. . .. . . .

i u'

BIOLOGY hND MFDICINE

c o N T m s

RM)IOACTIVE ?iiiSTE P R 0 3 L B B

S O I L R??SEIJ1CH

GEN~TICS P ~ X

Rmli.TI0M CONTROL

RSFUCH PROGR~;~ IN BIOLOGY AND h m I c r r n

-

STATUS OF TIE PliRTICLE P R O B W

C M L DFRENSS

1YDUSTRIi.L P&TH

Ct,XCER RESKWH PROGREA

I .

? a . ' t

- UNCWSSIFIED

1. What Are Radioactive tkstes?

a. Radioactive vestes mkv be components o f gas,

l iquid, or soll6s which throush exposure t o the various

tries of i o n i z i x raciation have e-cquired redioactivity.

In the process of manufacturinl: plutonium o r i n the

separation of uranium isotcges mi. i n cer tc in other

atomic energy a c t i v i t i e s , air o r water may be used f o r

cooling purposes and i n such use sGbstcmces i n the air

or water m y be made radioactive. In cer ta in chemical

processes where radioactive na t e r i a l s are processed

the l i qu id residces ~ q v be rather highly radioactive!

Fa ta l containers, pipe, vents ai12 other equipment may

become radioactive when mdioactive natgr ia ls ?-re

handlea over a period of time.

b. In research la3oratories where radioactive

materiels serve as tools or i n hoss i t a l s where radio-

ac t ive materials a re i l t i l izod for therapy purposes, diE-

charges from the laboratory or h o q i t a l s h2c.y contain

raaioactive materials.

2. How Kwh Radioactivity Do W?.stcs contain?

a, Thore are a number of different levels of radio-

active wastes.

largo groups.

duction plants mqy be hizhly act ive zad contain, rmong

other t h i x s , f i s s i o n yroaucts s t . some lon+lived

isotopas.

torios an& hos2itals ar3 elnost en t i r e ly of tiie short-

l ivcd isotwies ~ n d at a Tery l o v lcvols of act ivi ty .

They may bo divided roughly i n t o two

iladioactivc wastos from reactors or p-0-

IWioacti-re \!2.EteS 3rom oxperimenial labora-

I _

st r ibutcs isoto2cs i n most C ~ S O E

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. , . .... -. .. ...... ._ ...-. . I._,_ L-5 . ,,.

_. I r . Ui?C U S SIFIED

only t o usors who havo adoqu tc moas f o r thc safc disposal of

wastcs cad dietr ibutos almost m t i r c l y only short-livcd i s o t c p s .

In almost a l l oxpcrimontal work, cxccpting i n spccializcd cascs,

rcsccrch i s carr icd out at rc la t ivc ly lotr lcvels of act ivi ty .

Vasto products from such a c t i v i t y are , thwoforc, f o r thc most

pe r t , vcry low ryld discharged undcr conditions providing high

dilution.

3. What Do Radioactive Wastes DO?

a. Radiw.ctivo matorials diechargcd from stacks of rcactors

undorgo vory high d i lu t ion i n the atnosphorc, undcr usual condi-

tions. Undcr unusupJ. atnoaphoric conditions radioectivo gasoous

wastos iaight rapidly fall t o t h s gro-md i n whic!l wsc thcy Would

bo dopositod on plants an8 s o i l . 'Phcg may bo pickcd up f rom tho

s o i l by a l a n t s ZIopositcd i n thc vegotativo abovc-Zqound portions

and ci thor bo consumod by animls f o r food or f a l l t o thc surfnco

o f tho ground i n tho forin of lo# littcr.

t ion i s consumcd by animals tho cffccts physiolcgicclly spo,?king

aro Bopondcllt upon tho particulax mctcrial involvcd.

casos tho rwiioactivo i s o t c p x tmuld bo di lutcd by t h r s teb lc i s 6

topcs of thc samo substancos and pms through thc animal at a spocd

dc2oodiry upon tho m a t o r i a l involvcd.

a lnrgo port ion of i t would bo absorbcO by tho t-hyroid @end.

cor ta in othor instancos thc mntorial rould bo Oqosi tcd i n tho

'bono o r i n ccr tnin othor orghns dcpcnding ugon the pmticulrzr sub-

s tmcc involvcd.

