Proceedings of the First International Congress of Radiation Protection

1416 Pages·1968·43.443 MB·1416\1416

by  W. S. Snyder (Eds.)

PROCEEDINGS OF THE
FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF
RADIATION PROTECTION
IN TWO PARTS
Sponsored by the
I N T E R N A T I O N AL R A D I A T I ON P R O T E C T I ON A S S O C I A T I ON
at
R O M E, I T A LY
S E P T E M B ER 5-10, 1966
PART 1
EDITED BY
W/S. SNYDER (U.S.A.)
H. H. ABEE (U.S.A.)
L. K. BURTON (U.K.)
R. MAUSHART (Germany)
A. BENCO (Italy)
F. DUHAMEL (France)
B. M. WHEATLEY (U.K.)
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First edition 1968
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PREFACE
THE First International Congress of Radiation and to Dr. L. Forti and the members of the
Protection, sponsored by the newly formed In- Secretariat which she directed for their generous
ternational Radiation Protection Association and courteous assistance. In particular, the
(IRPA) was held in Rome, September 5-10, Secretariat was responsible for collecting manu-
1966. The technical programme was outstanding scripts at the time of the Congress and for the
in quality, thoroughly international in scope, and transcription of the discussion. The fine co-
included papers in every major subject category operation of W. G. Marley and A. Cigna and of
of radiation protection. The Provisional Council the Programme Committee which they directed
of IRPA decided that the proceedings of the was invaluable in planning for the publication
Congress would be a useful repository of the of the proceedings. The authors of the papers
studies reported at the Congress as well as a also deserve thanks for their co-operation; only
permanent record of the technical level of the a few papers could not be obtained for pub-
subject area at this time and, therefore, arranged lication. The Editor wishes to acknowledge
to make them available to Congress registrants with gratitude the assistance of the six persons
and to the general public. The Council is in- who agreed to serve as Assistant Editors. Each
debted to Pergamon Press for its co-operation and of them had full responsibility for a certain
fine performance in realizing this goal. group of papers from their initial delivery to the
The papers have been arranged by sessions, final reading of the proof, so that, except for
thus preserving the continuity established by some general guidelines, each was, in effect, an
the Programme Committee. Abstracts of all editor. Without their assistance, the task would
papers presented orally or read by title are have been unmanageable. It is an especial
included for each session. If a rapporteur paper pleasure to acknowledge the excellent co-opera-
was given, it has been included, when available, tion of Pergamon Press throughout the course
in the belief that the rapporteur's evaluation of the planning and publication of the proceed-
and comparisons of the papers he reviewed add ings, and the names of E. J. Buckley and
considerably to the value of the individual Roy E. Strange are recorded here to express my
papers. It has not been possible to provide special thanks for their assistance and guidance.
translations of papers or abstracts in all the Undoubtedly the list of those whose efforts
official languages of the Congress. Thus the have contributed materially to the work of
arrangements of the papers follows closely that publishing these proceedings could be extended
of the Scientific Programme, and these proceed- over several pages of this volume. Many of
ings may serve as a permanent memorial of the them are not known to the Editor, and he can
excellent organization of this Congress. only express his general thanks to them.
The publication of such an extensive body The Editor believes these proceedings will
of technical information requires the assistance be a valuable record of the Congress and that all
of many persons, and it is a pleasure for the concerned in preparing this material for the
Editor to acknowledge this indebtedness and press will share his satisfaction in contributing
express his appreciation to the President of to their publication.
the Congress, Dr. P. Caldirola; to Dr. C. WALTER S. SNYDER
Polvani, Secretary General of the Congress; Publications Director, IRPA
xix
DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH PHYSICS AS A PROFESSION*
KARL Z. MORGAN
Director, Health Physics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.
