Locating Records of DOD Human Radiation Experiments, Initial Report

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Defense Nuclear Agency MEMORANDUM FOR ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SUBJECT: Locating Records of DoD Human Radiation Experiments (HRE) This is in further response to your memorandum of January 31,1994, subject as above. We have conducted an extensive records search of the DNA, AFRRI, and DASIAC libraries, which is still ongoing. The continued search, since the initial report submitted on February 15, has not identified any additional experiments beyond those submitted in that initial report, which is resubmitted herewith. This edition includes more complete bibliographic information on the records. We plan to continue to submit reports to you, as our research dictates. Please note that records belonging to the Manhattan Engineering District are held by DOE at the various National Laboratories. DOE is pursuing those records to determine if any HRE research can be identified. Any questions concerning this submission may be directed to Dr. David Auton at

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1. The organizations of DNA and its predecessors which might have conducted or sponsored human radiation experiments include: a. Defense Nuclear Agency Predecessor organizations include: Defense Atomic Support Agency (DASA) (6 May 1959 - 1July 1971); Armed Forces Special Weapons Project (AFSWP (1 January Note: In 1947, the Manhattan En 'neering District was disestablished and AFSWP and the Manhattan Engineerin District records went to the AEC. We expect they will be reported 1947 - 6 May 1959); and Manhattan Engineering District (13 August 1942 - 1 1anuary 1947). Atomic Energy Commission (AE8) were established. The preponderance of the by the Department of G! nergy. b. Field Command, Defense Nuclear Agency c. Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) AFRRI was transferred on October 1,1993, to the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. However, for the purposes of this report DNA is 2. The location where records of such experiments, if conducted, might be located collection of technical reports which includes the record copies of reports produced as a result of the DNA research, development, and test program. DoD Nuclear Information Analysis Center: Santa Barbara, CA, and Alexandria, VA. Under contract to DNA, maintains a comprehensive collection of technical reports relating to nuclear weapons effects research, development, and tests. Collection includes extensive test data holdings from DNA's test programs. scheduled retired records from DNA, its predecessois and field activities. DNA Technical Library: Alexandria, VA. Maintains a comprehensive Washineton National Records Center (WNRC): Washington, DC. Contains AFRRI Technical Library: Bethesda, MD. Maintains a Comprehensive collection of radiobiology research reports and includes collection of the AFRRI technical Individual offices of current DNA organization. 3. Search efforts undertaken: The search strategy employed by DNA, to include itself, its predecessors and field activities, has been to conduct a search of the two principal repositories-the DNA technical library and the DoD Nuclear Information Analysis Center. These files have been searched manually and by computer. Relevant reports have been pulled and reviewed. The initial searches in these two locations are nearly complete.

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The Acquisition Management files were searched to identify prior contracts which might have involved human experimentation. The search consisted of a review of the contract log books, covering contracts back to 1958. Records provided by the DNA Comptroller on Military Interde artmental Purchase Requests (MIPRs) and Interagency from its subordinate commands from 1984 to 1993 were also searched. In the course of the review of these records, it was determined that the contract files transferred to the WNRC prior to 1972were destroyed in accordance with the records disposition schedule in February of 1990. Many of the reports resulting from those contracts have been identified and reviewed. Other leads from the contract search will be pursued in continuing searches. Cost Reimbursable Orders (IA& 'Os) issued by DNA Headquarters from 1976 to 1993 and In addition, an a ency wide tasking was issued to all Directorates, Separate Offices, Field Command, and h-RI to search for responsive records. The responses have been received and incorporated into this initial report and the search is continuing. AFRRI reviewed the following files: AFRRI Annual Historical Reports from 1964-1993 AFRFU Scientific Reports from October 1966-1993 AFRRI Technical Notes from October 1965-1993 AFRRI Contractor Reports from November 1965-1993 AFRRI Contracts Involving Humans/Human Tissues and other DNA Acquisition Management Review of Contracts, MIPRs and Review Defense Technical Information Center search 1972-1993 Review Defense Technical Information Center search 1943-1972 AFRRI Board of Governors Meetings 30 March 1961-1993 AFRRI contacted and interviewed the following individuals: Colonel (USA Ret David k Verrelli, MS&,former dosimetrist.1 A one-day meeting was held in early January with senior DNA staff and several experts with experience dating back to the Manhattan Engineering District and AFSWP to discuss any prior potential human experimentation with radiation. Several leads were developed in the course of these discussions and have been reflected in the search search. The experiments are as follows: 4. Eleven possible human radiation experiments were found as a result of DNA's 1. Post-Irradiation Syndrome in Man 2. Influence of Total Body Irradiation 3. Radiation Effects in Man 4. Effects of Incidental Irradiation of "Normal" Humans 5. Effect of Central Nervous System Irradiation 6. Comparison of Isotopes for Skeletal Imaging in Patients with Metastatic 7. Scintigraphy to Detect Early Disease of the Hip 8. Calibration of Whole Body Counting Facility 9. Bone Marrow Transplantation 10. Technetium-9% Minicolloid for Radionuclide 11. Basic Principles of Pancreatic Scanning These experiments are summarized in Part 11.

