How Much Radiation?

Dr. Robert R. Newell, director of Stanford's radio-biological laboratory, polled 32 of the nation's topflight radiologists and physicists on the question : How much radiation would it take to kill a man? Last week Dr. Newell reported his findings. The radiologists gave such widely varied answers that the important question was left hanging.

For example, the experts were asked how much radiation a man could stand over a few hours without showing symptoms of illness. The answers ranged from 25 roentgens (the standard measure of X-ray dosage) to 1,000. Another question was how much radiation would be needed to knock out of combat 90% of exposed persons within a few hours; answers varied from 100 roentgens to 10,000.

The confusion was no laughing matter. It meant that in case of an atomic bombing, or a mishap at an atomic plant, no one would be able to say just when it would be safe to send in rescue squads. Said Dr. Newell: "This is like saying you don't know whether a teaspoonful or tumblerful of poison will make a man sick."

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