Abstract—A brief history is given of the growth and development of health physics as a
scientific profession. It is indicated that scientists and engineers from many disciplines have
pooled their interests, combined their efforts and focused their attention on the central objective
of providing adequate radiation protection for man and his environment from the harmful
effects of ionizing radiation while at the same time enabling him to make better use of the
benefits of this great source of energy. These scientists are engaged in education, training, ad-
ministration, applied activities, engineering and research. Health physics research covers a
wide spectrum of problems ranging from the effects of radiation on the living cell and on man to
its interaction with matter at the atomic and nuclear levels. Ultimately, the goal of the health
physicist is to develop a coherent theory of radiation damage, to assure that he measures and
evaluates the proper physical and biological parameters related to the significant forms of
potential radiation damage, to establish adequate radiation protection recommendations and
measures at the national and international levels and to enforce these in such a manner that the
benefits of ionizing radiation far outweigh the damage. Although the Health Physics Society,
organized in 1956, was surprisingly successful in developing an international radiation pro-
tection organization, it was actually only partly successful in reaching this objective because
there were some countries from which there were no members and many persons referred to it
as the American society; this led to the formation of the IRPA and the calling of this inter-
national congress on radiation protection 10 years after the Health Physics Society was
organized. Many old and new problems on a local, national and international level remain to
be solved by the health physicist. A few of these problems are given for illustration and are
discussed briefly.
RADIATION protection measures were practised in which there were nuclear reactor and high
rather sporadically from the time of the dis- voltage accelerator programs. In 1955 at the
covery of X-rays in 1895 until the beginning University of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, the Health
of World War II when health physics was Physics Society was formed and a year later it was
organized as a profession, a new profession in formally organized at the University of Michigan,
which experienced and well-trained men with Ann Arbor, Michigan. Although those organiz-
a variety of scientific backgrounds spent full ing this society came from only two countries—
time in activities for the protection of man and the United States and Canada—they deliberately
his environment from the hazards of ionizing organized what they hoped would become a
radiation while at the same time encouraging truly international radiation protection associa-
an ever-increasing use of this great source tion because as expressed by these founders
of energy for the benefit of all mankind. This "problems of radiation protection and their
new profession, beginning with only eight health solution, whether in research, education and
physicists at the University of Chicago in 1942-43, training or applied activities should not be
grew very rapidly and spread to all countries limited by national boundaries or subordinated
to political pressures". By its tenth birthday
* Work sponsored by the U.S. Atomic Energy (1965) the membership of this Society ap-
Commission under contract with the Union Carbide proached the 3000 mark with members in 45
Corporation. countries and sections in France, the United
3
4 KARL Z. MORGAN
Kingdom, Japan, Central Europe and Israel. the Society; altogether I had replies from
Under the presidency of W. T. Ham (1964) persons in approximately 70 countries. It was
it was first officially recognized that the Health gratifying and very encouraging to find among
Physics Society, although surprisingly successful these an overwhelming desire for the creation
in fostering an international radiation protection of such an organization. This led to the forma-
association, was actually only partially success- tion of an ad hoc committee consisting of 46
ful in attaining this goal of achieving a maximum persons in 25 countries of the world, a committee
participation in its programs by qualified indi- to exchange information and pave the way for
viduals of all countries because (1) it had no an international radiation protection association.
members from countries such as Argentina, Table 1 indicates the membership of this ad hoc
China, Egypt, Hungary, Luxemburg, Peru, committee.
