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Declassified record · U.S. Department of Energy

Minutes 48TH Meeting Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine, Jan 13-15, 1955, Subject U Washington Applied Fisheries Laboratory & Enewetak; Geneva Conference; Japanese Conference; Abcc; Etc

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14 pages
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Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.

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ATTENDANCL hembers of the Committee ‘r. Gioacchino Failla, Uhairman. btaff of the Zhvision of Biology and Medicine Dr. Paul B. Pearson, Chief, Biology Branch Other Atomic Energy Commission Representatives Sttif from the University of Washington Staff of the Hanford O_oerationsoffice

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Bugher, Director, Division of Biolo&~Tand ,wdicine with his associates visited the University of ti,ashiagton,Tnursday January 13, tu insnect the local ~rojects in the fields of biology and medicirle. A very interesting and informa+,iveday had been planned by the staff. The mornirq was devoted to learning of the development of the medical school and its scientific pragrams, A series of short talks by local staff’members on Univer ity *kan*2Zi(l&~ ofresearch programs were presented m the School of Medicine pres~ding. Upon their conclusion, informal visits were made to the clinics, laboratories, and research areas. After luncheon an inspection was made of ihe Applied Fisheries Laboratory and discussions were held -withDr. Lauren Donaldson regarding Pacific Proving Ground w.wk. program of the Applied Fisheries Laboratory which included:

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Program @f fundamental studies cn the effects of exposure to radiation: Studies of problems related to tne fish ppulations of the Columbia River; Field stl~diesin radiatim biology at the Pacific Proving Grounds as well as Future Programs of the Dr. Donaldson spoke briefly on his recent visit to hniweto~ and of the extensive ecological study in pro~ress and of the collections and readings made at Rongelap. At Ron&elap in addition to the physical survey an evaluation was made of the In his closing remarks he said that they were indebted to the AEC for providing the harine Biological Laboratory at Eniweto~. Three times as much worK had been accomplished since the laboratory was ~pened than had been pcssible before - as “there is no substitute for having a suitable place to work,” The Committee felt that the medical and biological research at the University of Washington is guided by an exceedingly competent group of scientists and is progressing extremely well. Many favorable comments were expressed on the buildings and general lay out of the Division of Health

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Dr, Henry Schmidt, President of the University of dash.ingtGnhad arranged for his colleagues to assemble in the Health Sciences Auditorium tc meet the Advisory Committee and to hear an informal address by Dr. Bugher cn the scientific program of the Divisian of Biolocgyand iuedicineand the Atomic Energy Commission. Dr. Bugher spcke of the rapid development of the Medical School and of its scientific research programs and he said that t,heCommittee would look forward in the future to learning of the accomplishments in the utilization of atomic energy in medicine and biology. After a most enjoyable social hour and dinner on a special car on the Ncrthern Pacific from Previous arrangements had been made fcr the use of a special car for the Adviscry Committee ar,dthe staff of the Division of Biology and Jledicinein crd<r that they could hold a briefing session on the Agenda that was to be used at the meeting at the nanford Operations Office on Friday and Saturday, January l-hand 15, 195’5.

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January 14 and Is, 1955 Friday, January u, 1955 The Committee had a most interesting meeting in the rlanfcrdarea on Friday and Saturday, J=mu=y L!.J p.nd15, 1955, The first morr.ins-wcsmade up of a tour of the facilities of t.bcddiclogical Sciences Department of the General Electric Comnany, In the afterncon the staff prese>ted progress of ttlework in the objectives of their programs and the biology and medicine. The tcur included the 13iolo~ Section Laboratory which houses the work of the Biology Control, J’metabolismand Plant Nutrition and i~licrobiol>gy~ The Aquatic Biology Laboratory which had been cam~leted since the Committee held their 2~th meeting at danford in January, 1951, includes fish ponds and has as a part of its equipment a thirtyfoot river samntin~ boat. The visit to the Biophysics Laboratories was one of particular interest wherein work on Regional Radiation, Instrument Development, Physics, .“iethcdsand Industrial Hygiene was