I f contamic.-.tcd vcgct2.-

I:? most

1

In the casc of rrdioiodino,

In

b. Liquid wirstos which find t hc i r iwy into tho strcLws my

bc absorbcd by nlgac or othar micrcorgmisms m d i n turn bo ccn-

suncd by f i s h or othcr watcr in:-c,biting c.nimr.ls.

in such mimnls is along th: s:m.z l inos outlincd ebow f o r

Thcir disposit ion

con t m i n e t ed vazo tat i on.

C. Whon sol ids such 2-8 couipcnt bccomc rndioncsivc t-o a

point vhcro tho i r fur ther nse i s ihngorous t o o p x a t i a g pcrsomol . _

consignc t o c. bur i a l nroc.. Tho bu r i a l of such

wnstcs doos not soom t o offor m y scrious prcblcm i n that vcry

spul,ll m o a s of lnnd aro involvod nnd tb t tho likclihood of

approcinblo loaching of radionctivo matorials from such wasto i s

oxtromoly romoto.

4. k t Is Boiw Dono To KWD &.dioactivo Wr?stos A t Safc Lovols?

a. W i o a c t i v o matorials undorgo n constmt dccay. A vcry

high proportion of tho rad ioac t iv i ty of contminatcd air dis-

chcxgod' i n to stncks or oontominF3od m t c r is of vcry short-livcd

isotopoe.

atmosphoro sorvos as e. bvlwork of protcction rgainst C W sorious

d-magos from rndioctctivo gasos.

of r d i c a c t i v c l iquid waston.

of tor hming passcd through tho rcnct_ors c rc hcld f o r a. numbor

of hours i n r o t a t i o n farms during which timc a hxgo proportion

of rad ioac t iv i ty i s l o s t through normP.1 docw.

such wc.tcr In to public s t r o m s i s ccrofully roSl?.tcd so tbt

tho to t& amount of rad iocc t iv i ty pcrmittcd t o flow out i s hold

at lovols boliovod t o bo harmloss.

tha t l iqu id wnstos from hborp-torios ond hospitals by tho i r nhturc

of low i n i t i a l ac t iv i ty nnd by virtuo of high d i lu t ion obtainod

i n tho 2rocose of normrJ sowgc K%SpOSd - would sccm t o offcr

l i t t l o or no problom.

5.

Tha r a to of docay plus tho high dilution i n norm1

Thc smo principlc holds t ruc

Wr.tors uacd f o r cooling purposos

Thc r i l c r s d Of

I t hF.8 elrondy boon montionod

What Aro Wo D o i w About Vasto Diemsal t

a. Regular survoys of thc air r?nd-W.tcr comily from tho

roactors a r c carriod on hourly or dai ly depcnding upon tho nood.

Thoro i s R continual monitoring of l iqu id wp.stcs, including tho

stronms i n t o which such l iqu id wnstos r3ro discharged.

b. Continuing monitoring of p l a t fc rns c?nd ,animal forms

in stroans i s carriod out mcthodicnlly.

C. Snmplos of underground wators usod fo r biding p u r p o s ~ s

which - _ might bocomo contminntsd from l iqu id onstas a ro w.do at

. . . ... . . . . - .~ 1. . I .. .- .. - . ... . .. . ,I .; . . .. . .. . .

'.T ' . . . .... . .

r . . . . .

I

L

I

_ -

u?iC USSIFIED

d. A l l laboratorics i n CiJEjunction vrith p i l o rcnctors

crc conchcting cxtcnsivc oxpcriacnts into thc c f fcc ts of l iquid

m d ~r?scous wastcs f r o m thosc piics.

c. Continuing studics a r c bcing carr icd out on thc vcgctr,

t i o n ir! tho v ic in i ty of tho pilcs.

f . Long-tixc c f fcc ts of consumming vogctr.tion grotm i n

hrccs ncnr thc p i los a r c being carr icd out With cxpcrincxtnl

caim5ls.