Romania, Russia, Uruguay, etc., (2) in Europe, On February 1, 1964 a small working group
it was referred to frequently as the American of this ad hoc committee, consisting of A. Benco
Health Physics Society and (3) there were (Italy), P. Courvoisier (Switzerland), P. Bonet-
several independent radiation protection socie- Maury, F. Duhamel and H. Jammet (France),
ties not affiliated with the Health Physics Soci- W. G. Marley and B. A. J. Lister (United
ety. As a consequence, I was asked to investigate Kingdom), R. Maushart (Germany), S. Halter
this matter and explore the interest of persons (Belgium), and W. T. Ham and K. Z. Morgan
in all parts of the world in forming a single (United States) was informally assembled in
international health physics or radiation pro- London to discuss the matter. This group
tection association. I corresponded on this decided to proceed with plans to form an inter-
matter with members of the Health Physics national radiation protection association. It
Society and with hundreds of persons outside agreed unanimously on the basic principles, the
Table 1. Members of the ad hoc Committee to form an International Health Physics or Radiation Protection Organization
{January 1964)
1. A. Alonso, Spain 24. Toyohide Ishihara, Japan
2. Argeo Benco,* Italy 25. H. P. Jammet,* France
3. Hanson Blatz,* U.S. 26. P. Kayser,* Luxembourg
4. Paul Bonet-Maury,* France 27. Kristian Koren,* Norway
5. Robert A. Borthwick, IAEA 28. B. A. J. Lister,* England
6. Louis Bugnard, France 29. W. G. Marley,* England
7. J. C. E. Button, Australia 30. John H. Martin, Scotland
8. R. C. Cavalcanti, Italy 31. R. Maushart,* Germany
9. N. Chassende-Baroz, France 32. Joseph S. Mitchell, England
10. P. Courvoisier,* Switzerland 33. Karl Z. Morgan,* U.S.
11. F. P. Cowan, U.S. 34. Jan Muller, Czechoslovakia
12. George Cowper,* Canada 35. Jung Woo Nam, Korea
13. Fokke Dijkstra, Holland 36. Hassan Parnianpour, Iran
14. Francis Duhamel,* France 37. Frank L. Paschal, Jr.,* U.S.
15. Yehuda Feige,* Israel 38. C. M. Patterson, U.S.
16. Jose M. Feola, Argentina 39. C. Polvani,* Italy
17. Jose A. Ferrer-Monge, Puerto Rico 40. Pierre Recht,* Belgium
18. E. H. Graul, Germany 41. Rolf Sievert, Sweden
19. S. Halter,* Belgium 42. Joaquin Solanas,* Venezuela
20. Jorge Halvas, Mexico 43. F. D. Sowby,* ICRP
21. H.J. Ham, Australia 44. L. S. Taylor, U.S.
22. W. T. Ham,* U.S. 45. F. Yamasaki, Japan
23. H. F. Herr, U.S. 46. J. Zakovsky, Austria
* These persons are listed on the program of the First International Congress of IRPA, Rome, Italy,
September 5-10, 1966.
DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH PHYSICS AS A PROFESSION 5
aims and objectives of the organization and (Canada). Other invited attendees were M.
drew up articles of agreement as summarized Gras, H. Francois, P. Pellerin and J. Pradel
in Table 2. (France), and H. H. Abee, J. C. Hart and W. S.
Following a favorable response from the Snyder (United States). At this meeting there
ad hoc committee and the encouraging recom- was unanimous approval on the basic principles
mendations from the London meeting, the and articles of agreement prepared at the
Board of Directors of the Health Physics Society London meeting. It was agreed that the name
formed a pro tempore Executive Council to further of this organization should be the International
Radiation Protection Association (IRPA). With
the help of H. H. Abee and the legal guidance
Table 2. Articles of Agreement for the formation of an
of J. C. Hart, this group developed the frame-
International Health Physics or Radiation Protection Society*
work of a constitution.
This constitution called for a rather unique
(1) We have clarified to our satisfaction what is the
confederated type of association. It stated not
Health Physics Society and the interpretation as
used in America has led to a better understanding. more than one organization from each country
(2) The aims and objectives of an international health could be affiliated with IRPA and that indivi-
physics or radiation protection society shall be: dual members of national or regional affiliated
(a) to promote international contacts between societies would automatically become members
those engaged in radiation protection work and of IRPA but that membership in IRPA would
promote the profession throughout the world, be possible only through such affiliated societies.
