Minutes of the Seventy-Third Meeting of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine

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OFFICIAL USE ONLY ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR BIOMGY AND MEDICINE ookhaven National Lab oratory Uptons L.I,, New York OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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OFFICICU, USE ONLY The 73rd meeting of the Advisory Committee f o r Biology and Medicine, U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, was held on March 13 and 14, 1959, atthe Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, L.I., New York Committee members i n attendance were : Dr. Simeon T. Cant ril, Chairman; Dr. Max Zelle and Dr. H. D. Bruner, of the Division of Biology and Medicine, and Mr. Merril Eisenbud, of the New York Operations Office, were present at The M hut es of the 72nd meeting were approved. The next meeting i s scheduled f o r May 8 and 9 at AEC Headquarters. least one entire day t o the Executive Session of the Committee. Program of t h e Brookhaven National Laboratory It is planned t o devote a t r m.e program arranged by t h e Brookhaven National Laboratory comprised three half-day sessions devoted tothe Medical Department, the Biology Department, and t h e Instrumentation and Health Physics Department, respecttotals about $ 5 million.) (The current annual budget for the Medical and Biology Departments I n introducing the program, Dr. Leland J. Haworth, Director, stated that the Laboratory, which i s operated by Associated Universities, Inc., gives tu courses for creditor degrees but is a research institution. During the ac,ademic year there are about 100 visitors from various un iver - - si ties participating in the-Lab-oratory' s research, and during the summer vacat'ioh this number i s increased. scientific staff fallin two broad categories : a continuing staff and a group of associates who are appointed so that they may have the opportunity t o work a t the Laboratory fora time but who will find their permanent posts elsewhere. I n some cases, universities permit grdduate students to do research a t Brookhaven and to use the results in their Ph.D. thgses. .- .Medical Department. The work of t h e Medical Department was reviewed by Dr. Lee E.Farr,its Chairman. The following were mentioned in particular : the treatment of cancer with neutrons, tracer studies with manganese (with particular reference t o Parkins n ' s disease), accumulation of radioactive elements i n human organs, hemt&Tic aspects of radiation injury,effects of x - irradiation on immunity and a ile rgy, metabolic studies with isotope - labelled compounds (with particular reference to amino acid metabolism in noma1 man and i n cancer patients), and carbohydrate metabolism in diabetes. Dr.Farr presented some details concerning the neutron cancer treatment program. No patients are being treated now; treatments will be resumed after

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OFFICIAL USE ONLY the new reactor is ready. selective boron localization and neutron effect apparently is wrong; just why a selective irradiation effect has been obtained in brain tumors is not understood. Currently used dosage is in the neighborhood of 30 mg boron/ kilo body weight, with boron inthe form of borax. implanted tumors inthe legs of ntice respond t o neutron treatment when they contain no more boron than the adjacent muscle issue which shows no radiation effect. It was alsq reported that5x 10'' thermal neutrons/cm was the thresh ol dos 532 tumor treatment and that a good effect was of time to be effective. The old concept of a direct relation between P2 5 Such doses must be given in a very short period Dr. E. P. Cronkite summarized the status of investigations with tri tia ted thymidine. important role in helping to introduce this compound into biological research, and it now has worldwide use. The Brookhaven National Laboratory has played an Biology Department. The program in biology was introduced by Dr. H. J. Curtis, Chairman of the Department, who said that the following criteria were used in the selection of projects : (a) general interest to the whole AEC program, (b) as well done or better done a t Brookhaven than A s examples of the Department's work, nine talks were given (an abstract of each was provided), which may be.grouped under three headings: Cell Renewal Kinetics, H. Quastler Cytology and Genetics: Nucleic Acid and Protein:Metaboiism i n Cells of Actively Consequences of Exposure of Plants to Acute and Chronic Treatment with Various Ionizing Radiations, A. H. Enzyme Function and Structure, D. E, Koshland Hormonal Control of Metabolism, R. Steels Instrumentation and Health Physics Department. The discussion of the work in instrumentation,health physics, and meteorology was introduced by OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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Mr. Gerald F. Tape, Deputy Director of the Laboratory. Chairman of the Department, pointed out that a very large part of their work wasin.the nature of a service funGtion for all departments of the Laborainstrumentation program was described by Dr. W. Higinbotham, the health as aktuuer course for students who complete the health physics 9-month graduate course at Rochester. The biomedical portion is a small although important part. The The principle source of radioactive waste atthe Laboratory isthe big stack of the reactor which releases about 15,000 curies of argon per day into the atmosphere. nccasion be a nuisance, there has been no hazard. In this connection, it i s of interest that meteorologic research is now being aimed at diffusion inthe lower atmosphere as a function of time, especially at distances up t o 50-100 miles. Radioactive waste solutions are usually evaporated toa slurry, poured into drums with cement, and buried at sea by MSTS. .is 200 miles off shore, 16,000 feet deep, and is also used by the Navy for Dispersal is good and, while activity may on The largest shipment thus far has contained 1000 curies. . . Radiobotany. Dr.Hors fall reported that the radiobotany committee had Zwo..meetings, a t Argonne National. Laboratory and a t Brookhaven National- . Laboratory, and tha; it will next visit Oak Ridge. of its - findings should be available in the latter part of May. Its survey will.be extended tooff - site as well as o n - site programs. Among the major questions with which it is concerned are the following: botany institute " be established ? Ifso,as an o n - site or an off - site project ? What other steps should be taken t o promote an AEC program inthe botanical sciences ? To what extent and how should training be provided for Radioepidemiology. Dr.Shilling reported that the radio epi ded - logy cbmmittee met for two days a t t h e Argonne National Laboratory. The committee .'unanimously agreed that large - scale statistical studies on the populations of effects of differences in background exposure were impractical. The committe e did express interest in a study of the populations of the small towns of Illinois whmich consume waters that vary in radioactivity. The study should not be SI retrnsgective one, b u t should involve following t h e populat ions now living. Dr.Shilling has requested the industrial medicine departments atthe various laboratories and production facilities to summarize the statistics