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The Chairmar,convenl>dthe meeting and asked Dr. Bugher to cpen the session by s~eaking of the current activities of the Division. Current Activities Dr, Bugher gave a resume of the major happenings in the Division since the December meeting. He mentioned the propcsed staff paper to the Commission tihichwculd establish a perr.ancntmedical research center and medical reactcr at Brookhaven l~ationalLaboratory, lhe Committee reiterated their previous recmmendc+i~ns as made at the meeting at UCLA in December, l>~h, th=:tmoney should be appropriated by the Congress to be used by tineAEC for the construction of a permanent Ae(iical Brookhaven Iiational Dr. Bugher reported cn the shart ir the Brookhaven Cosmctron which badly damaged one section of the accelerator. No p~?rsonswere injured in the accident. he spoke of the damage to the cosrnotronitself and related some details on the problems of dismantling it in order to make the necesszry repairs. The repairs are being made by regular Laboratory personnel who have been diverted from other tasks and it is hoped that the cosmotron will be again running by March first.

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Geneva Conference Dr. Bugher told of his visit to Geneva, Siritzerlandon December 13, lh ard 1~, 1954, together with representatives frcm Canadaj Great Britain and Belgium to participate in a preliminary International Conference at the invitation of the Secretary General of WHO. The purpose of the Conference was t~ explore with the tcp staff of dHO m~dical and health prcblems associated with the peace-time applications of the atomic energy that WHO should play in this new area, Dr. Bugher spoke of the Resolution #230 passed by the General Assembly of Uriitea~lations, In accordance with this resolution the Advisory Committee for Peaceful Uses cf Atomic Energy is expected to consult with tJiiOconcerning the plans and Agenda for the conference. An dbstract was made of each dayls session of the meeting in Geneva and is available in the files of the Division of Biology and Medicine, International Conference In connection with the discussion on the International Conference which is scheduled to be held in Geneva in August, 195.#jDr. Bugher brought out that both he and Dr. Dunham were quite concerned with the character of the proposed Agenda. He presented a new and revised Agenda for the consideration cf the ccrmnitteewhich had been formulated in the Division of Biology and

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Medicine, He said that this Agenda covers medicine and kiclcgy, public health, genetic effects, special isotopes, ecologyj waste dispcsal, etc., and will.be presented to th~ General Assembly for their consideration and app~oval. A full.discussion ensued on the topics on the preposej Agenda, The Committee felt that it was better to pick out a few tcpies in the ciayof orientation rather tnan to try ts cover the ectire atomic Dr. Bugher spoke of training of foreign Ambassador Lodgcts statement regarding special students in the United States. He brought out that it had been agreed c in Geneva that a student should avail himself of what his own country has to effer before obtaining a fellowship in this country. In other words send doctcral.or postdoctoral people on exchange fellowships, Ja~anese Conference cn Dr. Fearscn mescnted a formal report on the.. in Japan on Radiobiology and radiological physics. He conference was held at the request of ihe Science stated that the Council of Japan and that it was considered successful, As a result of this conference Japan feels that we should enccurage clbser scientists as a m~ans of maintaining good diplomatic relations. by all to have been very the American Embassy in liaison with Japanese

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Dr. Pearson Explained that, as a gest~”e Gf friendship, they had g&ven to the Japanese some radiation Jetecticn and monitoring equipment and component parts - and that considerable favorable publicity had been [~ivento this by th. AS a by-product of this discussion, the Cmnittee was in full be prcvident tc initiate if feasible, it m~ght be well to ask ihc Japanese to parti~ipate in the next survey, as it might further dipl~matic r~lationss Note A ccpy of Dr. Pearsonfs repcrt is in the files of the i)ivisicnof Biclogy and Medicine. Atomic Bomb Casualty Mr, Eisenbud followei by reportinS on his visit to the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission in November, 1.954, He brought out that, in his opiniGn, the accomplishments and potential yield scientifically Qf the project justify its contin-~ationat approximately tne current level of support for not less than another three years. Mr. Eisenbud included in his report the following recommendations: 1, The name of’the project be changed to Hiroshima Institute of Medicine, Japan-American Institute of Radiological Studies or some other designation more appropriate in the present context of

