Summary: A report, "Radiation Control Programs Provide Limited Protection," and an ongoing review of the direction of ionizing radiation research effort, are discussed as they relate to proposed legislation which seeks to ensure adequate protection of workers, the general public, and the environment from harmful radiation exposure. The report disclosed that many sources of radiation were not regulated, coverage of many regulated sources was limited, and there was very little assurance that identified hazards were corrected. The proposed legislation calls for actions which are needed to protect the public more effectively from the hazards of radiation. High priority would be given to evaluations of the adequacy of Federal and State radiation programs and the coordination among Federal and State regulatory agencies by the Federal Council on Radiation Protection, created under the bill. The ongoing study of the research efforts in ionizing radiation was undertaken to consider the scientific questions about the health effects of low-level ionizing radiation apart from the political ones. The bill provides for identifying and setting priorities for research needs, evaluating research proposals, and coordinating research activities relating to ionizing radiation. GAO agreed with the bill's provisions that would require proposed epidemiological studies to be carefully reviewed to ensure that they are of sufficient scientific merit. Application of the bill's provisions to nonionizing radiation should be considered because, although their effects are uncertain and controversial, the number of their sources is increasing.