g. Matho?.icnl .?nd c o q l c t c sn rvop a r c being nndc of thc

arsas whorc tho f i r s t t c e t bmb vrns cxplodcd i n 2 % ~ 14c::ico.

study incluctcs vcc;otatisn, m i l , v i l d miinnls m d domcotic l ivc-

This

stock.

h. Continuing, studios pxc bcing ci?rricrd out t h r o x h rcsurvoya

of tho Bikini cnd Eiiwotok m c z s t o dctcr;dno thc QffCCtS Gf

r d i o c c t i v c m a t o r i a l s on f l o r a imC: fauna,

i. TPzough rosoarch contrp.cte invcs t ign t ims nro b c i w

cct ivcly conductod on thc cffccts of radiotct ivc vastcs discllargcd

f r m hofigitnls m d odvv.xtior.r.1 i n s t i t u t i o n s on sct:mr .systcras pild

oii tilo microorpaisms c o q r i s i i l g thc s l im of scwilgc ducts.

j. Tnroupyh rcsewch contrficts studios cro bci% conducted

on t i c a b i l i t y of n1p.o ;.nr?. othcr microorg2aislils t o conccntratc

r.?d.io?.ctivc m t c r i n l s .

r"iltors, chomicp.1 treatciont, ionization cad biologichl mcthods, a

progrm nhcroby rn?.iocctiPc liqi.:.id vnstcs CNI bo nado conglctcly

noii-rp,dionc t ivc. .I

It i s t'lc ?.in t o Covclop thro?:;h nCchnniCd

1z. T m o q h rCsC?,TCh coiitrncts cxncrililcnts m c beinz carr ied

mr Throtgh rosoarch contrects, o f fo r t s nrc being n?dc t o

dotormino the offcctivoncss of cortnin s o i l s f o r tho tying rxp

of radionctivc l i q u i d wr.stos.

on tho novomcnt of ccr ta in rc?dionctivc matcricls i n s o i l s , t hc i r

uptcko by diffcront spocioe of p l rn t s , tho i r locnlizntion by

thoso p l m t s pnd tho offectivoncss of ccrtr.in p k a t spocics t o

concontmto mdionctivo matorif!ls cad thus servo ns dccontminators.

Studios c.rc c l s o bcing. conducted

n, 3?hrcugh ccopcrotion of thc Public Health Scrvicc wo n r o

dovcloping R progrcn whcrcby Public Hcnlth Sorvice pcrsonncl m y

bo f an i l i r r i zod with tho nothods of tos t ing public wntors Pnd of

eurvoying strccms containing rc-dionctivc wnstos. I

0. Wo nro cooporating with thc Dopvtmont of In tc r ior i n

conducting rosoarch on thc c f fcc ts of rc.dioc.ctivo wrstcs on wild-

l i f e including f i sh , oystors, cL-ws rad othcr wctar mim.ls.

-5-

. . . . . .

- -

WCWSSIFIED

0 0 I 3 9 1.b

c€?.?.m 11

1. The us0 of rtadiozctivo isotcocs h m &forclod a new and

powcrful too l i n tho solution em5 unc'crstmding of soilpliZlt roln-

tionships. 3y neems of tpg.;cd isotopos i t i s now possible t o

prccisaly follow R noloculo of p l m t xutr icnt applied P.S f c r t i l i z o r

t h r o x h th: s o i l , i n t o the plant a.xl tho various componcnts of the

plant use2 f o r food by EIM or m i n d s ;

2. T h research with rndioisoto2cs i s Ccsii;ncd tr, lcad t o tho

aoro of f ic icz t us0 of f c r t i l i z c r s , - through ::ore coq.!ctc undorstaiding

of tho f a t o of chomicde q p l i c d t o the soi l . Exporincnts carr ied out

during 1947. m d 1948 s h w th.t P 32 ( r 4 i o n c t i v c phosphorus) i s very

v.nlw.blc i n nccsuring the u t i l i z z t i o n of varicjus phosph-.tc f c r t i l i z c r s .

Yot r.11 phos>.,-.tc f o r t i l i z o r s arc u t i l i z e d b;r v.:rious pl.-,?tc t o the

s?ac extent.

f c z t i l i z c r , .?xc fzc tors i n rlctcrnir,; t h oxtcnt t o wkici; i t w i l l So

t&on up ig tho p h a t .

