Letter to D E Lilienthal, Subject: Report of the Board of Review (Duplicate of Document Number 709597)

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Attached yol; will find the report pre2sred for the Atonic Energy Co‘mission by i t s 3oard of lievien. Follo-iring your present afi on of the problem of poli.cy concerning res es r chin the fie1.d~ of biological and :nedical scienct? as they now cord,ront the Connissioi-,, the aoarc! of Revier; eabarkea qona series of tact nith the rror!.: of the l:a:;?,sttcn l)ist,rict and the Atonic Energy Comissior; as related to xe dic nl,he. ~ lli + ysics eiid research program. Colcicel Cooneg, 9-221- id air al 31*07:m xis. Sr. 2. E. Dyer of the United with which it had to deal. h addition, conferences were neld with lifter the Soard had acq za in ted its el. ? xi th the work of the past and the various p-oposa2.s conceriiing the future oi %he prog rm, it discussed atl an gtk on Juna 23th the Froblens presented and has surmarizsd its thcuz!l+,s, its re com end z t ions a:id su;;:estions inits of its deli5e rations m q prove of assistance to the Conmission i n est zb li shing ceri;iin matters of policy. It is the si were ho:>e of the Board. of ileview that the results The 3oard is d csiro us of taking this oFportuziQ; t o ...Tress its q pre cl atl on to the Conmission f o ? its whole-hearted cooperation i n fort kir tireless and ei’fecf,iva assistance in its work. The Board is also deeply indebted

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medical ~ n db io logical raseaEch in the field of r sdl sti on, as related and Uefine in Section 11 the ;jrimiry [:reas of ros pon sibi lit y of the Atonic Energy Commission for the maintenance of medical ond ' cio logical resenrcii. Section 111 will outline and discuss What tiny be called the Commission's snared resp on sibi lit i as,i.e., those that involve cooporntion or shared ras pog sibi li ties with o5idr brm ch s s of the Govertxnznt or with un iv z rsi ties and private institutions.section I, 11, and I11 con thin specific recommendations of the Board of Review within or immeok t ely following the s toten ents of re lute dc on a it ions or objectives. From this point the rs part Froceeas to deal in Section IV with handicaps tke Atonic Encrgy Commission must surmount in fulfilling its obligations. fi much more important set of problems, tio ssr clu tcd Comniission's work which contrasts sharply with the usual circumstances ncter, and son8 of t la implications there of. ThG report concludes with a Section(VII) devoted t o ti brief statensnt regarding an organization within the Atomic Energy Sommissior with responsibilities for mointzining in or related to the Atomic 3nergy Commission. S action VI is devoted to m aspect of the Becausu advzncas i n medical and bio l oF ical knowledge %re of vi tui public ed v xt age, ?xcause rzdio - active mater icl s cm be e f - fec t iv ely used i n o'bti:ining such kncsuJledge, and becsuse ndw medical and public he zl th problems cre nssocir:teli with diia develop Gn t of Ztomic powur for both industrial and military purposes, we strongly recommend energy t o medico1 arid bio logic a i pro'olcns be continued und where profit abl d expanded. The extent to whi :h the 4,tomic Energy Commission res ez rc hard trn in ing in mudicinb 2nd biology will be further defined. effects of radio - active substancas end utomic fission is both .urgent and ::xtcnsivs, It is urgent bec:use of the ex tr - ordinary da q er of exposing lit ring creatures torc dio - activity. It i s urgent bacnuse effective not yet known. From now on we sm ll mine, trm sport,.process and use rsdio - active substnnces as som ces of power, t.ools for investigation of bio logic cl processes, and for tie treatment of disease. be incessant, danger i n handling such substances and using their radio - active properties. The need for further research is extensive ns well as urgent. A s an explorer ullows fcr unforoseer, hardships snd unpredictable events, the in vc stig Lt or must plan for extensively unforasean evo ntu ali ties, The number of redio - act iv a substancas is large ; xny have n9ver been identified as existing in m ture, Sach substnnces call for suspicious study. The i'ztcts le urm d and the mcistery o-btainsd i n .the Tast fc ur years ac quir z most of their iminenst. sign iii can ce not mcrcly fro at ii eir present state of deveiopment but Trom whzt they will lead to. AS the sole possessor ofthe mGteriuls ana th a pro css ses involvch, the Atomic Znorgy Commission must continue and extond research for vnicii it has the primery, and inthz U.S.A.

