“145 docluuit cu No - -- of #f ea This as base ho 1 Cons SS sis of Jf PAZOG vopies Ssries _fA--- ey ADVISORY CCMMITTEE FOR BIOLCGY AND M@DICINE TWRLFTY MEETING Held at Hanford Operations Office Richland Washington October 8-9 1948 SGA Doé_ Hs tory Div 20 ty Safe a se fib -Sebo 3 w Clas coLtection om uy Nic Cra C Cyerrsabona TR Divi ot fi BOX No FOLDER LS 1 BEST COPY AVAILABLE CLASSIFICATION CANCELED EMSEW £0 12958 OF RS BESLAS oerHOE OA 1 PLES EL GEESY DIETS 6 1b 4 - i s Ge“hd VOpicuy seria SD nd MINUTES REPOSITORY 4 R MINUTES Advisory Ccmmittee for Biology and Medicine October 8-9 1948 The twelfth meeting of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine of the Atomic Energy Commission was convened by the Chairman Dr Alan Gregg at 9 00 A M at the Hanford Operations Office Richland Washington on October 9 1948 Members Present Present at the meeting were Dr Alan Gregg Chairman Dr Ernest Gcodpasture Vice-Chairman Drs G W Beadle D W Bronk A Baird Hastings BE CG Stakman and Joseph T Staff Wearn Members Present who were present were Dr lirs Members of the staff of the Atomic Imergy Commission Shields Warren Dr James H Jensen Frances R Montgomery and Mr David Law of Hanford Operations Office attending Chief Mr Representative Roy C Hageman Operations Division Mr W K Crane Dr H M Parker Manager Health Instrument Divisions Dr H 4 Kornberg Dr C © Gamertsfelder Dr HE C Berry Mr F P Seymour Dr W D Norwood Fucua Dr R R Manager Medical Division Dr P A Sachs Hanford Works Consultants attending Dr S @ Cantril Dr M EH Ensminger Dr R EB Zirkle Dr L R Denaldson Director Applied Fisheries Laboratory University of Washington and Dr Kenneth G Scott University of California Minutes of Meeting of Sept ll 19lg The first order of business presented to the Committee by the Chairman was a discussion of the minutes of the meeting held on September 11 at the Atomic Energy Commission in Washington D C Dr Grege suggested that the following eee wo addition be included on Page 9 at the end of Line 8 Nortnrwestern University Chicago “at Illinois and that Dr Warren's name be substituted for Dr Gregg's name on Page ll Line 4 Dr Hastings made a mcetion that the minutes be accepted as corrected The motion was seconded by Dr Wearn and carried unanimouslySpecial 200 Area Pro- blems Dr Parker Manager of the Health Insturments Division sought the scientific and professional advice of the Committee regarding the problem emanating from active particles dissemination from the process stacks which was discovered about a year ago by routine survey men Dr Parker explained the situation in detail and stated that the first particles found on the ground were quite active according to present standards microcurie particle The hottest was a three The particles were carrier rust particles with a coating of active materials and it was found that they came from defective duct work in the system and rust was fleking off and falling within 2000 ft of the stacks This problem has been corrected by removing this particular duct work Smaller particles were left which might actually be a biological hazard The rust particles ranged up to a millimeter in diameter and the smallest found was 100th of the size Dr Parker presented the following data in explaining the seriousness of the problem aa a _eteorology Tower Height above Particles inhaled ground rer month Ft Particles inhaled Particles denosited inc per month 200 Area 200 W General Areas per mo Insd Insd July Aug Sept Time Gatehse Offs Cp Gal 3 5 5 ll Jan - - 10 50 6 3 12 Feb - No record 100 10 4 15 Mar No No 150 14 7 26 Apr 200 13 g 35 May 250 14 7 30 300 14 8 350 8 400 6 5 X10 5 prior prior 8x10 «45-10 7 data data 4x 10° June 5 10 6 18 July 10-30 4 20 Aug 5 32 «Sep - 102 33-10-20 - ux 10° 10-3C 36 10-20 - 3X 10 20-30 29 10-20 80 109 Notes Data reported as for a particular month does not coincide with the exact exposure time due to lag in radioautography and reporting Thig does not affect the argument presented Particles inhaled per month are based on the number of particles in the amount of air inhaled by a man working 8 hours per day for 20 days per month in the plant areas No allowance is made for rejection of large particles or for the exhalation of a fraction of the entering particles In residential areas the inhalation figure is based on a 24-hour day and 30 day month There was one value of 70 here not mentioned in the presentation Comment on Dr Zirkle's figure for wandering of active particles Order nf magnitude calculations only 2 A lung active particle at 10 microns gives 10 rep day 2 3 If the particle migrates back and forth over a line 100 microns long the dose rate is 2 5 rep day If the particle wanders over @ disc of diameter 100 microns dose rate is 1 rep day 4 If the particle migrates steadily at 100 microns per day in one direction the average dose rate to a particular cell ig 0 5 rep day fer the first five days and thereafter rapidly becomes insignificant In summary rather more nobility is required for absolute safety than was implied in the meeting After