Irradiate Your Gonads
Estimates made by the different national and international
scientific bodies indicate a per capita gonad dose of ~l0 rems
accumulated from conception to age 30 from all man-made
sources would impose a considerable burden on society due to
genetic damage, but that this additional burden may be
regarded as tolerable and justifiable in view of the benefits that
may be expected to accrue from the expansion of the practical
applications of'atomic energy'. There is at present oonsiderable
uncertainty as to the magnitude of the burden and, therefore, it
is highly desirable to keep the exposure oflarge populations at
as low a level as~practicab1e, with due regard to the necessity of
providing. additional sources of energy to meet the demands of
modern society. A genetic dose of 10 rems from all man-made.
sources is regarded by most geneticists as the absolute
maximum and all would prefer a lower dose. In some countries
the genetic dose from medical procedures has been estimated to
be about 4.5 rems. Therefore, if the limit for the genetic dose
from all man-made sources was set at 6 rems, the contribution
from all sources other. than medical procedures, would be
limited to 1.5 rems in these countries. This would impose
unacceptable restrictions on these countries. Accordingly as a
matter ofpractical necessity the Commission recommends that
medical exposure be considered separately and that it be kept
as low as is consistent with the necessary requirements of
modern medical practice ... In view of these considerations the
Commission recommends a limit of 5 rems for the genetic dose
from all man-made sources of radiation and activities, except
medical procedures.