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Part II: Possible Human Radiation Experiments: 1. Post-Irradiation Syndrome in Man Sloan Ketterine Institute for Cancer Research 410 East 68th street New York 21, New York This research was conducted by the Sloane Kettering Institute for Cancer Research. The work was initially supported by the U.S. Army and appears to have been taken over by the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project under the following contracts: The subjects of this research were patients at the Sloane-Kettering Memorial Center with widespread cancer. Under this roject, it appears that 22 patients received total body irradiation (TBIP and 12 received radiation to the head for treatment of tumors. The subjects are identified by initials, types of cancer, and, in some cases, by age and sex. Where data is available, the population was 3:l female to male with ages from 19 to 63 with an average age of 47 years. Available reports are being reviewed and, upon completion of that review, a characterization of this work will be reported to you. The radiation source was commonly a Van de Graaf generator. The doses were in the range of 50150r for the TBI with higher doses used for irradiation of localized cancers (up to 4000r). In addition to the cancer treatment information, data was collected and reported on: clinical observations, hematologic data, plasma protein and electrophoresis, urine excretion, and electroencephalogram. The results of these observations were reported to AFSWP. There is no record of the long term outcomes of the treatments. Currently identified records are the reports submitted to the Armed Forces Special Wea ons Project by the Sloane Kettering Institute for Cancer Research. T i ’e titles of the reports would indicate that some of the progress- - reports are missing.

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Reports held at DNA Study of the Post-Irradiation Svndrome in Humans Progress Report No. 2 - July 1,1954 - September 30,1954 Study of the Post-Irradiation Syndrome in Humans Progress Report No. 3 - April 1,1954 - March 31,1995 Post-Irradiation Syndrome in Humans Annual Report - April 1,1955 - March 31,1956 Report Date: May 1956 The Studv of the Post-Irradiation Svndrome in Man Records are in the possession of the DNA technical library, Mrs. Janet Four technical reports of approximately 100 pages. Records are all unclassified and have no distribution limitation assigned.

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2. Influence of Total Body Irradiation Baylor University College of Medicine Prior to January 1954 - 31 January 1962 Donald A. Rappa ort PhD Baylor University This research was conducted b the Baylor University College of Medicine, work was initially supported by the U.S. Army and appears to have been taken over by the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project under the following Texas Medical Center and Jederson Davis Hospital, Houston, Texas. The The subjects of this research were 106 patients receiving total body irradiation. Most were diagnosed with cancer at the disseminated stage and the period of observation was short. Of the 106 patients, by 1962,81 had died, 17 were living and 8 were lost to follow-up. Some of the patients were identified b name, others by initials, and some of the 106 are not yet accounted &r. Where data is available, the subjects’ ages ran from 16 to 89 with an average in the 60’s. About 75% were male and roughly two-thirds Available reports are being reviewed and, upon completion of that review, a characterization of this work will be reported to you. Radiation source was a Van de Graaf generator. The doses administered were in the range of 50 - 20Or with one exposure at 300r. In addition to the cancer treatment information, data was collected and reported on: clinical observation, iron metabolism, hematophoresis and erythropoiesis. The results of these observations were reported to AFSWP. There is no record of follow-up. Currently identified records are the reports submitted to the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project (and Defense Atomic Support Agency) by the Baylor University College of Medicine. The numbering scheme of the reports would appear to indicate that one of the reports may be missing.

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Reports held at DNA: A Study of the Effects of Total and Partial Bodv Radiation on Iron Metabolism and Hernatouoeisis Progress Re ort 1 January 1954 Radioiron Citrate as a Tracer to Determine the Rate of Disappearance of A Studv of the Effects of Total and Partial Bodv Irradiation on Iron Metabdim and Hematopoiesis Progress Report for Period 1 September 1955 through 31 January 19561 A Studv of the Effects of Total and Partial Body Irradiation on Iron Metabolism and Hematopoiesis A Studv of the Effects of Total and Partial Body Irradiation on Iron Metabolism and Hematopoiesis Progress Re ort for Period 1February 1956 to 1 September 1956 Effect of Total Body Radiation on the Ervthropoietic System in Humans Progress Re ort for Period Ending 31 August 1956 The Influence of Total-Bodv X-Ravs on the Kinetics o f Ervthrocxte Enzvmes As a Biolopical Dosimeter Progress R-eDort for Period Seotember 1. 1956 to Mav 31, 1957

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The Effect of Total Bodv Irradiation on Imunoloeic Tolerance of Bone Marrow and Homogaffs of Other Livinc Tissue - Report Period: February 1,1961 - January 31,1962 Records are in the possession of the DNA technical library, Mrs. Janet Eight technical reports, about 3 shelf inches. Records are all unclassified and have no distribution limitation assigned.