The moisturc, s o i l p q c x $ i e s ~ . n d timo of p.pdying the

5. ' Traou@ thc dcvolopoont of isoto;,ic tochiiqucs i n s o i l

investigations, i t should be p o s s i b h t o dctcrninc thc p s r t played by .. ' - minor clcrnonts i n thc nuti-iticn nnd :;rowtfi of plants. Si:-~cc thc

nvail?.bility of au t r icn ts i n the 6011 o r p-ppliod as f c r t i l i z o r s dotcr-

mince t o n largo oxtcnt thc growth of ylnnts , t h i s phnoc of the work

i s importaiit froti thc over-all cfficionc;- of food productlax.

,*

4. C h i n s hnvc bcon m,dc 3mt s m l l ziiomts of radioa.etivc

na tc r in ls will stimulstc p1.mt growth. Under a coopcrg.tive contrcct ,

with the &itoc? Stntcs I k p x t m o n t oi A g i c u l t u r c m c l thc scvcrnl

coll.?bornt ii. -. &ricul tura l Xxpcrincnt Stnt i o m r c senrch h.?s bocn i n i t i- ntod t3 stuF.7 the gossiblo offocts of rq. ioac:ivc nntcr in ls on crop

y ~ c l ~ . s . Thho G r i c u i t u r a l ??,q>arincn: S tn t i o n s c o l h b o r n t i x or, t h i s

projoct ?,?a 1c)cztod i n Ar!-s,?sns, Bloridn, I l l i n o i s , Kentucky, l i c h i g m ,

W.rsi~ei:cpi, i-h1t.-n,q,, Pcw York, Sortii Obrnlim., Ohio, Texr^.s, l h h i . x t m ,

Wcst Virginia zm? Gc&ie.

.- 1-

! ._c

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~ .. . ... .. ... ... -I ..,. I _ .. . .., r . . , , . _ .. , . .. ~. ,.. . . ^. . . . ,

.. . . .. . ... . . . . . .

...

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ui~CL*SSIFIED

5. Rceults of thc iavcsti&'-,tias t o &-,to ehotv thz t r?diation -__

f ron c r t i f icir?lly rnbiocctivo n?,tcrinls npplicd t o tho s o i l docs not

s t inu la tc plant growth or incrop-eo the g ic ld of crops.

0 0 1 3 q 1 1

-2- C W T E t 11

-D&& . .

v - . _ I . . . . . - ... ..

UNCLASSIFIED --

GEX3TICS P3OGRAX

1. A najor pa r t of the biological research program concerns the

e f f ec t s of radiations on the inheritance charac te r i s t ics of l i v ing ce l l s .

Investigations are being carried out on the e f f ec t s of rad ia t ion on the

genetic charac te r i s t ics of corn, potatoes, peanuts and other p lan ts of

economic importance,

types of radiations on the genetic charac te r i s t ics of ca t t l e , sheep,

dogs, rats, mice and n i c ro~rgan ims .

with laboratory animals and microorganisms i n terms of genetic fac tors

w i l l i n a few years be the equivalent in numbers of generations t o

several hundred years i n hman genetics.

Reseakh i s i n progress on the e f f ec t s of various

The investigations now undernay

2. There are various types of radiations such as x-rays, gam3la

rays, fast and slow neutrons that a f f ec t biological processes.

e f f ec t s of various types of radiations a re being studied with d i f fe ren t

species of animals and organisms.

The

3. Representative projects now i n progress t h a t a r e designed t o :* . help understand the genetic e f f ec t s of radiation ares c

a. Breeding and growth s tudies with c a t t l e exposed t o

the dust "outfallt1 of the f irst t e s t bomb at Alaqogardo, New

'dexico, University of Tennessee.

b. Research on genetic and cytological effects- of radiation

is designed t o provide information on the cheaical-genetic.changes

t h a t a r e produced by radiation. Nutant s t r a i n s have been produced

i n a number of organisms by high-frequency radiation a t the Cali-

forn ia Ins t i t u t e of Technology.

c. The e f fec ts of radiation from the p i l e and x-ray radia-

t i o n on the genetic charac te r i s t ics of economic p lan ts are being

investigated a t the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Brookhaven

Natioqal Laboratory, North Carolina S ta te College and Harvard

University.