(b) to promote and organize international meetings The IRPA would be governed by a General
on these matters,
Assembly, each member of which was to be
(c) to support an international journal devoted to
elected by members of his affiliated society in
radiation protection, and
accordance with procedures assigned to express
(d) to support the work of international bodies con-
the will of the majority of members of his
cerned with the establishment of radiation pro-
tection standards and recommendations for society. The national or regional affiliated
radiation protection. societies would have almost complete autonomy
(3) We are in unanimous agreement that we wish to in matters of local or national concern. The
move toward a single health physics or radiation business of IRPA and particularly that of the
protection society. General Assembly would be carried on by an
Executive Council elected by the General
* Drawn up in London, England, February 1, 1964 Assembly. The principal objectives and pur-
by a working group of the ad hoc Committee to form poses of the International Radiation Protection
an International Health Physics or Radiation Protec- Association, in addition to those expressed in
tion Organization. the London articles of agreement, were sum-
marized in the IRPA constitution: (1) to
study and expedite these proposals. The first encourage scientific research and educational
meeting was held at Gatlinburg, Tenn., June opportunities among those scientific disciplines
11-12, 1964 and members of the Council which support the science of radiation protec-
attending were H. Jammet (France), R. Maus- tion, and (2) to encourage the establishment of
hart (Germany), W. T. Ham and K. Z. Morgan radiation protection societies throughout the
(United States). Proxies were present as follows: world as a means of achieving international
P. Bonet-Maury for F. Duhamel (France), cooperation among scientists. There was com-
R. Maushart for P. Courvoisier (Switzerland), plete accord of members of the pro tempore
H. J. Dunster for W. G. Marley and B. A. J. Executive Council on these recommendations
Lister (United Kingdom), Y. Nishiwaki for which they then presented a few days later
T. Aoki (Japan), M. Izawa for F. Yamasaki (on June 15, 1964 in Cincinnati, Ohio) to the
(Japan) and P. Recht for S. Halter (Belgium). Board of Directors of the Health Physics Society;
Members of the Council not represented were the Board in turn approved them unanimously.
A. Benco (Italy), G. A. Zedgenidz (USSR), At meetings of the pro tempore Executive
R. M. Sievert (Sweden), and A. M. Marko Council in Gatlinburg and in Cincinnati, it was
6 KARL Z. MORGAN
decided to hold a pro tempore General Assembly members reported by each of the organizations,
at a convenient location during the early part names of attending delegates and others attend-
of December, 1964. It was later agreed to hold ing but not officially representing specific
this Assembly in Paris, France, as guests of the organizations.
French Section of the Health Physics Society. Fifteen societies had official delegates there
P. Bonet-Maury, past-president of this Section, and, in addition, delegates were present from
served as local chairman of arrangements. This six other countries. Altogether there was repre-
now historic meeting of the pro tempore General sentation from some 4000 health physicists in
Assembly was held at the Centre de Conferences 50 countries.
Internationales, Paris, France, November 30- The 45 official delegates at this pro tempore
December 3, 1964. Table 3 is a summary General Assembly adopted a constitution which
listing those organizations with official delegates states our primary objectives, objectives which
at this important Assembly, the number of are essentially those agreed upon earlier at the
Table 3. Summary of Organizations, Membership reported and Delegates attending the Pro Tempore General Assembly
in Paris, France, November 30-December 3, 1946
Organization Members Delegates
Belgium Radioprotection Association 182 Halter,A§*p Boulenger, Hublet and RechtA*
Central European Section of the Health Physics
Society (Austria, Germany, Switzerland) 20 Becker p and Mehl*
European Society for Radiation Protection 148 CourvoisierA§*p and MaushartA§^p
French Health Physics Society (amalgamated) 425 Duhamel,A§ *p Jammet,A§ ^p Pellerin, *
Gras/ Bonet-Maury,A§£p Chassende-BarozA
Health Physics Society (Canada) 29 Marko *p
Health Physics Society (United States) 2302 Andrews, Terrill, Abee/P Morgan,A§^p
HamA§^p
Israeli Section of the Health Physics Society 12 FeigeAP and Donagi
Italian Health Physics Association 125 Argiero, Todisco and BencoA§*p
Japanese Health Physics Society 209 Yamaoka and Nishiwaki^p
Luxembourg 29 KayserA and Rischard
Mexican Society of Radiation Protection and
Hospital Physicists 50 HalvasA
Netherlands Society for Radiation Hygiene 117 Spaanderp
Nordic Society for Radiation Protection
(Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland) 201 Sievert,A*p Grande, Salimaki,A Koren,p
Lindell
United Kingdom Section of the Health Physics
Society 127 MarleyA§*p and ListerA§*p
Yugoslav Health Physics Society ~200 Tasovac
A Ad hoc Committee Member.