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Japanese-American relationships than Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission. 2*. A Japanese scientist of appropriate stature should be invited to serve in an ex-cfficio capacity cn the CACd His attendance at at least one meeting a year shetid be encourag~d. 3+ The proposal for establishment of an Isotopes Laboratory be approved, subJect to adoptio~ of the follcwing objectives: a. The Chief, Tsotcpes Labcratcry shculd be a Japanese naticnal of appropriate scientific stature$ b. The facilities be made available to the physicians of Hiroshima as a clinical facility, c, It be understood at the time of installation that the facility is being provided on a trial basis, and that it may kc withdrawn in 6-12 months if its continued maintenance is no longer justified by the dcmznd for its use. a. Recruit 12 graduates each year and provide them with a one-year residence at,the project. Formal lectures, laboratories, exercises and clinics should be arranged and language b. After completion of this year in residence, 4-6 of the candidates should be sent to the United States fcr two years of further training.

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c, When the three years of training have been completed, the students sh>uld be absorbed irlto the project. ~. Inform~.tionpro~rams in Japan and the United States snouldbe and aims of t,hepro,ject,and general appreciation of the existence and asked that his impression be considered as a motiofi. Dr. Stern seconded the motion and it was apprcved unanimously. Note A copy of Pm. Eisenbudts report is available in the files of Radioisotopes for A brief discussion wa~ held on tlm ckmges suggested in the proposed report to the General Nanagcr on the use of radioisotopes for medical resesrch, Dr. darrcn explaind tne historical background regarding the subsidy for cancer research and therapy that the Congress had approved during the early days of the atomic energy program or in 1948. A furtner report and discussion will be held at the meeting which is scheduled to be held at the AEC in Washington on March 11, 195’5’.

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regulatio~s concerning the Healt,’1znd Safety Criteriz for AW Licenses. He rc.ferrcdto the enabling as w(.11zs limiting features of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and pointed out tilatthe regulations will establish standards,for the protucticn of health and safetiyaga~r.st radiation hazards arising out of activities lic~nsed by the MC. Hanferd Operations Office Dr, Bugher made seversl favorable comments regarding the pres~nt Hanford Program. He said that the staff is looked t~ fcr a gr(at deal of advice, guidance and consultation in matters of permissj.bl~limits of radiation and that they partake widely in the analysis of the problems of radi~logy and radiation to do ‘,Jiththe ~lanning of the biologi~el laboratories, He said the transicrmation of the existing shells at Hanford into efficient and attractive lab~ratories had been extraordinarily well done and an an excellent set up has evolved. Dr. Cantril stated that Hanford has acted as a Training Schcol and supplied important personnel to many other laboratories which is only on~ of its notable achievements. Dr. Parker brought the Committee up to date on the enormous amount of work going on in the Columbia River basin which concerns not orilythe AEG but other agencies of the government and States. He said tlnat

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syci~emphasis is being placed on the waste disposal programe made by Mr. Jehnscm on tne matter cf numan expc:ure arm of tne difficulties in tryin;~to sce five years ahead in ]i]akingplans f~r for the next two cr three years. Votjeof i’hanks fir, \(/arrcnmade a moticn zs express the thanks and appreciation of all memb[;rsof the ACBiVIand the staff of the Division of Biology and Nedicine t~ the staff of the Hanford Operations Office and to the oi’ficialsof the General Electric ComFany for the very worth-wld.leand profitable time they had at Hanford. Dr, Doisy seconded the rnotior.and it was approved unanimously. Acxt Meeting The forty-ninth meeting of the ACBIIis scheduled to be held at the ~torr.iciin.ergy Commission in Washington, d. C.? on Friday and Saturday, March 11 and 12, 1955’. ~djournment The Aeeting adjourned at 2 61C10CK in order tc make a visit to the Separation Plants and the PleterologyTcwcr.