- 1 - 0 0 1 3 9 1 8

. .. . . . . I_

d. The e f f e c t - of radiation on population genotics is

being investigated Kith drosoghila. The objective of t h i s

project i s t o learn the extent t o which rad ia t ion produces

deleterious gene mutations i n a populntion over a period of

t ine . (The Long Island Bio logicd Association).

e. Under a project with Purdue University studies are i n

progress on mold metabolism nritn par t icu lar rcfwence t o the

p e n i c i l l m organism.

f. Studies on the long-tine e f fec ts of radiations on the

genetic charac te r i s t ics of wam bloodsd aninals a r e being car r ied

on using rats, mice and chickens as e q e r i n e n t a l anirnals.

Results show t h a t vmious undesirable 2nd desirable her i tab le

changes can be effected by exposure t o various types of radia-

tion. The information with experiment21 cninals scrvns as an

ind ics t ion as t o the genetic chmges tha t might bo induced i n

higher animals by radiation.

Ridge National Laboratories).

(University of Rochester and Oak

’,

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, ... . ... , . . . . ,. .. . . .. .. .. . . ... =: . . , . .. . . . .

.. - ... / .

_ . - I - ,

1 CHAPFAR Iv

THS STATUS OF THE PLRTICLS PROBLm

. . . I . . 1 I .

* . _ .. . .

. .

t--

1. Radioactive pa r t i c l e s are Specks of material which are poten-

t i a l l y dangerous because they e?rit r?diation. They may produce dzmge

by extern21 exposure, but of f a r greater concern i s the poss ib i l i t y of

en t ry in to the body by inhalation.

uing resezrch is indicated, there is no evidence t o indicate t h a t a

serious hazard t o personnel has existed, It i s impr tnn t t o rommber

thqt a t Hanford the problem was discovered within three nonths a f t e r it

was believed t o have been i n existence and t h z t from tho time of discov-

ery a l l proc&utionary measures have been taken t o protect t h e personnel

workink i n and around the a rea of contamination. Probably evcn greater

health protection' was exercised at Oak Ndge.

It is evident thn t although contin-

2. The two m j o r sources of those pa r t i c l e s wers the ,Oak Ridge

p i l e and the chemical separation p l w t s at both Oak Eidge 2nd H.mford.

A t Oak Ridge measurements made as early as 19&4 indicated t h a t the back-

ground radiation was increhsing i n n downwind direction from the plant.

It n S also detcrmined t h a t t h i s ac t iv i ty v:ould increase considcrably

..

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. -

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0 0 I 3 4 2 0

a f t e r a slug rupture i n the p i les . The f a i l u r c t o recognize the pa r t i -

c l e s w s i n a l a rge pa r t duc t o inadequatr? instruments. Furthcmore, . J

air sanples i n and around the p l m t hzd not indicntod t h a t conditions -.were

above toloranco;

most sonsit ive instruments then available t o detect it, md i t xas vroba-

i n f a c t rad ioac t iv i ty was so 107 t h ? t it required the 3 .

b l y i n tho order of not more than doubls the na tura l bockground.

September 1947. spoci f ic evidence of r s d i o x t i v e pa r t i c l e s was found a t

kinford:

on the ground but it was believed tha t t h i s vas due t o thz contallination

of tho v i c in i ty by the off-gases from th? stac!c.

S5ptcnber t h a t spec i f ic pa r t i c l e s were found.

indicate thn t p-irt iclcs Were not f a l l i ng pr ior t o the second qunrter of

In

A s at Oali A%dge there had baen some r.ydioactive contanination I

It was not u n t i l l a t e

Thcre i s good evidence t o

19&7*

b.

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_ .