a thorough discussion by the Committee the Director of the Division of Binlogy and Medicine Dr Parker and mnenbers of his staff anc Dr Raymond BE Zirkle of the University of Chicago it was the sense of the Cemmittee that there is no scientific evidence that it is an unwarranted hazard to continue the present process for six wecks Guring which time steps will be taken vigorously to control the hazard ” If on continued investigation after the the protective measures it installation of is found that particles continue to be discharged in anpreciable amount a reavpraisal of the problem would be necessary Health Instrumentation Progran Dr Parker presented the Health Instrumentation Progran which is divided into three divisions and Biology two groups Operational Tevelopment The operational Division is further divided into survey and personnel monitoring which cccuntes en ae approxinately 190 people Its problems are to achieve steady ened improvenent in the light of advancing knowledge of the art of radiation protection The Operations Group with the assistance of Dr Kenneth Scott California at Berkeley of the University of developed the Bio-assay plutoniur analysis of urine The Development Division studics problems in many fielcs of science including site surveys for the stucy of environmental hazards and determining the origin an@ nature of the particles discussed previously Dr Parker ciscussed the waste disposal problem ane the objectives of Hanford Operations to adopt an improved systen to dispose of such material Dr L R Denaldson summarized the aquatic biological Biology Progran U of Washington investigations now being carricd on at the Applied Fisheries Yanford Cprns Laboratory University of Washington and at the Hanford Office Operations Office Richland Washington The laboratories attempt to evaluate the overall effects of radiation on salmonoid fishes and their eggs Over a period of years a study has been made of some three and one-half million fish In a’cition to the work with salmonoid fish work is being alsc undertaken on other species of fish including the common goldfish Dr Donaldson reportee on the fielA laboratory which had been established at the Hanford Works where evaluation stucies are being conducted on the effect of the plant effluent on the life in the Columbia River the This laboratory is under immediate sunervision of Mr Richard F Foster and due to the working arrangements between the Aquatic Biology Field Station and the Arplied Fisheries Laboratory at the Universit of Washington have made it p»ssible to carry out a maximum research progran with a minimum of duplication Bikini _Eniwet ok Dr Donaldson told of the radiobiological studies which had been carried on during 1946 in the southwest Pacific on the effect of the bomb on the fauna and flera of the atoll Studies were resumed at Bikini in 1947 supported by specialist from other laboratories Observations were made at Eniwetok curing the Spring of 1948 ané@ samples were collected for measuring the early contamination of aquatic forms that resulted from the Operation Sandstone tests A fiel¢ party sponsored by the Atomic Energy Commission returned to Bikini during the Summer of 1948 to continue these stucies and some 2 000 ashed samyles were collected at fourteen major collecting areas Medical Program Dr Norwood Dr W D Norwood Medical Superintendent reported on the program and of the continuous nrogress with respect to health of employees of the General Electric Commany at Hanford Operations Office its contractors and of the public in the area The hosgnital known ag the Kadlec Hospital has a canacity of ninety be’s uncrowded however there has been up to 145 patients hospitalized It is nroposed that the capacity eof the hosnital will be increased to 150 beds which will take care of a nermanent rnorulation of from 40 000 to 35 000 neanple The staff consists of 28 salaried nhysicians 3 surgeons 4 obstetricians 6 pediatricians 12 internists 2 eye ear and throat and 1 eye physician ane - - General Electric enployees nearly all have availed themselves of a rre-naynment sickness and hospitalization program Dr Norwood expressed his thanks to the Committee for their very real and understanding interest in his problems He further stated that the Committee brought to them unmaralleled knowledge in the various branches of medicine and biclogy anc the combined mature judgment of men eminent in their resrective fields Fublic Health Progran Dr R R Sachs Dr R R Sachs Director of Public Health outlined the present public health vrcgram as it nertains to the worker and his family living in Richland discussed Dr Vital statistics were Sachs statea that the birthrate is high running between 30 and %5 ner 1 000 nornulation while the death rate is about 2 5 ner 1 000 ronulation Morbidity statistics were also of interest to the Committee The State of Washington public health rules and regulations are complied with Tuberculosis cases average about one case a month Dr Sachs reported on all phases of nursing other than hosnital