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

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OFFICIAL USE ONLY ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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OFFICIAL USE ONLY The 72nd meeting of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine, Commission, was held on January 9 and 10, 1959 a t AEC Committee members in attendance were: Dr. Simeon T. Cant ril, Chairman; Hors fall,Dr. Leonidas D. Marine lli, and Dr. Harland Wood. were attended by various members of the DBM staff. Dr. Charles Shilling were present at all sessions. The open sessions The Minutes of the71st meeting were approved with minor corrections. The next meeting will beheld at Brookhaven National Laboratory on March The subsequent meeting a t AEC Headquarters i s scheduled for Dr. Bugher was elected Vice-chairman of the Committee, a post left vacant when Dr.Shields Warren's term on the Committee ended. Dr. Robert Loeb's appointment to the Committee was an-nounced. The business of the Committee may be grouped under six headings. Dr. Walter D. Claus presented a comprehensive review of the important legislation passed by the85th Congress affecting the organ iz a tio d of science in bhe Executive Branch of the Federal Government. The Committee has requested Dr. Claus t o supply its members with copies of this important Dr.Forrest Western discussed the program of the forthcoming Hearing; of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, the first of which will be held at the end of January '1959. Three major topics are to be considered: -- (a) Radioactive Waste Disposal. The AEC will be represented by the Division of Reactor Development. (b) Workmen's Compensation. The AEC will be represented by the Office of Industrial Relations. Several difficulties to be discussed here include, (1) how to distinguish between a radiation-induced cancer and a spontaneous one, and (2) how to arrive at a fair statute of limitations - i n many states - material on these and related questions, prepared by Dr. Western. material was given t o ACBM. The AEC has provided the Joint Comnittee with OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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OFFICIAL USE ONLY (c) State yer sus.Fed era1 Regulation. The AEC will be re pre een ted by Present resp on sibi lit ythe Assistant General Manager for Administration. for fission able and radioactive substances rests with the AFX, as written into the 1954 revision of the Atomic Energy Act and carried out by the Division of Licenses and Regulation and by the Division of Inspection. Several states feel that these functions belong tothe states. 2. Accidents and Public Safety Dr. Dunham gave an interim report to. the Committee on the accident that occurred a t Los Alamos i n December. A full report will bk made later. The worker who died within 35 hours of exposure is estimated to have received something like 10 thousand rads. The other workers near the scene of the ' accident received smaller doses which are not expected t o produce app rec i - The ACBM approved the suggestion that a medical team be instituted which could be sent abroad i n case of serious accident at one of there - actors given o r supported by the United States. Health physicists should be included on the team. The team should be alerted officially through' DBM, and adequate procedures should be worked out to in sure that the team will not be sent unless its cooperation is wanted. It was also suggested that accident reports be sent to installations abroad as well as t o contractors in the U.S.A. Dr. Gordon Dunning reported on further steps to improve the safe handling of nuclear weapons. Dr.G. V. Beard reported on measures being taken t o review and t o improve safety procedures for reactors. distributed that will give information regarding the neutron spectrum. A new type of monitor isto be Dr. Bugher suggested that film badges should be made uniform <;-all Mr. R. L. Cor s bie reported on the AEC Nuclear Energy Civil Effects Program. A radiological vehicle together with instfuments for demonstration purposes will be ready by April. of training is being revised, of the Germantown Headquarters building will be studied ; The facilities for shelter within the building are being improved and extended as money becomes available (Kr. Jack Derry, Division of Construction and Supply). Shelter plans are progressing.A manual The shielding provided by the various parts OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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OFFICIAL USE ONLS CORRIGEXDUM - MIMTTES, 72nd ACBMMEETING - PAGE 4, PARA. 4 Dr. James Haggerty reported on the initial meeting of the Advisory Committee on Cancer, October 9 and 10, 1958, whose minutes were given to each ACBM member. Specific recommendations will not be made until the Committee has completed its review of the whole program. The next meeting will be at Brookhaven National Laboratory, March 22 and 23, 1959, The members of the Committee are: Drs. Jacob Furth (Chairman), Children's Cancer Research Foundation; Louis K. Alpert, George Washington Universiky Cancer Clinic; Charles Heidelberger, 'iiniversity of Wisconsin; Howard B. Latourette, University of Michigan; Edward R. OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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OFFICIAL USE ONLY 3 . Extramural Relations with the Scientific Community Dr. Claus discussed the problem of representing a fair picture of the All investigators receiving support from activities and goals of DBM to the scientific community. taken were recommended by ACBM. the AEC should make due acknowledgement of it in their publications. replying to inquiries regarding the procedure for submission of project proposals,a pamphlet should be used that includes statements on the object - ives of DBM and its