I

CHAPTER V

RADIATION CONTROL

1. The atomic energy project en ta i l s potential. exposure t o qum-

t i t i e s of radiation never before encountcrod, Thc job o f protecting the

workers i n and around the pl.mts hm been given t o a new group of indus-

t r i a l spac ic l i s t s ca l led "health physicists".

a hea l th physicist are:

t o detnrnino the hazard, if my, t o personnol, and t o recomncnd the

protective measures t o be taken.

b i l i t i e s the health physicist must hzve infornntion on the i n s t r w c n t s

t o use, !nethods .- of mecsurement, methods of shielding and k-mdling radio-

ac t ive SOUFCOS, and the maximum pernissiblc exposure the h m m body can

The p r h a r y functions of

t o masure the rcdi-tion i n and around R plant,

I n o d o r t o carry out thcsc rcsponsi-

z

s t a d .

2. Through LL progran of biophysics research, studies have contributed

considerable basjc information on new methods of aeasurcment and instru-

mentation.

and b e t t e r methods f o r measuring neutrons.

Effort is now bcing placed on studies tha t w i l l lead t o new

L c 3. Theoretical studies, i n cooperation x i t h engineers, have b?en i n progress t o study the problem connected with shielding frm ionizing

radintiona.

problems i n the design of new pilos.

Results f ion these s tud ies are ass i s t i ng vim a h i e l d h g

4. A t each place h e r e radioactive mi te r ia l s are handled tho hea l th

phys ic i s t s 01y! continually working with the operators, s c i e n t i s t s and

enginoers t o provide new methods of handling radioactive na tc r ia l s .

nmber of new remote control gadgats have 3 l r e a 4 bmn developed and

m a n y of these have already been i n tho ncm.

A

One of the most i n t e re s t ing

has been the mechanical hands tha t c,an bo operated on the outside of a

sh ie ld and can do almost anything thn t the hman hand. can do. 7; . az

? * * . *

5. The present maximu! peraissible levo1 (tolornncc) f o r rad ia t ion is soon t o be lowered. Tho or ig ina l leva1 of 0.1 r per day was based on

- 1 - 0 0 1

data obtained from the X-ray f i e l d and vas o r i g i n d l y believed t o have

a s'zfoty fac tor of n t l e a s t 2. Subsequent work with f l i e s , mice and

othor adnals suggests t h a t this f igure is very near the point whsrc

dmage begins t o occur.

rocomendation of outside experts, who ac tua l ly dejcrnine the 5olerance

f o r the X-ray industry, etc., the Comission ;Pill soon cut the presently

On the bnsis of t h i s information and upon the

ncccpted nxxinun p e n i s s i b l o l eve l i n half.

1 t.

- 2 -

D

0 0 1392%.

. ... . . . . . ., . , . . ... . ,. . . . ~ :.. 5 - I ... ... . r . .. . .. . . ., . I

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I -. UNCLBSSIE'IED I

'1. In order t o carry out i t s respons ib i l i t i es f o r the protectlon

of indiv2dual.e f romthe radiation hazards attendant upon atomic energy

production, i t wae necessary for the Commission t o support research i n

ce r t a in f i e l d s o f biology and medicine which upon super f ic ia l inspec-

tion.appeara t o have no d i rec t re la t ion t o this problem. In the balf

century bring which man h e been-working n i t h ionizing radlntion he

has learned considerable about %hatn radiation does.

that properly applied it may cure cmcer o r paradoxiccilly under

cer ta in conditions may nctudlly cause cancer. He b . 8 leRrned tha t

moaerRte doses of r d i n t b n m n y produce symptoms ranging from very

mild tempormy musea from which the InaivIdudS recovers completely

t o extreme .radiation illness which m n y produce death or perm~nent

He has learned

disabi l i ty . He hns leerned that d l doses of rmliation may under

c e r t a b conditions produce changes i n the hereditary maketrp of the

Individual which may exert profound ef fec ts upon future gonerations.

- 2. To r ea l ly understand redintion well enough t o be c e r t d n

that we me cont ro l l ing it and learning t o live with i t , we must

l o r n much more about t h e aHwen of rndlrrtion,

3. The l i v i n g individual is mde up of VOW snd1 orgmlzed

. . .... . . .. , . ,.. . . I . . . . . 'I ...