§ Attended London meeting on February 1, 1964.
+ Pro tempore Executive Council Member.
£ Attended Gatlinburg meeting on June 11-12, 1964.
* Also an IAEA observer.
p Elected on December 3, 1964 as a member of the Provisional Executive Council.
National Delegates not Representing Specific Organizations
L. Sklavenitis (Greece) E. Ramos (Spain)
H. ParnianpourA (Iran) J. Baarli (Switzerland)
O. Fissore (Monaco) O. Beninson (Argentina)
DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH PHYSICS AS A PROFESSION 7
London and Gatlinburg meetings and sum- Provisional Executive Council he was appointed
marized above. In particular, the constitution as a member of the Council.
emphasizes our primary purpose and goal of The succeeding meetings of the Provisional
providing a medium whereby international Executive Council were held in Los Angeles
contacts and cooperation may be obtained (June 18-19, 1965), Paris (December 16-17,
among those engaged in radiation protection 1965), Sterling Forest (June 18-19, 1966),
work—both applied and research—in an effort and finally in Rome (September 3, 1966).
to provide for the protection of man and his Our most important progress at these meetings
environment from the hazards caused by ioniz- is indicated in Table 4 by action taken relative
ing radiation and thereby to facilitate the exploi- to new affiliates of IRPA. Other developments
tation of radiation and atomic energy for the have been made in proposing amendments to
benefit of mankind. I believe it is significant the constitution and a set of operating procedures,
that the constitution of IRPA states the positive both of which will be presented for consideration
as well as the negative purpose of the profession and approval at the General Assembly, Wed-
of health physics. nesday, September 7.
It was decided at the Paris pro tempore General The Health Physics Society from the begin-
Assembly to form a rather large Provisional ning has strongly supported efforts for the
Executive Council to be responsible for the formation of an international organization in
organization of the International Radiation which health physicists in each country would
Protection Association, to prepare for the first have appropriate representation. The recent
International Congress and General Assembly of presidents, W. T. Ham, H. L. Andrews and M.
IRPA and to select and approve appropriate Eisenbud, have made many personal sacrifices
organizations as affiliates in this federation. to assure the success of IRPA and the Board of
However, to expedite business matters a smaller Directors of the Health Physics Society has
executive group of provisional officers was given strong financial support to these efforts.
