The Atomic Energy Commission has relied from the beginning of its ex­istence on the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measure­ments (ncrp) and the International Commission on Radiation Protection (icrp) to recommend the basic numerical values of permissible radiation exposure. The aec has assumed for its part the role of translating the rec­ommendations of the поп-aec independent groups of experts into admin­istrative language that lends itself to use by regulatory authorities.

The ncrp was founded about forty years ago and until recently was headquartered in the Bureau of Standards. In 1964, ncrp was granted a congressional charter and now operates as an independent organization financed by voluntary contributions from government, scientific societies, and manufacturing associations. There are 65 members on this council, and about 175 members on the eighteen scientific committees that are re­sponsible for developing the technical reports of the organization.

In 1928, one year before ncrp was formed, the International Society of Radiology sponsored formation of the International Commission on Radiation Protection. This group has operated in close cooperation with ncrp, and receives support from the World Health Organization.

In 1955, following a proposal made by the United States before the General Assembly of the United Nations, there was established a fifteen — nation Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. This committee of scientists, aided by a permanent scientific secretariat at the United Nations, has examined the world literature on the effects of ioniz­ing radiation on a continuing basis, and has published a number of reports on the state of knowledge in this field. It is not the function of this com­mittee to propose standards of permissible exposure, but rather to gather

and evaluate the basic scientific information on which these standards are based. The reports of this committee are classics in international scien­tific collaboration.

It is essential that this discussion of the standards of permissible ra­diation exposure start with the understanding that the aec standards orig­inate in the work of these national and international bodies among whom there is total harmony, with not the least doubt that their recommendations are based on an objective evaluation of existing information, motivated by a common interest in the health of the public.