the detailed, quantitative data necessary for the estimation of health risks that form the basis for exposure guidelines and standards. Information of this type will have to be derived from comparative studies on long- and short-lived animal species. The beagle dog, whose life expectancy is about one-fifth that of man, has been the major long-lived mammal utilized in the ERDA radiation effects research for more than 20 years. At the University of Utah, the University of California at Davis, the Battelle-Pacific Northwest Laboratories, the Argonne National Laboratory, and the Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute, more than 5,000 beagles have lived out their lifetime under careful experimental observation. Periodic clinical examination has revealed a wealth of information about the pattern of disease throughout the lifespan of normal animals and alterations in the pattern caused by superimposed stress of radiation exposure.

LONG-TERM RESEARCH WITH OTHER SPECIES

Small rodents with lifespans of 2 to 6 years have been used primarily for large-scale radiation studies to evaluate late somatic and genetic risks involved in low-dose lifetime exposure. Moreover, small laboratory and wild rodent populations have been used at the Argonne National Laboratory to specifically understand the genetic and physiological factors involved in aging per se. At the Argonne National Laboratory and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory combined, more than 50,000 mice have been exposed to various doses of ionizing radiation at different daily exposure rates to characterize the various radiationaccelerated disease states that contribute to lifespan reduction. The unexposed, control populations are characterized, as well as the irridated groups, in terms of the diseases that cause death.

It is anticipated that similar studies will be conducted to evaluate the late somatic effects produced by other potentially hazardous chemical pollutants introduced into man's environment from a variety of energy-producing technologies. Since man is constantly exposed to a number of such environmental pollutants, it is suspected that they contribute to reduction of his lifespan. Although radiation does not seem to contribute to nonspecific lifespan reduction, it is likely that other environmental pollutants do. The anticipated studies should produce a large pool of information for understanding the development of latent somatic damage which contributes to morbidity and mortality under conditions of environmental stress.

RESEARCH MORE SPECIFICALLY CONCERNED WITH AGING

Two programs, one at the Argonne National Laboratory and one at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, are concerned with the theoretical, genetic, and physiological aspects of aging, including changes in the microvasculature as they relate to imposed stress. The program at Oak Ridge is aimed at gaining an understanding of how normal body defense mechanisms, primarily immune surveillance against disease, are reduced in aging mice and, hence, make the old individual more prone to certain diseases that can incapacitate or kill. A part of the research is aimed at developing immune therapy to counteract reductions in body defense mechanisms by cell transplantation. This latter study is done in collaboration with investment at the National Institutes of Health's Gerontology Research Center in Baltimore. Since immune surveillance may play an important role in prevention of malignant diseases, including those induced by environmental agents, these studies are of interest to a number of agencies concerned with human health. At the Argonne National Laboratory research has emphasized homeostatic control, localized in the brain, as a regulator of aging or lifespan.

Parts of several research efforts at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the University of California at San Francisco, and the Brookhaven National Laboratory involve studies to test the cellular hypothesis of aging using either in vivo or in vitro cell systems.

In addition to these studies, ERDA has always sponsored small efforts in aging-related research in various university departments.

CLINICAL ASPECTS OF AGE-RELATED DISEASES

In addition to the aforementioned research areas, the ERDA biomedical program expends more than $10 million per year for research and development aimed at developing improved methods for the early diagnosis and treatment of

diseases that contribute to morbidity or mortality of human populations, including the aging or aged.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES OF THE RESPONSE OF AGED MEMBERS OF POPULATIONS TO EXTERNAL STRESS

Finally, the ERDA environmental program has a large number of controlled environment resident species under observation for their ability to withstand applied stresses. The age span of these populations are normal for such circumstances, and data on correlations between age and stress resistance either are available or could be made.

BREAKDOWN BY RESEARCH SUBJECT AREA OF ERDA BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH RELATED TO AGING

Table 1 provides a dollar breakdown of ERDA research activities related to aging according to research subject area. Projects are categorized according to their focus on aging. A program with a primary focus on aging is one in which aging is the main focus of the research activity. A secondary focus indicates that aging is not the main focus, but an important accompanying factor in the research. Projects listed under applicable are those in which aging is not an explicit focus of the research activity, but in which research findings could be applicable to the field of aging. All ERDA biological research related to aging falls into either the secondary or applicable categories.

