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Declassified record · U.S. Department of Energy

Unwise to Discontinue the Isotope Support Program

Document type
Report
Length
3 pages
Open the original scanArchive record OSTI ID 16107560 · public domain

Document text

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

Page 1

discussions at September meeting, -ressed :I Various isotopes users (e.g,, Abbott Company) are planning t o buy isotopes from outside industries, such as Westinghouse. AEC can sell only those Isotopes produced by ANL, Oak Ridge or BNL. Dr. Dunham asked for guidance of Committee. Dr. Loeb assumed that control and monitoring of use of isotopes would be relatively simpler than ifthe program went to industry. Dr Dunham rrtated that all users are licensed except those states which qualify. system of control with states for the control of isotopes. Dr. Dunham does not think the safety angle is going t o be affected by whether or not AEC subsidizes the isotopes. AEC has a compatible Dr. Moore asked if it were not true that this program was initiated at the request of the Joint Committee and that the Chairman of the Joint Committee at that time is likely to become the Chairman under the new Administration. Dr. Dunham was of the opinion that the program of free isotopes for cancer was the conception of DBM, snd it became apparent that there would be wastage if free. I t was then decided on the figure of 20% of cost with the AEC subsidizing

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80%. A t the first hearings on Peaceful Uses of Medicine, eri culture etc.,a strong plea was made for subsidization for labeling materials for all biological and medical research. This got into a recommendation which was directed to the Commission not in the framework of subsidizing the labeling of irsotopes but s BIbi diz ng all isotopes i n medicine and agriaulture. Hearings on the Peaceful Uses i n Medicine and Agriculture will be held in March. Dr, Bugher asked if it would not be a wise thing to let this matter ride until the hearings and let the Joint Committee Dr. Marine111 asked i f one of the disadvantages t o discontinuing the program is that small colleges might not get help, Dr. Dunham replied that there is only about $200,000 involved, the real cost being in the containers.

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Dr. Livennan stated that most isotopes bought under this program are made up, with few exceptions, of organic compounds, and that 95% of t h e cost is in the processing. Dr. Moore said that the difficulties of administering the program, complex as they are, and likely to become, constitute a small price to pay for the good will which goes tothe AEC and the whole program as a result of this subsidy. He thinks it most unwise ib relation to the face we try to put tothe general public and the world a t largdlto discontinue this program, The recommendation made by ACBM (page 18, d r a f t staff paper) is not strong enough. Dr. Glass agreed with Dr. Moore that good will of public for AEC is a very important matter. Be cannoa see that pgying the cost of the isotopes to 80% without paying for the much larger cost of tagging the compounds that are actually used i n research produces the desired good wilib if the program could be recon- * I side red and a policy of subsidy for the procurement of.-tagged - - compounds used i n research. Dr. Bruner commented that it seems those requesting discounts are the larger, more highly organized isotope users.