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the sole responsibility. based on medical arid biological science. In terms of human life,this research must be . The Pri a ary ana Ex ch sive Resp on sibi li tiK s ' ofthe Atomic Eneom Coinmission,- Bio logic a i Research The primary resp or is i bil it y 01' the Atomic Energ) Commission for medical and biological research is ina sense self-contained, direct materials, the Atomic Lnergy Conrdssion has heavy responsibilities to its enployees and t o any others who could suffei- from its iiegligerlce orits ignorance. With an absolute monopoly oi' new ar.d powerful tools for research and important knowledge, the Atomic Energy Commission has obligat ions to share it sac qui sitio i is with the sci ei it if ic world wherever security considerations penn it, Eecause the Atonic Energy Conmission i s charged by law with the exclusiTie control of materials, equipment, processes and information which are unique, constantly dangerous and certainly not yet sufficiently understood, the Comnission has every reason to as s me extensive responsibil i ties for further developmerit and study of the effects of products of atomic fission on human life. agency has the information, the Ilkrrow-how, 11 the equipment, orthe substances possessed by the Atonic Energy Comriiission. For reasons 01' national safety, no other The possible hazards to the health of human beings, animals and plants,incident to research, developnent and production 01' materials concerned xi that onic power, nake knowledge regardinF: the nature of such hazards, their recognition and their control a subject for which the Atomic Such re sea x his of the programmatic, ap2lied type, related to the protection or treatment of persons possibly ex2osed 00 or affected by radiation. It i s not directed to the furthera1,ce of knowledge regarding cellular physiology as such. Fission able material is being produced. This will continue, and in ally rob ability the discovery oi' new substances and new production methods will raise nex res ear cn problems, the solutions of which are the responsibilities of the Atomic Energy .Conmission for the protection of their workers In the factories and the2ub li c in their environs. Such research belongs in the regional laboratories because of security and availability of special facilities. It must be classified and it will usually be programmatic and a up lied to specific problem or difficulties. It calls for and has grehtl:? ben elite d fror.; the services of health - physicists,doctors 0;' medicine and considerable numbers of dependable personnel less extensively trained. here its profound admiration for the work accomplished during the past four years in protection of the factory and laboratory personnel. The Doard of Review wishes to record 0effects 'of radiation and all f om sol ctetection, protection and treat - N i:ient, and for the protection oi employees, tho public if exposed, and the civilian population i n case of war, research involving classified materi also r operations be liberally provided forin Atomic Energy Commission installations. Where research bearing on th ode teo tion,prevention,or treatment of radiation effects can b e ' carried or, properly outside Atomic We rocominend that for the further study of the biological

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B:ergy Commissioii installations,thre should be no obstacle to We reco~mieiiu that (a) the biological arld medical consequences of radiation (with particular atte:,tioli t o net: radioactive materials), (b) the train i rig oi' pr sori riel in tlie i-ccognitioll and coiitol of radiation amounts 01' radiation be made primary activities of thc Atomic Energy Those activities in vo iv in6classified materials or operations must be supportea b; and carried out within Atomic &isrgy Go mission in - stall at ions, It will also be desirable to encourage and, where necessary, support with funds correlative Studies at universities,contributing to knowledge, on the bio loci cai and medical effects of radi at i orl but not in - volving the use of c lz s s if i ed materials or iiiformatiori, vide isodopes fors ~ l ca t nominal prices to scientists qualified to work with suci: mato rials. Isotope Branch for the purpose of protect iii g those engaged inthe use of radioactive isotopes derived from htor.15.c Energy Commission sources. A consult in i service should bc provided through the The tine' i s approaching when the supply of isotopes for the progress in mediciiic and biology tLat qualified i rivest i gators in other countries hove sucn isotopes fer their studies. It would bc iri tht? interest of We su cgc st that steps be taken to rnake isotopes available to 17o r oigri invc sti &;Lt ors. it might be noted that the publication of thc monthly sales record oi' isotopes i n Sciexce would aidin s!iowing tiit. sci crit if ic world that the Atomic Energy Comrnission i s ei'r'octively contributing to the advancement of knowlaCge dd spite tho impressions often left by security reg dati or is. Corliparable to the distribution of iso tops,tke disserninAtion oi scientific iri iom ation by trie Atoiiiic Energ-; Go mission chl ls for favorformer stclff menbcrs a dt lIe public nti on of accumulated irlformation inthe present ljossessioil or' tide Xnergy Comiission, when cle area for security, wo~lG'similarly enhance the sci ei it ii ' ic status ol' the Commissiori ,the morale of its staff, and fur thu accelercitc biological and medical research. tive and incomplete, however, rc cog iii tion should be given, w!ierever securit y considerations xi11 now porinit publication,to workers whose pat rio - tim1 often pcrsitadcd then to for c go the credit of having done valuable 'lk recommend. active encouragcment of publication of accumulzt eds clc nti fic 2apx-s after de cias s if i cation, eit1:ar as rm or ds of the crtornic Energy Commission or throuel. su hsi dies to professional journals, as may be ;jroposed by tl,e he dic iii Ji rector and approved by the Idedical