which included the public health nursing service where nurses are interpreting medical sanitary and social vrocedures for the nrevention of disease and rromotion of health in the family and the community Also maternal hygiene nursing which includes nost-natal care and child care Special service is proviced for the crinvled child either through the Public Health Service or the Crirnled Children's Act -Tay Sits Health information is disseminated to the public by employees and the means of nammhiets nosters and newspaper stories and with the aid cf a heaith educator and a healin activities commlttee A successful sanitation program 1s being carried out for water food and milk Richland 1s a mosquito-infected area nosquitoes are a potential danger spraying mist Anonheles But through airplane spraying fogging etc the mosquito is being defeated Dr Sachs stressed the need of a laboratory chiefly for diagnostic services and secondly for the bacteriological analysis of water and milk instead of the nresent use of the Kadlec hospital laboratory The Cemnittee exnressed its apyroval of the programs as outlined and they felt that an unusually fine contribution was being mace by all the staff in all the fields Comment was made ou the remarkable low ceath rate at Richland even allowing for the difference in age of nopulation Resurvey of Alamogordo Dr Jensen tolc of his recent visit to Alamogordo The question whether the area should be fenced off as a hazardous area was thoroughly discussec high level of activity The level of grazing is arproxinately 10-12 animals to 640 acres have an activity ‘The grasses show a fairly The dromings of animals also Dr Jensen stated that it is prorosed that ten head of cattle be purchased for studies which have been grazing on slightly warm areas for some two years and that -_ studies be performed to see if there is anything of a detrinental nature accumulated in these animals The nroblem »resented by the disintegration of the fused trinitite which covers the area in a layer one-half inch or so in thickness of one-half mile radius was discussed and it was felt that active measures should be taken to remove this as a potential hazard It was the sense of the Committee that this was an engineering problem as to best methods of covering the trinitite The Committee adjourned for lunch at 12 50 P M and reconvened at 1 20 P M EXECUTIVE SESSION Medical Director for Div Biology Medicine Dr Warren proposed that consideration be given to the his naming of successor as Director of the Division of Biology and Medicine Dr Warren suggested the name of Pr Joseph Hamilton of the University of California at Berkeley The Committee agreed that the anpointment be offered to Dr Hamilton if it was agreeable to the Commission and the General Manager Relationshin to ONR Dr Warren outlined to the Committee the proposed consolidation of many of the administrative functions of the Division of Résearch and the Division of Biology and Medicine Dr Warren recommended that this central executive group coul@ handle direct contractual relationshins with some of the medical and biological contractor investigators instead of hiving the contracts administered by ONR It was his belief that if such a progedure conld be nlaced into effect Oe a a Xa through Atomic Energy Commission channels the acministration of the contracts would run more smoothly This nrocedure woulr eliminate the overhead charge by ONR for administering the contracts which the Office of Naval Research and the AEC staff believe is equitable but would entail arditional AED administrative expense After a full discussion it was unanimously voted by the Committee that Dr Warren should investigate with the officials of ONR and the Atomic Imergy Commission direct handling of research contracts by The Atomic Energy Commission and make every effort to establish this new procedure at the earliest possible date It was understood that the Office of Naval Research should continue to handle contracts wherein there was a joint interest of the Office of Naval Research anc the Division of Biology and Medicine in the research rroblen Dr Warren prosented to the Committee a letter fron Univ of Rochester Dr Henry Blair Director Atomic Energy Project University of Rechester which listed the nersonnel working on the project In view of the size of the nrogram at Rochester the inmmortance of the rceject and the amount of moneys that have been allocated to the University by the Atomic Inergy Commission Dr Warren asked the Committee to make a study of the project and to rerort at the next meeting of the Conmittee as to whether or not any sters should be considered between the Division and the University of Rochester as to the strengthening of the group -10- Letter to Dr Robert Stone U of Calif A draft letter personally written by Dr Aian Grege lo Dr Robert sion Stone was circulated to the Committee for discus- The letter set forth the policies cf the Atomic nergy Commission and the Division cf Biology and Medicine relating to experimental therapy and