policy on security regulations. grants(titles,investigators,institutions) should be attached in order to demonstrate the broad and liberal scope of the program. Some steps to be In addition, lists of With respect to international conferences, ACBM recommends participation, especially in the smaller meetings of limited scope that bear directly on DBM interests.Unfortunately,the Division i s now unable to give general support t o such meetings (other than paying the expenses ofits own contractors). The Committee will advise the Commission thata more liberal policy would be desirable,so that the AEC could contribute to _ the general expenses of such meetings and tothe support of non - contractors whose participation might be of considerable value. Dr. James Haggerty reported on the initial meeting of the Advisory Conunittee on Cancer, October 9 and 10, 1958, whose Minutes were g i v e n t o .- each ACBM member. Specific recommendations will not be made until the Committee has completed its review of the whole program. The next meeting will be a t Brookhaven National Laboratory, March 22 and 23, 1959. The members of the Committee are: Drs. Jacob Furth (Chairman), Children ' s Cancer Clinic ; Charles Heidelberger, University of Wisconsin; Howard B. La tourette,University of Michigan; Edward R. Woodward, University of The 5-year contract of the Argonne Cancer Research Hospital is now up appropriateness of the whole cancer program within the AEC, since the National Cancer Institute and other private agencies are specifically dedicated to this field. It was the opinion of ACBM that the cancer program should be considered an integral part of DBM's responsibilities, since ionizing radiations are powerful carcinogenic and therapeutic agents. The precise nature of the program should not be fixed,but must be permitted to vary in order to make best use of the particular facilities and manpower at the disposal of the AEC. The letter tothe Commission will reaffirm ACBM's confidence in the program of the Argonne Cancer Research Hospital and point out the general need fora cancer program in the Division of BioJ.ogy and Medicine. OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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OFFICIAL USE ONLY Dr. Paul Aebersold, Director,Office of Isotopes Development, sought advice on the rate of production of radioactive cesium. regulate the rate on an estimate of the importance of cesium as a radiation source i n cancer therapy. Hewas advised to consult the Radiological Study Section of the National Institutes of Health. 5. Argonne National Laboratory Following the meeting of the Committee at the Argonne National Laboratory, November 14 and 15, 1958, various members of the Committee expressed dissatisfaction with the presentation of the program a t the Argonne National Laboratory, particularly as it related to biology. mitte e was unable ' to ascribe the reasons for this but did observe that there was not strong administrative control on the part of Dr. Austin Brues. Dr. Dunham reported to the Committee that at the time of its visit to ANI, the Director of the Laboratory (Dr. Norman Hil berry) had i n hand the resignation of the Director of the Division of Biological and Medical Research with Dr. Dunham orthe Committee. both parties, and particularly since Dr.Hil berry was speaking for a greatly expanded program in biology and meteorology. The opportunity was therefore missed to discuss this very important problem with the Director of the Laboratory at the time of the Committee's visit.Dr. Dunham read to the Committee a memorandum which he had prepared and addressed tothe Chicago with this lack of candor. The Committee agreed - that this should be forwarded promptly. Dr. Dunham will,in the very near future, make a visit to the Argonne National Laboratory to learn more particulars concerning this problem and how the administrative side of the program may be strengthened without damage to the scientific research being conducted. The Committee expressed its confidence inDr. Brues as a scientist and agreed that,following Dr. Dunham's visit to the Laboratory, further discussions would be held on ways and means of strengthening the administrative side of the p rug ramat the Laboratory. It was further agreed that pending requests for further biology - - laboratory construction at Argonne National Laboratory would not be granted until such time as the Director of DBM had full confidence i n the administr at ive aspects of the biology and medicine program. Neither Dr. Brues nor Dr.Hil berry discussed this either There was ample opportunity to do s o by 6. Miscellaneous Divisional Items The 1960 President ' s Budget provides $49 million for the DBM program plus $2 million for miscellaneous construction. The flash reactor program was rejected,but will be reconsidered in the future. The newly formed radio-epidemiology committee will hold its first meeting a t the Argonne Natlonal Laboratory on February 2 and 3 under the chairmanship OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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OFFICIAL USE ONLY of Dr. Herbert Longenecker, Vice-president for Medical Affairs, University The newly formed radiobotany committee, under the chairmanship of Dr. Horsfall, will hold its first meeting at the Argonne National Laboratory The execution of Operation Plowshare (Project Chariot), discussed at the 70th meeting of the ACBM, is now considered quite unlikely. for ecologic study in Alaska will be reconsidered at a future meeting. Dr. Dunham announced the following appointments and/or transfers: Mr. Herbert Stanwood, Assistant Director for Administration; Mr. J o b Whitnah, Chief, Program Coordination Branch; Mr. Robert O'Neill, to Congressional Liaison Office of AEC as Congressional Liaison Officer; Dr. Irvin E. Wallen, as Aquatic Biologist. Scientific Secretary, ACBM OFFICIAL USE ONLY