ITEM 17. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

DECEMBER 23, 1976.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This is in response to your November 9, 1976 request for information on the Environmental Protection Agency's actions on aging during 1976.

EPA's health research program is directed toward assessments of the health effects associated with exposures to environmental pollutants. Thus, the research program is broadly based and does not focus directly on aging or the aged as a primary group for investigation. However, as an inherent part of research design and analyses-in both clinical and epidemiological investigations-the age of individuals or populations under study is an important variable of consideration and serves as an identifying characteristic.

Age as a variable must be identified and considered for primarily two reasons. First, examination of variations in disease frequencies due to age can assist in definitions of disease etiology. Second, associations between disease frequency and age must be considered as they can produce effects that affect or alter disease rates between groups. To examine the impact of other variables, such as exposure to a pollutant, upon disease rates, age differences among the groups under study must be considered. In addition, specific chronic diseases, such as chronic respiratory disease, which are of major importance in aging populations, are analyzed with respect to the significance of possible environmental etiologic factors.

Therefore, although the thrust of EPA's health research is directed toward assessment of health effects in the entire population, as associated with pollutant exposure, certain information on different age groups is available since age is included as a component of research design protocols. As a result we do not have specific actions or studies for inclusion in your committee's annual report. I have requested my staff to contact Mr. William Oriol and provide any information he may require.

Sincerely yours,

RUSSELL E. TRAIN, Administrator.

ITEM 18. FEDERAL ENERGY ADMINISTRATION

DECEMBER 29, 1976.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In response to your letter of November 9, I am pleased to provide a summary of Federal Energy Administration (FEA) activities during the past year dealing with the energy needs and problems of the aging. During 1976, the FEA, through both its headquarters and regional offices, has been engaged in a variety of undertakings addressing the special circumstances of the aging.

At the headquarters level, FEA is presently involved in four main actions regarding the elderly.

1. The Office of Consumer Affairs/Special Impact through the regions is presently collecting data regarding emergency fuel needs of low-income and elderly persons on fixed incomes in order to develop policy regarding actions which should be taken to alleviate emergencies.

2. FEA is developing regulations to implement the low-income weatherization program authorized by Congress in the Energy Conservation and Production Act. The program provides for grants to States to develop and implement weatherization programs to insulate the dwellings of low-income persons, particularly the low-income elderly and handicapped, in order to conserve energy and to assist those persons least able to afford higher energy costs.

3. FEA is updating and increasing its participation in the Administration on Aging's interagency working agreement on energy conservation actions for the low-income elderly.

4. Through the Interagency Task Force on Energy and Human Resources, established in 1974 by FEA's Office of Consumer Affairs/Special Impact, FEA continues to utilize other Federal resources at the Washington level in the development of energy programs, particularly in assessing the impact of various programs on the low-income and elderly.

Many FEA actions on aging have been undertaken by FEA Regional offices through the Office of Consumer Affairs/Special Impact (CA/SI). The following are among the special initiatives regarding the elderly which were taken during 1976:

Region I: A report entitled "The Energy Crisis and New England's Elderly" has been prepared and implemented through the Federal Regional Council to question various agencies regarding barriers to the solution of energy problems of the elderly.

Region III: In West Virginia, some elderly persons have been unable to obtain coal for home heating because small mines have gone out of business and dealers are unable to accommodate small end-users. Through the Federal Regional Council, a plan is being developed to enable elderly persons in West Virginia to obtain home heating coal.

Region V: The CA/SI office has developed an information and referral system on energy for senior citizens by taping radio and television programs with local networks for senior citizen program. The CA/SI office was instrumental in printing and publicizing a booklet for senior citizens which provides energy referral information in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Region VII: FEA, in conjunction with the Federal Executive Board Community Service Committee, sponsored an energy conservation seminar for senior citizens in the Kansas City area.

Region VIII: A slide presentation was developed to acquaint elderly people and others with utility rate structures and the regulatory process.

During 1977, each regional CA/SI officer will conduct State consumer energy workshops in coordination with the national office in order to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information to obtain input on FEA policies and programs. Each CA/SI officer will work closely with the regional Administration on Aging to insure that the elderly citizens take an active role in the workshops. If I may be of further assistance to the committee in this matter, please do not hesitate to call upon me.

Sincerely,

FRANK ZARB, Administrator.

ITEM 19. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

JANUARY 4, 1977.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Chairman Collier asked me to respond to your request for information on the activities of the Bureau of Consumer Protection which relate to aging Americans.

