(The effects of ionizing radiation on terrestrial and freshwater organisms and ecosystems)

Abstract

The traveler was invited by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to attend an Advisory Group Meeting on The Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Terrestrial and Freshwater Organisms and Ecosystems.'' The traveler and Dr. Ward F. Whicker of Colorado State University had prepared a draft document on the subject that was to be reviewed by the Advisory Group. The purpose of the document was to address the statement that by protecting humans with radiological standards, we are automatically protecting natural populations of terrestrial and aquatic organisms and ecosystems. In addition, the document was to include a review of the literature on the effects of radiation on terrestrial and aquatic organisms and populations. Recommendations of the Advisory Group were that because of the abundance of reviews and methodologies for dose calculations for aquatic biota, with a few revisions, the section on aquatic biota would be complete. For the section on terrestrial biota, the Advisory Group recommended that the literature review include results of laboratory and domestic animal studies and that the dosimetry calculations be reviewed by other experts in the field. The Scientific Secretary concluded that the document would not be completed for at least one year because of the time required to complete the review on terrestrial biota.