provided. Those elected were P. Caldirola of It has agreed to make available to affiliated
Italy (Vice-President), thus signifying that the members of the International Radiation Pro-
first General Assembly would meet in Italy in tection Association its journal, Health Physics,
1966, P. Bonet-Maury of France (Secretary), at cost, at present $6.00 per year. One of the
P. Courvoisier of Switzerland (Treasurer), W. S. principal tasks of W. S. Snyder, the Publications
Snyder of the United States (Publications Director, has been to facilitate the availability
Director) and myself (Chairman). Other mem- of Health Physics to all members of affiliated
bers of the Provisional Executive Council as organizations and to originate acceptable
elected by the pro tempore General Assembly were material for publication in Health Physics from
P. Spaander (Netherlands), A. Benco (Italy), you, the members of affiliated societies of the
Y. Feige (Israel), K. Koren (Norway), K. IRPA. The editors of Health Physics urge you
Becker (Germany), A. M. Marko (Canada), to submit for publication high-quality papers on
R. M. Sievert with B. Lindell as his alternate all aspects of radiation protection. For example,
(Sweden), S. Halter (Belgium), G. Zedgenidz we welcome papers on such subjects as radiation
(USSR), R. Maushart (Germany and also monitoring and surveys, environmental surveys,
representing Austria and Switzerland), F. Yam- waste disposal, transport of radionuclides in
asaki (Japan), Y. Nishiwaki (Japan), B. A. J. air and in water, personnel dosimetry, radiation
Lister (England), W. G. Marley (England), F. ecology, internal dose, fallout, contamination
Duhamel (France), H. Jammet (France), H. H. control, resuspension of surface contamination,
Abee (United States) and W. T. Ham (United regulations, codes of practice, radiation acci-
States). In addition the chairman was asked to dents, instrumentation, basic studies of inter-
select one representative from Latin America. action of radiation with matter at all levels of
At a meeting of Latin American health interaction (atomic, molecular, plasma, crystal,
physicists in June 1965 in Los Angeles, Cali- gas, liquid, solid, cell, organism, animal and
fornia, J. Solanas was elected as their repre- ecosystem), studies of radiation damage, radia-
sentative and the next day at the meeting of the tion risks, permissible dose, measurements of
8 KARL Z. MORGAN
Table 4.
Place of action
Society name and principal area Provisional Executive Council and Date
of unqualified acceptance
1. TT he Central European Section of the Health Physics
SS<o ciety (name changed to Fachverband fur
SS trahlenschutz)—Germany, Switzerland and Austria. June 19, 1966, Sterling Forest1
2. AA ssociation Luxembourgeoise de Radioprotection—
LL uxembourg December 17, 1965, Paris1
3. SSo ciete Francaise de Radioprotection—France June 19, 1965, Los Angeles
4. HB ealth Physics Society—U.S. and Canada June 19, 1965, Los Angeles
5. INN ordiska Sallskapet for Stralskyld—Norway, Sweden,
ED enmark, Finland and Iceland December 17, 1965, Paris
6. LL Association Beige de Radioprotection—Belgium December 17, 1965, Paris
7. Japan Health Physics Society—Japan December 17, 1965, Paris
8. British Radiological Protection Association—
United Kingdom
(England, Wales, Scotland, and North Ireland) December 17, 1965, Paris
9. Israel Health Physics Society—Israel December 17, 1965, Paris
10. Association Italiana di Fisica Sanitaria e di Protezione
Contro le Radiazione—Italy December 17, 1965, Paris
11. Nederlandse Vereneging voor Stralingshygiene—
Netherlands December 17, 1965, Paris
12. Associacion Mexicana de Proteccion Radiologica Y
Fisica Medica—Mexico June 18, 1966, Sterling Forest
13. Argentine Radiation Protection Association—Argentina June 18, 1966, Sterling Forest
14. Eotvos Lorand Physical Society, Health Physics
Section—Hungary June 18, 1966, Sterling Forest
15. Philippine Radiation Protection Association—
Philippines September 3, 1966, Rome2
1 Provisional acceptance was on June 19, 1965 in Los Angeles, California.
2 Provisional acceptance was on June 18, 1966 in Sterling Forest, New York.
dose and energy spectra, quality factor, etc. Chairman S. Tagliati, Technical Exhibits
We welcome especially papers from new areas Chairman L. Argiero and Secretariat L. Forti.
of interest and responsibility of the health Without the untiring efforts and devotion of
physicist, e.g. biological effects and dosimetry these individuals to IRPA and the health
of laser radiation, intense magnetic fields, physics profession, this meeting in Rome could
fusion reactors and space radiation. not have been the grand success that it is.
