HC Deb 16 December 1963 vol 686 c168W
Mr. Lubbock

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science what he estimates to be the maximum concentration of strontium 90 in bones, expressed in pc/gram of calcium, for any individual in the special areas as defined by the Agricultural Research Council, at the most recent convenient date; and what estimate he has made of the maximum value which will be reached, assuming that no further atmospheric tests take place.

Mr. Hogg

I have already informed the hon. Member in my reply to his Question of 13th December that the next report by the Agricultural Research Council on radioactivity in diet is expected towards the end of February, 1964. When these figures are available, an assessment of their medical significance will be published by an expert committee of the Medical Research Council. I would prefer to await their statement before making any estimate of my own.

Mr. Lubbock

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science what he estimates to be the maximum dose rate in millirems per year resulting from accumulation of caesium 137, strontium 89, and barium 140, respectively, in human tissues for any individual in the special areas as defined by the Agricultural Research Council.

Mr. Hogg

I would prefer to await the publication of the findings of the expert committee of the Medical Research Council—to which I made reference in my previous reply to the hon. Member—before making any estimate in this field.

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