. . .. . . . _. .. . ... , . . - .... - . . _. . . _. . - . . ... . -. . ..

~ , .... I ., . .. . , . .. . .. . , ... . . . . .,. . . . . .

eyetoma cnlled ce l l s .

rndicrtion aa well na the p o t o n t i d l y harmful ones Rre exortod within

theso analler colle,

tho co l l .

the c a l l tire nffected by ionizing mdiat ion.

we know that tho banof l c id offocte of

We eo& knovludge upon how redletion af foc ts

Vo must dotennine jua t w h a t s tructures o r moloculoe within . .

Are the o w e s pro-

duced mQChRniCdly in t he brerJting of those ngu~rdims o f heredityn,

I

the ohromoeomes, o r does the radlntion act chomicdly upon tho

ehaytnoa, hoponoe, nucloic a i d s , l i p i d s , proteins and f l u i d s within

the oe l l a 'md by npse t t ing t h e i r f i n e s t a t e of balance onus0 tho

a l -

- -

UNCLASSIFIED

individual t o mf fe r .

4. To ansuer these questions o f "hoc8 radiation works we must

probe the innermost secre t s of livlng matter.

5. The fundamental research i n biology and medicine is

directed toward the solution of these problems and over a period of

years we may erpact a complete answer t o the "whaten, flhows" and

"whysft of radiation.

d o e k ' t tell me much that i s of value t o me today i n learning about

One might very well object "that's f ine , but it

radiation as i t a f f ec t s me" !

6. Another side o f the Commission' s research program 10

directed to studles of immediate significance i n the radiation probla .

7. O u r knouledge of w h a t radiation does t o the individual 1 8

based upon man~r years of ekperience by medical radiologists who used

radium and x-rays i n therapeutic work as well as that obtained as a

result o f the milftarg use of the atomic bomb In Japan and infomation

obtained from subsequent t e s t s of atomic weapone.

8, We are presently engaged i n extensive study of the treat-

ment of pa t ien ts who have received dameging radietion.

experience shows that the progressive course of acute radiation Injury

Our accumulated

\ 'p

is: loss o f appetite, nausea, wenkness, anemia infection, hemorrhage n'

and death.

tha t the first four of these a r e not necessarily fatal nnd i n less

aevere cases'can be .treated by t rmefusiona, intravenous feedings end

Each of these f ac to r s i s now being investigated. we know - .

drugs.

two stages which tire more c r i t i ca l .

effectiv6 i n controll ing the radiation hemorrhages.

Considerable progress has been made i n controll ing the l a a t

For Instance, cer ta in drugs a re

We are studying

the e f f ec t of chemicals and a n t i b i o t i c drugs i n controlling the

infections which accompany radiation injury.

9; I n summary the Atomic 3nergy Oommission i s supporting an

integrateb fandamentrjl research progrm i n biology And medicine

directehl'at determining dh0 bas ic m e c h i sms by which rndiation

exerts i t s action on the Ltulioldunl rvld upon fu ture generations,

addltlon 'the dorukd.on f a carrying out extensive studies on how t o

'

In

- 2 - Chapter VI 0 0 I 3 9 2 5 4 $o&

UNOIlAdSfFZEjJ

treat: indfvidaale who may in the future be expoeed t o large amo+ts

of radiation either aceidentally o r RE a result of warfare.

._.

0 0 1 3 9 2 b

. _ . . . ,. ...~. ,.,.,.

. . ^ . ... ,. . .~ . -.,.. - .

. . . . _ . . . . I .

.. . ' I

'4 mjOLASSIFIEn

0 0 1 3 4 2 1

cwm VI1

CIPIL IIEFENSE -- 'Phe Btomio,Energj Cornmiaaion has a large atore of.materihl.wNkh

would tie pertinent €0 any program o f civil' defense.

reviewed with.care the report of the Office o f Civil Defense Planning

and has more recently coaanlted with repreeentatlvea of tho ltational

%cur%tx Reaourcee .Board concerning problems i n atomic defense.