P. Caldirola of Italy with the assistance of I would like to recognize also the strong
his very able colleagues has had as his principal support IRPA has received from the Inter-
assignment the arrangements for this, the national Commission on Radiological Pro-
first meeting of the International Radiation tection, the International Commission on
Protection Association in Rome, Italy, Sep- Radiological Units, the International Atomic
tember 5-10, 1966. He has had the valuable Energy Agency, the World Health Organiza-
assistance of his Honorary Committee and tion and the International Labor Office. They
Advisory Committee and especially of the have assisted us by sending observers to meetings
Secretary-General C. Polvani, Treasurer of the of the Provisional Executive Council where they
Conference A. Benco, Scientific Program Chair- gave us very valuable advice and guidance.
man W. G. Marley, Local Arrangements We are most grateful also to IAEA, Euratom,
DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH PHYSICS AS A PROFESSION 9
the Health Physics Society, the Societe Francaise other than by emulating it. We have set a
de Radioprotection and the Italian Board of pattern and cultured an environment of co-
Management for giving us very substantial operation in which we hope to exchange freely
financial assistance without which this meeting all information relating to the protection of
would have been impossible and we would not man and his environment from radiation
have been able to provide you with published damage. With agreement on fundamental issues
proceedings of this International Congress. providing for cooperation of health physicists
I would like to thank also the societies affiliated at the national and international levels and
with IRPA that have made advance contribu- with the adoption of an organizational structure
tions of 1966 dues amounting to an extra year of IRPA that assures a mechanism for free
of dues in order to assist this fledgling organiza- exchange of information, we confidently expect
tion. With this kind of voluntary support IRPA more beneficial uses can be made of ionizing
is bound to succeed. radiation. It is my hope and prayer that through
It is encouraging that scientists and engineers this organization better radiation protection
with many different national, cultural and will be provided wherever it is needed—in
language backgrounds can sit down together research establishments, in hospitals, in the
at meetings in London, Gatlinburg, Paris, Los doctor's office, in mass X-ray programs, in
Angeles, Sterling Forest and now in Rome and reactor development and in the space program.
agree on the formation of a rather unique Wherever the ratio of benefits to damage from
international organization with such worth- ionizing radiation can be increased with a
while scientific and professional objectives and reasonable amount of effort, the health physicist
develop a constitution based on such sound, member of IRPA must recognize a challenge and
democratic principles—a constitution recog- an opportunity for professional service to man.
nizing the importance of the individual health In education and training each of the societies
physicist yet allowing almost complete autonomy affiliated with IRPA must be satisfied with
of the individual affiliated societies in matters nothing but the best because our leaders must
of local and national interest. We have formed be men of stature that can stand shoulder to
an outstanding international organization which shoulder with the best scientists. In applied
is a federation, yet an organization in which the research we must solve the difficult as well as
individual is the most important element; he is the simple, day-to-day problems, but at the
an entity who expresses rather than impresses same time we must apply a considerable portion
his will, both nationally and internationally. of our research effort to the long-range and
Hopefully, this spirit of trust and unanimity more basic studies. We must not be satisfied
may point the way of cooperation not only to until we understand the basic mechanisms
other scientists and professions, but to all those of radiation damage at all levels of energy
seeking a solution to international problems. exchange following the absorption of ionizing
Although there have been some differences of radiation and as the entropy of the system
opinion among members of the Provisional increases. We must continue our research until
Executive Council, such differences were dis- we have developed a coherent theory of radia-
cussed freely and an understanding was reached; tion damage that answers our questions regard-
if necessary, satisfactory compromises were ing permissible dose limits, that indicates the
attained. Unlike many other international best methods of measuring the proper para-
groups, the pro tempore General Assembly in meters relating to dose and to biological damage
Paris and the Provisional Executive Council and that permits the prediction of biological
in its several meetings have met in a spirit consequences of a given exposure which must be
of complete harmony and cooperation; this carefully weighed against the expected benefits.
meeting in Rome (September 1966), the first In this hour of rejoicing, however, let us not
General Assembly of IRPA, is no exception fail to recognize that as yet we have not been
and in fact has set such a high standard and completely successful in this first phase of our
one so close to perfection it is difficult to imagine development since our goal for a truly Inter-
how future meetings can continue to improve national Radiation Protection Association will