APPENDIX 



Wastes Adversely Affecting Agriculture and Forestry 



It is altogether fitting and proper that an afflu- 

 ent society should show mounting concern over 

 the deterioration of environmental quality from 

 an appalling effluent of wastes. The total problem 

 has been so well documented that little of impor- 

 tance can be added. Obviously, the sectors of our 

 National economy concerned with agriculture and 

 forestry are in many instances seriously afflicted 

 with the adverse effects of waste production. These 

 specific problems warrant further delineation and 

 evaluation. 



The purpose of the discussion in this appendix 

 will be to comment upon those wastes that have, 

 or may have, an adverse effect on agricultural and 

 forestry endeavor, and to give some degree of ap- 

 praisal as to seriousness of these effects. 



Committee Print No. 9 of the Senate Select Com- 

 mittee on National Water Resources {119) speci- 

 fies these eight general categories of water 

 pollutants. 



(1) Sewage and other oxygen-demanding 

 wastes 



(2) Infectious agents and allergens 



(3) Plant nutrients 



(4) Organic chemical exotics 



(5) Salts and mineral substances 



(6) Sediments 



(7) Radioactive substances 



(8) Heat 



In discussions of air pollution, four broad cate- 

 gories of substances are usually delineated: 



(1) Dusts 



(2) Chemical contaminants 



(3) Radioactive substances 



(4) Biological entities (pollen, fungi, 

 bacteria) 



For convenience, this discussion on the environ- 

 mental contaminants that adversely affect the qual- 

 ity of air, water, and soil in relation to agricul- 

 tural and forestry endeavor will represent the fol- 

 lowing amalgamation of these two sets of air and 

 water contaminants: 



(1) Radioactive substances 



(2) Chemical air pollutants 



(3) Airborne dusts 



(4) Sediment 



(5) Plant nutrients 



(6) Inorganic salts and minerals 

 (T) Organic wastes 



(8) Infectious agents and allergens 



(9) Agricultural and industrial chemicals 

 (10) Heat 



Radioactive Substances 



Radioactivity is nothing new. All living things 

 are constantly exposed to radiation. A smattering 

 of cosmic rays from outer space continually passes 

 through our bodies. We breathe and eat minute 

 amounts of radioactive materials. We are exposed 

 to such radiation when we have X-ray examina- 

 tions. X-rays of the proper intensity have been 

 used to destroy the abnormal cells of cancerous 

 growths without seriously harming healthy tissue. 

 But X-rays can be sufficiently strong, or applied 

 over sufficient duration to cause abnormalities or 

 death of healthy cells and tissues. 



Therein lies the concern of agriculture with 

 radioactive substances. They emit penetrating 

 rays that in sufficient strength, or over sufficient 

 time, can bring about abnormalities or death of 

 cells, tissues, and organisms analagous to the ef- 

 fects of X-rays. Medical use of X-rays occurs 

 under carefully controlled conditions by a highly 

 trained specialist. Radioactive materials that enter 

 into air, water, soil, and plants are not under com- 

 parable supervision. 



It must be emphasized, however, that the Atomic 

 Energy Commission and certain Stale agencies 

 exercise careful surveillance and strict controls 

 with respect to ( L) the release of radioactive sub- 

 stances into our environment and (2) the handling 

 of soil, water, and food that may have been in- 

 advertently contaminated. Radioactivity ca 

 destroyed. One can only confiscate, isolate, and 

 restrictively dispose of materials thai have be- 

 come dangerously contaminated. 



Radioactive materials that enter, or may e 



: 



