. Rather, it must be directed at an analysis of the barriers which have prevented both adequate government standards over exposure to ionizing radiation and even a semblance of informed consent on the part of the victims. As I have previously suggested for chemical carcinogens, NIH needs to conduct research to identify potential victims of present and past exposure to ionizing radiation, with priority given to those with the greatest exposures. Any end point which demonstrates biological damage to animals or humans from ionizing radiation should, upon translation into understandable English, be forwarded to the public. In addition, information on the amount of radiation that workers, residents or patients are getting needs to be forwarded to these potential victims rather than being covered up as in the examples of mammography and inaccurately low company records of uranium miner radiation exposure. It is time for the Surgeon General of the United States to start issuing frequent reports on the Adverse Consequences of Ionizing Radiation not unlike the reports on smoking