William L. Russell, 92; Geneticist Studied Dangers of Radiation

Biologist William L. Russell, 92, a pioneer in the study of the genetic dangers of radiation, died Wednesday at his home in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The cause of death was not reported.

Russell conducted research on the way radiation affected mice at the genetic level. His studies laid the groundwork for the development of national and international standards for acceptable levels of human exposure to radiation.

In 1976, Russell received the Enrico Fermi Award, one of the most prestigious science honors bestowed by the government. He was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1973.

A native of England, Russell came to the United States in 1932 and earned his PhD at the University of Chicago.

He worked at the Jackson Memorial Laboratory in Maine before joining the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1947 as principal geneticist and chief of the mammalian genetics research section.