that it was a measure to he enmlcyec by the Cemnittee to bring to Dr Stone's attenticn the confines and limitations of his work under his AEC contract With minor changes the committee recommended that the letter should go forward to Dr RW in Stone Dr Warren reviewed the RW nrogram of the Chicago Toxici- relation to Tox- icity Lab ty L-beratory and fresented to the Connittee his suggestions as given to Dr McLean cn the organization of the RW Study Panel and an outline cf its nroposed activities The members of the panel are as follows Dr Franklin C McLean Chairman Univ of Chicago Dr Shields Warren or Dr John 2 Bowers Division of Biolcgy and Medicine AEC Dr L S Taylor Division of Biology and Medicine Dr Austin ti Brues Argonne National Laboratory AEC Dr Harcla C Hodge University of Rochester Dr Thorfin Hogness University of Chicago Raymond Zirkle University of Chicago Robert D Boche University of Chicago Dr Julius M Coon University of Chicago Col James P Cooney M C Div cf Military Apoli AEC Col John R Wood M C Medical Div Army Chem Ctr Md Dr Dr Cantain H H Haight MC Office of Surgeon General Lt Col John R Hall M C University of Chicago Lt Col Robert H Blount Office of the Air Surgeon Lt Col Karl H Houghton M C Armed Forces Special Weapons Project Maj Albert J Baver M C Office of Surgeon General A full discussion followed on the broad nrogram of RW Const of a building at UCLA for Nuclear Res in B M Dr Warren circulated a draft letter which had been arpreved by the Office of the General Counsel to Dr Stafford Warren which explained the reascns of the Committee for ae Th an ah their refusal ts recommend to the Commission that funds in the amcunt of $1 100 000 be allocated tc the ™niversity -f California L A for the construction of a building for nuclear research in biology and medicine With a few minor changes it was voted unanimously that the letter should Ay forwarde Hanford Program Dr Warren summarized the Hanfcrd Operatircns Office program as outlined in their propesed budget The need for expansion of facilities was thoroughly discussed and it was the sense of the Committee that it was unwise to set up an additional national laboratory at Yanford as it was primarily a production center and research in biolegy and medicine there problems shculd be directly anvnlicable Nevertheless to local the Committee believed it highly desirable that adeauate facilities should be vrovided for aouatic biclogy and for a farm for large animals because cf problems of specific concern to operations at Hanford It was the unanimous opinion of the Committee that appreciable economies could be made in the plans for the vrojected laboratory buildings and that temporary buildings would fulfill their present needs Relation- ship of AEC and OCcDP There was general discussion of the relationship of the Atomic Energy Commission to the problems of civil defense planning Dr Warren pointed out to the Commission that the public would look to the Atomic Energy Commission for adequate information regarding prot-ction and that under the Atomic - Pp - e ' a i ve Energy Act no other agency has the necessary information to provite data for nlanning defense A further discussion was held on Dr Bacher’s reita k which were made at the Sentember 11 meeting regarding ‘ine Gissemination of AHC data to the nublic After a full discussion the Committee unanimously endorsed the recommentation of the Division of Biology and Medicine that in view of the danger to human life and in fact to all life that the Atomic Energy Commission should feel responsible and take an active role in imnarting general knowledge and data to the public Policy with regard to Fellowshin Clearance Dr Warren rerorted on the action of the Commission at @ recent meeting lending their arrroval to the recommendation from the Division cf Blolcgy and Medicine that clearance of fellows would be required only in those instances where the fellcw required accéss to classified information or to classified areas to further his program of research Distribu- tion of Cyclotron producea lsotores Dr Warren introduced Dr Kenneth Scott renresenting Dr Joseph Hamilton of the University of California who presented some cf the problems associated with the cyclotron- produced isotopes A pronosal which Dr Hamilton had submitted through the Sub-Committee on Radicbiclogy of the Naticnal Research Council seeking suvrcrt for rroduction of the isotopes was studied It proposed that the Commission enter into contracts -13qa dima with four selected universities which have exnressed thet willingness to enter into this nrogran to faciiltate research After a full discussion it was moved by Dr Hastings seconded by Dr Wearn and unanimously approved by the Committee that Dr Warren should explore the possibilities ef cyclotron-nreduced isotopes for a proposed research program Other Business The next meeting of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine was scheduled for Friday and Saturday December 10 and 11 1948 at Los Alamcs New Mexico The meeting adjourned at ¥U2U5 P M iu