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at their disposal relating to the health, longevity, and cause of death of employees in relation to monitored radiation exposure. Further time will be required to include data from the Manhattan Project files. Fallout.Dr.Shilling reported that current interest in SrgO content of Minnesota wheat stems from an analysis of 23 samples made by the AEC's Health and Safety Laboratory at the request of Minnesota officials. sample, however, contained 131)lyc/g Ca, and a 24th sample sent as a Minnesota, who has been particularly concerned with this matter on behalf of the State, has programs to study the Srg8 content of all foods and to design methods for preventing the uptake of SrgO by food plants in the field. mitte e -requested Drs. Bugher and Wood to meet with Dr. Visscher discuss with him the very broad research prograin inall phases of the Sr" problem Dr. Maurice Visscher of the University of een very act L ve.in calling for greatly expanded now be hg carried on by the AEC. - _ Dr.Shilling reported that the Congressional Joint Committee on Atomic Energy has scheduled extensive hearings on fallout for May. DBM is beginning its preparations for these hearings, and a t Dr. Shilling ' s request the Committee suggested members for a'DBM planning committee t o assist inthe formulation of subjects for presentation at the hearings and the invitation to be tendered to participants. The Committee cited the need for the preparation for publication of a complete review of the fallout problem, aimed toward the scientific community, ana concisely summarizing and interpreting available data. The review should also outline long-term studies in progress from which answers are not yet forthcoming. Recent publicized statements by Dr. Russell Morgan, acting as a consultant to USPHS, have failed to take cognizance of the extensive monitoring and radio bio logic programs of the AEC concerning fallout. It is difficult to understand how these studies can be ignored or remain presently unknown t o the scientific community. It was suggested that Dr.Cyril Comar might be one who would undertake the compilation of the report for the AEC. . Basic Policy Review. The problem of what should be the basic policy of the national AEC laboratories was discussed a t some length. The matter i s of current interest since the Commissioners are studying it and the Congressional Joint Comit tee plans to hold hearings on itin June. No general conclusions were reached by ACBM, and itis intended to return to - this subject at the next meeting, along with a discussion of ACBM's basic functions and mode of operation. OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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OFFICIAL USE ONLY The var-lous AEC national laboratories were established with somewhat In the case of Brookhaven National Labora-d i ffe rent leading objectives. tory, the primary objectives have been officially formulated*: ..le ."To seek new knowledge i n the nuclear sciences and related fields with. emphasis on programs that require such large - scale research tools as nuclear reactors,accelerators, and special laboratories which are beyond the scope of most or all individual in st if ut ions. 2e. "To encourage appropriate use of .its facilities by scientists of "To assist the Atomic Energy Commission in the solution of college,university,industrial, and other laboratories. specific problems by utilizing the Laboratory's unique facilities or the special.talents of its staff. 4. "To make use of the Laboratory as.an.important auxiliary in the training of scientists and engineers and otherwise t o assist i n the dissemi nation .of scientific and technical knowledge, 'I In discussion,inquiry was made as t o whether these four objectives are the most suitable ones for AEC projects in the fields of medicine and biology. Also, t o what extent do the current Brookhaven programs fulfill these objectives ? Specific problems of imnediate AEC concern do not seem to play - a significant role in the present biology program. part of the work i n biology and medicine is carried out with techniques and facilities that are now not unique, although they may have been novel initially. It is to be noted that there isa medical and bio logic reactor currently functioning at MIT, and others may be anticipated in the future. Questions such as the following were raised. To what extent can a first - class laboratory be occupied with programmatic o r otherwise directed qesearch? Should the merit of an AEC laboratory be judged solely by its research excellence,regardless of the fields in which the work i s done? To what extent do workers i n such laboratories have a share in fulfill fag the specific responsibilities of the AEC? the scientist.to recognize his just share of the responsibilities shouldered scientists how their results bear on important public problems? How can wise leadership-help 'by the Co mission ? Is any effort being made by directors to point out to The above are large questions for which the Committee must seek some general-answers in fulfilling its advisory functions tothe Commission. *Bulletin of t h e Medical Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, OFFICIAL USE ONLY