Health Notes
p. 77 · Read in the full issue
N.H.O. presents-
Atoms For Heaith
IHERE is no aspect of medicine . that has not been influenced • using radio-active isotopes, these w man-made radio-active sub mces which the atomic age has ought with it.
They have proved valuable above I, however, in medical research.
By attaching radio-active atoms any substance that one wants to ice through the body, one can How the progress of that sub ince from one part of the body to nther bv the rays it gives off. lese rays have to be detected, of urse, by some such instrument as Geiger counter.
There are many ways in which dio-isotopes have been used, such (to name only a very few) re irch into penicillin, vitamins, aemias, the formation and repair teeth and so forth.
This sort of new knowledge will rely have a great effect on the ;atment of disease in the future, d in fact has already begun to iuence the practical day-to-day irk of doctors.
As radio-isotopes are used in jdicine and industry and research wider and wider fields, it is im rtant that they be used in such way that they do not bring harm their train. rhere are well recognised ways of oiding this harm by not exceed l certain limits of radiation: ese limits are agreed to by a dy of scientists, with representa es from many nations, called the temational Commission on idiological Protection.
For each type of ray and each 3e of isotope there has to be laid wn a fixed safety limit: conse ently a great deal of experi mtal work has had to be done, d is still going on, to ensure that ese limits have the backing of e most modern research.
As atomic energy develops, such ings as the safe disposal of radio tive waste material will become >re and more important: for ample, future atomic power mts will produce increasing lounts of radio-active waste and is must be dealt with by storage d other ways. [t is probable that some form of vernment supervision will be ne ssary to control these wastes, also rangements at the international rel will no doubt have to be made.
The Seventh Day Adventist Band Auckland, whose membership is ide up entirely of Samoans and e Cook Islander, has been cepted as an affiliate of the New aland Brass Bands’ Association.