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In contrast to the p-5ma-y rcs pons iS5libks of the Atomic Enery Comis::ion for ::or?: described inSect j m 11, there is a second $ ions. Here the Cormission shoul5 collaborate,offering the use of its equipment, staff experience, Fate ria is such LS isotopes, and the services of its staff as teachers,lecturers or consultants. Perhaps the simplest i~vay to present this field of Nork i s 50 nanc the agencies with which the Atomic Energy Conmission should be prepared C,o collaborate in the study of medicine and bjology. authority as a guardian of the public health in peacetime and of civilian pop ul at lms in var time. Its staff enjoys continuity and er fec ti ve promovhich compare favorably with those at universities. lished. administrative structure to deal with industrial hazards. It -vonl5 have a logical interest in the industrial developments of atomic f j - ssion. It has had for 25 years an increasing measure of puS li c confide n ce and Con5ressional support.Inits National Institute of Health, it possesses labor stories and a groxin? staff of medical and biological scientists. In the interest of pr gtc ct in z the public, the Atomic Energy Commission might look fonvard t o :he establishment, i n conjunction xith the 'J. s. Public Health Service,the Zjureau of Standards, the Department of kri culture, and other pertinent Governmental azencies, a center for rc ser c ! i znci for train in < t o provide an extensive reservoir cf personnel i n aid out ol" Governrxn-hl services, equip?ed for spec lal needs of the It can offer careers in medical and biological research It has an estab - JC recormend .that i n view of these consider z t ions the Atomic----- Energy Comnission exF1ox-e and con solid a Le, if possible,coop rat ive rehergy Coxnissl on regional labor z tories .to imrn and further investigate as a in st hezards of gases, dust, conkact, ei'fl.;ents, and other forms of exposure to radiation p ossi bl7affecting industrial xor kers ar.d defense ar:ainst atomic bom5s. bccordinzly, it is in per at ive for the Atomic Energy Commission to offer instruction and experience t o Army and. kvjl medical and ancillary a ers on nel in the protection of troops and ships from the effects of s toxic weapons. thc accumulation of a backlo? of trained person nd within and outside .the Armed Forces can n o t be over-emphasized. Th, urgent need for .ye recomncnd that offers be promptly made for the training and instruction of rep-esentativss of thc medical pcrsonnel of the Armed Forces i n the instal!.sLtirJns of Lhe Atonic on L rgy bozmission and such further collaboration in ~ h t js tudy of probltms already common to both orz a niz at ions as ma'gr be nossil.19.

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(c) The rel at lons c,f federally sponsored research and research organizations to etluccltlonal and z chola rly forces and x sources of this country re q uSe more time for reflection and more extensive, discussion than we can giv3 in this rs Fort, The knowledge that made a tonic fission conceivabze cams alz:ost, entirely fr on uci vs rsi ty staff and university - trained Ken of nany lands. The future of a to uic fission and our kno d edge of radioactivity dep nds also on the recruit m nt and training providad by the uni verF i ties. There i s nothing mysterious stand though almost ir;ipossibls to duplicate elsewhere. contact with a constant oncoming stream of ambitious and educable young men, the: foster a passionate exercise of untranineled curiesity, they possess a broad and stimulating variety of intellectual contacts, at rad lt ional yet lively skill in teachin,;, and a conti nuit j and stability for persons of exceptional ability in ta aching axd research, personnel at their best ex arc is e I'resly their curiosities ovar ,a wide ra.!ge of 'Uheo2-y and e;,?)srience. This ail too brisf account rave als the advantages that university contacts afford tG scientists in the Atomic Energy Cordission, Their S ecu liar cofitributions are sasy t o untlerDie Atomic Eriirgy ComL.ssioli can ofl'ar the use of its unrr~atchsdequipment and unique conditions for observations in its …