During 1976, the Bureau has pursued a number of projects which affect the aging and their purchasing decisions. Several of these projects were first announced by the Commission in 1975, including the proposed trade regulation rules for the hearing aid, funeral, and eyeglass industries. The goals of these proceedings are to increase the availability of accurate and relevant information to purchasers and prospective purchasers and, where appropriate, to eliminate public or private restraints on information. During 1976, Bureau staff has been paticipating in the hearings on the proposed rules, and are now engaged in writing the staff reports required by the Commission's rules of practice implementing title II of the Magnuson-Moss Federal Trade Commission Act.

In September, the Commission announced an investigation of the nursing home industry which is being conducted by the regional offices. The investigation will focus on the business relationships between the home and the patient and the home and its suppliers. Staff will be making recommendations to the Commission to take action as is appropriate based on the results of the investigation.

Other Commission activity initiated or pursued during 1976, although not specifically addressed to problems of the aging, should be of benefit to them. For example, the condominium investigation lead to the issuance of a complaint against the developers of one Florida condominium; one of the objectives of the case is to obtain redress for purchasers, many of whom are aging, who may have entered into unfair contracts without full disclosure of the relevant facts. In addition, Bureau staff conducted hearings on the proposed trade regulation rules concerning protein supplements and food nutrition and prepared for the hearings on the proposed rule on advertising of over-the-counter drugs, which are scheduled to begin in January. Each of these proposed rules is designed to provide additional information to consumers, which will benefit consumers of all age groups.

The Bureau intends to pursue the same goals of providing more and better consumer information and increasing competition during 1977.

I would be pleased to provide additional information about any of these matters.

Sincerely,

MARGERY WAXMAN SMITH,

Acting Director.

ITEM 20. NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

DECEMBER 15, 1976.

DEAR SENATOR CHURCH: This is in response to your request for information about the arts endowment's major actions on aging during 1976 and planned activities for the upcoming year.

As you requested, I have enclosed a summary of endowment programs and activities which describes our current efforts in making the arts more widely accessible to older Americans. It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to share this information with the Special Committee on Aging. I hope it will be helpful to the committee in completing its annual report for the Congress.

If we can be of further assistance in this or any other regard, please do not hesitate to let us know. Sincerely,

[Enclosure.]

NANCY HANKs, Chairman.

REPORT TO THE SENATE SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE AGING SUMMARIZING THE MAJOR ACTIVITIES IN THIS AREA BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS DURING FISCAL YEAR 1976 AND CONTINUING INTO FISCAL YEAR 1977

The National Endowment for the Arts continues to become increasingly involved in arts programing directed at making the arts more available to older Americans and providing the elderly with participatory experiences in the arts. In 1973, the National Council on the Arts, the endowment's advisory body of 26 Presidentially appointed artists and art patrons, passed a resolution urging the endowment to take a leadership role in making the arts more accessible to the handicapped, including the elderly.

Responding to a growing awareness among arts administrators, artists and older persons, in July 1976 the endowment established the position of coordinator for special constituencies within the special projects program. This new office has particular responsibilities for relating the arts to the handicapped, the aging and the institutionalized. The coordinator for special constituencies: (1) Advises individuals and organizations seeking technical assistance on developing arts programs for older persons; (2) advises prospective grant applicants of the appropriate Federal grant-in-aid programs within the endowment and in other Federal agencies; and (3) develops policy recommendations related to the arts and older Americans for review by the endowment Chairman and the National Council on the Arts. Through this office the endowment is able to respond to proposals seeking to make the arts more available and accessible to older persons and is able to assess the potential of arts programs for the elderly.

ATTITUDINAL BARRIERS

Perhaps the most persistent barrier to developing quality arts programs for older Americans is that the public at large, and arts administrators and artists in particular, do not fully understand the relationship of the arts to individuals over 65 years of age. A recent survey conducted by the University of Wisconsin's Center for Arts Administration, published in spring 1976, pointed out that while senior citizens represent less than 10 percent of the audience in approximately 80 percent of the 600 arts organizations surveyed, the majority of these organizations were interested in increasing their audiences of older persons. The survey, entitled "Older Americans: The Unrealized Audience for the Arts," accomplished two important goals: (1) It gathered pertinent information about audience composition among older persons; and (2) it identified some widely held views about developing audiences comprised of the elderly which are shared by