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3. Radiation Effects in Man University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Cincinnati General Hospital Edward Silberstein, MD - University of Cincinnati Harry Horowitz, MD - University of Cincinnati James Keriakes, PhD - University of Cincinnati This research was conducted by the Universi of Cincinnati College of the Defense Atomic Support Agency under the following contracts: Medicine and Cincinnati General Hospital. %le research was supported by The subjects of this research were patients at the Cincinnati General HosDital. To be eligible for the treatment, the patient had to have an advanced cancer foy which a cure could not be bnticipated, and cancers had to have been biopsied for malignancy and evaluated as extended. Eightyeight patents were treated over an 11year period. The demographic make-up of the subjects matched the profile of Cincinnati General Hospital with respect to race (62% black) and intelligence (IQ 87). Average age was 58. Informed consent was obtained from the subjects and was documented since 1965. This research was the subject of a University peer review in January 1972 which is Available reports are being reviewed and, upon completion of that review, a characterization of this work will be reported to you. The radiation source was a cobalt-60 teletherapy unit which provided exposure rates from 3-5r per minute. The exposures ran from 100 to 20Or whole body and up to 300r for lower body. Beyond the cancer therapy, data was collected and reported on: clinical observations, biochemical studies of blood and urine and psychological studies. The results of these studies have been reported to DNA. In addition, a final report provides observations on the efficacy of the Currently identified records are the reports submitted to Defense Nuclear Agency by the University of Cincinnati.

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Reuorts held at DNA Metabolic Changes in Humans Following Total Bodv Radiation Report Period November 1,1961 - April 30,1963 Metabolic Changes in Humans Followine Total Bodv Radiation Report Period: May 1,1963 - February 29,1964 Metabolic Changes in Humans Following Total Bodv Radiation Report Period: February 1960 - April 30,1966 Radiation Effects in Man: Manifestations and Theraueutic Efforts Radiation Effects in Man: Manifestations and Therapeutic Efforts Report Period: May 1, 1968 through April 30, 1969 Carolyn Win et, M A Radiation Effects in Man: Manifestations and Theraueutic Efforts

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Report Period May 1,1969 through April 30,1970 Carolyn Win et, M.A. Radiation Effects in Man: Manifestations and Theraueutic Efforts Report Period: May 1,1970 through April 30,1971 Carolyn Win et, M.A. Radiation Effects in Man A Collection of Articles from Various Journals The Whole Body Radiation Studv at the Universitv of Cincinnati A Reuort to the-Dean of the Colfege of Medicine ~ By th&Ad Hoc Review Committee of the Universitry of Cincinnati Radiation Effects in Man: Manifestations and Therapeutic Efforts Report Period 1April 1971 through 31 March 1972 Carolyn Win et, M A Records are in the possession of the DNA technical library, Mrs. Janet Ten technical reports, about 6 shelf inches. Reports are all unclassified and have no distribution limitation assigned.

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4. Effects of Incidental Irradiation of "Normal"Humans Veterans Administration Hospital Long Beach, California This research was conducted by the Veterans Administration Hospital Long Beach, California. The work was supported by the Defense Atomic Support Agency by agreement with the VA hospital and a contract with the University of California, Irvine under the following contract: The subjects of this research were patient volunteers undergoing therapy for extracranial neoplasms of the head and neck. This project exposed 12 patients who are identified b case number, age, race, and diagnosis. The subjects were all male, ages Jrom 22 to 71 (average 53), and 80% white. Available reports are being reviewed and, upon completion of that review, a characterization of this work will be reported to you. The total dose (mean tumor exposure) ran from 4900 to 6800r delivered at a rate of 200r or less per day. In addition to the cancer therapy information, data was also collected on: clinical observations, neurophysiological and behavioral effects. The results of these observations were reported to the Defense Atomic Support Agency. As of the final report, it was noted that about 40% of the subjects were asymptomatic, 40% had died and 20% had no significant changes in Currently identified records are the reports submitted to the Defense Atomic Su ort Agency by the Veterans Administration Hospital, Long Beach in Neuronhvsiological and Behavioral Effects of Incidental Irradiation of

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This report is in the possession of the DNA technical library, Mrs. Janet One …