Evening star., 1959-06-18
by WILLIAM HINES
star Science writer


GATLnOBURG, Tenn, June
l0.-A leading atomic-age
health expert today counseled
less panic over nuclear "fall-I
out" and more sober attention
to the perils Of medical x-rays.
DR.. X. z. Morgan. director Of
the Oak Ridge national labor
atory's health physics division
gave this advice In an inter-
view as the health physics So
ciety began q three-day meet
ing here. Or. Morgan was the
groups first president when 1t
war formed four years ago.
The Oak Ridge physicist was
sharply critical Of what he
called sensational" news re-
ports on fallout. While con-
ceding that the sky-borne res
idue Of nuclear explosions con-
stitutes q peril, he pointed out
that present-day exposure from
x-rays and microscopes az
fects the average American
dozens OF times more severely.
Rules Flouted
x-rays in the hands Of COM
petent specialists are Of great
medical value. DR.. Morgan said.
but he added many common
sense rules are fiouted by gen.
eral medical practitioners and
dentists.
"Since O survey Of medical
exposure to X-rays was made
two years ago. radiologists
specialists in the use Of X-ra-
diation) have reduced expo
sures significantly" he reported.
Unfortunately. general-prac-
tice doctors and dentists have
not followed suit"
Other X-ray surveys, includ-
ing one taken in the Washing
ton area, have shown dentists
to be particularly careless. he
said.
Some dental equipment used
in making X-rays Of the full
set Of, teeth has been shown "a
give doses as high as $50 rad, :
DR.. Morgan declared. "a rsz d
q measure Of the effect Of ra-
diation on tiSsue.)
Surveys have shown, Or. Nor.
gan added, that q competent
operator can get results "a!
good or better" with q total ex.
posure Of only ! to lla rad.
Protection Removed
"Why should all this exces.
radiation be used when o frac.
ton Of ! per cent does the job2'
he asked. DR.. Morgan rebuket
many X-ray operators for care.
lessness and cited the practic,
which he said was common
among dentists Of removing ths
protective cone from the denta
X-ray machine. When the cone
designed to limit the width o.
the X-ray beam, is removed
dental" X-ray machines cai
irradiate far wider areas, he ex.
planned.
Frequently this radiator
meant for the mouth spread
out as far as the fonads tse1
organs) )" he pointed out.
Characterfzing himself q
always one to recoil o bit frut1
restrictions you can avoid Dr.
Morgan said he did not advo'
cate licensing Of medical x-ra.
machines by the 0overnfnen
educational campaigns. By pro
fessional societies would be
better starting point he as
serted.
THE societies should tax
the sort Of interest the radio
logical society has done" b
said. Strong programs Of edu
cation. which would impel x
Tray users to improve their prac
tices Of their own volitior
should be tried first. II tina
doesn't work, maybe ther
should be licensing"
| DR.. Morgan said physicians
chiropractors and dentists nee
this sort Of education.
30S Or More Cut
Improved X-ray practice, u
Morgan asserted, can redlc
radiation exposure by 80 pc
cent or more.
Special care should be take
to minimize the amount Of y
ray exposure Of pregnant Won
en- and growing children. /
said. Asked for q rule Of thHnl
on X-rays IN these cases. d
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