[Report 1959] / Medical Officer of Health, Maidstone U.D.C. / Borough.
- Maidstone (England). Urban District Council.
- Date:
- 1959
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1959] / Medical Officer of Health, Maidstone U.D.C. / Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![RADIATION HAZARDS This subject was fully discussed in the Annua] Report for 1958, and interest in it has been maintained throughout the year* During 1959 there was an application by a firm in Maidstone for permission to dispose of radioactive waste through the public sewerage system* The questions of handling this waste and the possible hazards involved were very fully discussed with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, and as a result recommendation was made that the application be granted for a maximum amount not exceeding five microcuries per day, provided that the material shall first have been diluted to as near as possible back-ground level, and have the proper amount of non-active carrier present. The majority of the isotopes in question were not for immediate use, and were in genera] such a short half-life as not to constitute any foreseeable hazard. Concern was expressed in my last annual Report on the lack of information on the disposal of radioactive waste, and the possible administrative confusion arising therefrom. Since last year the Radioactive Substances Bill has dealt with the vast majority of the administrative procedures and the various controls which have to be exercised over the discharge of radioactive waste, and this has gone a long way towards allaying the concern referred to. At the time of writing this Report the Bil1 has not yet been enacted* It seems obvious that there should be no limit to the extent of control over the emission or discharge of any ionizing radiation. No matter how careful are the controls exercised locally or even nationally each area is still liable to radiation hazard through the products of nuclear fission circulating the world as a result of explosions anywhere on the globe. Quite irrespective therefore of the fact of whether a local area has or has not a source pf ionising radiations, it might well nevertheless become the focal point of danger from outside consequences over which it has no control. Since there are long term genetic effects from ionizing radiations, it is therefore vital to keep within very strict limitations the discharge of any material which would give rise to future hazards, NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACTS, 1948 AND 1951. It was not necessary to take any action under these Acts to remove to an institution persons in need of care and attention.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29780883_0056.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
