Guest Editorial: The atomic future - ACS Publications

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L t . J d d

GUEST EDITORIAL

The atomic future The “Atoms for Peace” initiative begun by President Eisenhower in the 1950s has given the world a vast array of new technologies that have benefited mankind. These technologies, developed in the 1940s through the massive dedication of U.S. scientific manpower, industrial capability, and tax dollars, have been adopted and utilized by nearly every country in the world. President Eisenhower’s promise of harnessing the atom for peaceful purposes has been realized in fields such as biology, physics, agronomy, and medicine in addition to their applications in health care, agriculture, manufacturing, and electric power generation. Nuclear medicine has produced hundreds of diagnostic and treatment techniques that have extended the average life span and provided new tools used in all frontiers of medical research. More than 20,000,000 diagnostic tests that use radioisotopes are conducted annually. More than any other technology, including refrigeration and chemical fumigation, ionizing radiation makes it possible to improve the world diet by preserving food and overcoming many debilitating pathogens and destructive insects in agriculture. Nuclear power generation began in the United States with a broad and heavily government-funded research, development, and demonstration program, which led to nuclear power utilization around the world. World nuclear capacity increased by 21 reactors-about 7.8%in 1987, with 416 reactors totaling 294,864 megawatts of net nuclear-generating capacity. In France, 70% of the generating capacity is now nuclear, with 77% planned by the year 2000: Japan has 25% nuclear capacity on line, with 37% planned; the Federal Republic of Germany has 30% now, with 35% planned; and the United Kingdom will grow from 18%to 37% by 2000. In contrast, no new nuclear plants are planned to increase the 18%nuclear-generating capacity now on line in the United States. Is the United States to turn its back on its nuclear investment, declare nuclear bankruptcy, and import nuclear technology along with other hightech products from abroad? What is needed to keep the U.S. nuclear power option alive in the twenty-first century? Continued development of safe and reliable nuclear technologies for an ever-broadening range of applications requires that the federal government encourage and support research in the nuclear sciences and engineering. Student enrollment in nuclear disciplines has

been steadily declining during the past 20 years. Training of nuclear scientists and engineers and of radiation protection specialists is especially critical to replace those who were attracted to the field during its early days some 40 years ago. Graduate training in radiobiology, for example, is very limited today, yet most of the public’s concerns about nuclear power generation continue to center on the biological effects of ionizing radiation. Radiobiological research also contributes to our understanding of the basic mechanisms in cancer growth and to its cure. The full potential of nuclear energy applications can be realized by a renewed commitment to research and training in the nuclear sciences. As we approach the twenty-first century, we as a nation should take stock of our nuclear technology investments and prepare to direct their application to the improvement of health care, nutrition, and the advancement of the economy through provision of incentives for continued research and development in the nuclear sciences. Coordinating national nuclear research priorities and developing rational choices based on both benefits and risks is a responsibility of the federal government. To help define those choices, the Committee on Interagency Radiation Research and Policy Coordination (CIRRPC) was established. CIRRPC’s mandate is to address radiation science and policy issues that affect the development and application of nuclear technology. In addition, CIRRPC is to ensure coordination of federal radiation activities and verify that radiation policies reflect the best scientific evidence available and offer a balanced viewpoint. The feature article on page 733 describes CIRRPC’s activities.

This arficle not subject to U S copyright. Published 1988 American Chemical Society

Alvin L. Young is direcror of rhe ofice ./ agricultural biorechno1ox.v in the 0.S. Depwrmenr of Agrirulrure. Earlier he was assixned ro rhe Ofire of Srienre and Erhnology Po1ir.v. Exerurive Ofire of the President. as rhe senior policy anolwr for life sciences. Young has been chnirman of the Commirree on lnreragency Radiarion Researrh and Polir). Coordinarion since its inreprion. He has a Ph.D. in environmenral science. Environ. Sci. Technal.. Voi. 22. No. 7. 1988 725