The C6mmisslon

- 1 -

I

.-

I . ,

Radiation b n o t the only indus t r ia l heal th problem in the Atomic

Energy Project.

dangerous, It was ear ly recognized that i n some instances chemical

poisoning was as great a hazard as radiat ion injury or f a r greater.

For example, beryllium is used as a pioderator in pi les . This non-

radioactive eleznent lnag.oause extensive acute o r chronic luag disease

as well as 3,nJarp t o other organs.

through Atomic & e r a Conuniseion supported o r directed research -- method of injury, methods of avoiding i n j w y , similar problems

developed v i t h o the r materials.

Various compounds a r e used which are potent ia l ly

.-

A great deal ha8 been learned

.- 1 - Cwter VI11 h.m

...

,. --

0 0 I 3 9 2 9

1. The Atomic Energy Commission has been charged by the

Congress with the development o f a Cancer Program and f ive million

dol la rs was epecif ical ly appropriated for t h i s purpose. A t present,

several other programs i n the f i e l d o f cancer are being supported by

various organizations. The American Cancer Society i s supporting

hospi ta l beds fo r cmcer pa%iente, an extensive program of cancer

education, and a research program at an wud expenditure of two and

a .ha l f million dollme.. Thep. S. Public Health Service i s spending

twelve and one half million dol la rs i n support of cancer research, and

one and one h d f million dollftrs i n the education of nodical students,

i n f i e l d s re la ted t o cmcer. Pfivntely-endowed foundatlone a re a l l o t -

ting sums approximating one and a hnlf million dol la rs t o the f i e l d of

research.. The CRncer Program of the Atomic Energy Comission i s

directed t o the exploration of the re la t ion of atomic energy t o the

vrtrious aspects of cancerr Due regmd t o the moidmce of any daplica-

t ion of effoat of the programs already under way htm been tdcen.

2. Pirs t , .we are supporting the work of the Atomic Casunlty

Commission of the Nat iond Research Council vhlch i s naking exhaustive

s tudies i n Japan regarding the frequency, mode of development md t n e s

of cancer I n the survivors o f the atomic bomb blasts.

extend over a period of m y peRrs and furnish us d m b l e information

as t o the -turd his tory of cancer, par t icu lar ly with regard t o i t s

chfarcicteri-sties i n *he d i f fe ren t IRCeS. Second, radioactive isotopes

a r e furnished by the Comnission inthout charge t o mroved tnvest igators

i n the cancer f i s l t .

work. I n cancer RS re&ttod t o ntomlc energy.

This work wll l

Third, funde are used for coatracts for rosearch

25, The reg iond luborrtfories of the Atomic Wergy Conmission m e ' being equippod t d t h aharatus necessary f o r the production of various

-. 1 " Chapter IX

I. .

_.. - . i ; L UmCLASSIFIBb

types of radiation, many of which have not been evaluated in the t rea t -

ment of cancer.

cancer pa t ien ts i n order that we may determine the types of radiant

energy which a r e most efficacious fo r fur ther use i n the treatment of

cancer.

sk i l l ed i n the handling of cancer cases working i n conjunction with

It is our purpose t o furnish without charge beds fo r

These pat ien ts wi l l be carefully selected by physicians

the staffs of the hospi ta ls at the regional laborator ies , and the

opportunitiofi wi l l be available t o all qual i f ied pat ients .

program begins wlth studies on the use of short-lived isotopes at Oak

T h i s

Ri@e where hospi ta l 'beds are now Rvailable, and a c l i n i c a l cancer

research hospi ta l is being b a i l t nt tho Argonne National Laboratory.

I n addition t o careful ly controlled new methods of therapy, the

pa t ien te w i l l receive the benefit of a l l other indicated methods of

treatment.

i n the CRTQ of cancer casea in these hospi ta ls and ins t ruc t ion i n us*

the new methods a v d h b l e wi l l be afforded them.

Fao i l i t i e s w i l l be provided f o r physicians t o collaborate

In addi t ion t o i t s

oducertiond and investigative vdue, t h i s enterpr ise w i l l render t i

d i e t inc t e e d c e i n eaaing'the c r i t i c n l shortRge of beds especial ly

sui ted for cancer pa t ien ts i n this country.

- 2 - Chapter 1%