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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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The 123th meeting of t h e AEC Advisory Committee f o r Biology and Medicine was held on SeDtember 7-8, 1967, atthe AEC Headquarters, Germantown, Md. Wyngaarden was unable to attend. The meeting was also attended by Dr. John R. Totter,Director,Division of Biology and Medicine, and various members of the staff of the Division of Biology and Medicine. Dr.Totter opened the meeting with an introduction of new staff including Dr. John Storer, who assumed the duties of Deputy Director on September 1. I n view of the rather extensive staff changes,.an u p - t o - date staff listing by branch and area of specialization will be sent to the Committee. The ACBM was brie-fed on the budgetary outlook for FY 1968 (presumed 5% increase over FY 1967) and FY 1969. Dr.Totter noted that the equipment budget would probably not be increased but that some items of construction a t Oak Ridge and Los Alamos might be approved f o r FY 1969. Mr. Holland informed the ACBM of an interdepartmental committee recommendati on that the high altitude sampling program be continued at its present level in order to maintain a capability in this area. The ACBM concurred but suggested that the AEC should continue to explore possibilities for a broader base of support with other interested agencies. Mr. Holland also briefed the Committee on t h e proposed Barbados Oceanographic and Meteorological Experiment. BOMEX is a cooperative program of world meteorological associations. proposed experiment will provide an opportunity fora comparative study of fall - out patterns on sea and land. Brief reference was also made tothe forthcoming meeting on food chain models. The need for special sites for deep underground tests and the importance of ecological considerations in sites election were discussed by Mr. Davis. H e recounted his experiences as a member of a study group on sites election. The Committee was pleased to learn that biological parameters were being looked at before rather than after the fact. Dr.Osterberg described the current interest in oceanographic programs and their coordination by a steering cormnittee headed by Vice - president Humphrey. The International Biological Program, which i s concerned with questions of biological productivity,was reviewed by Dr. Wolfe. He also informed the ACBM of the Committee on Environmental Quality under the Federal Council on Science pollution. There is a rapid proliferation of interest in the engineering and biological aspects of the environment and it will be necessary to define the role of the AEC in this. This Committee will direct its attention to problems o f
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Dr. Bruner briefed the ACBM on the SNAP-19 problem. A recent report on the biological risks, which appear to be minimal with the assumptions used, has been distributed to the Committee. Dr. Bruner also reviewed the present status of the question of a permissible level of exposure for uranium miners. There are many intangibles which complicate the establishment of a realistic safe level.A possible solution is to set an operational level for mine air concentration, above which compensation would be paid. An interdepartmental subcommittee has reviewed the over - all problem and cop,ies of its report have been sent to the ACBM. The possible future status of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Committee was discussed by Drs. Cohen, Bruner, and Sagan. The Committee was advised of Special Analytic Study No. 67-7 which dealt with this question at the request of the Bureau of the Budget. a trip to Japan and a visit to the project there, thought that there was a solid basis for continuation.All agreed that the core program in statistics and pathology should be continued until atleast 50 percent of the population had died (circa 1990). Further consideration will be given to this question. Dr. Cohen, who has just returned from A status report on Workmen's Compensation and record-keeping was made by Mr. Eason. Proposed changes recommendec tothe Commission include the elimination of Workmen's C,ompensation standards ; the use of USA Standards Institute criteria as an acceptable method for development of employer's records ; and the submission of annual reports to a control repository. Dr. Rabson reiterated the interest of DBM i n developmental biology. The breadth of the effort in this field has been evaluated informally through the Science Information Exchange Abstracts. eradication program i n Peru and the interest in developing other cooperative programs in Latin America. The AEC appears t o be playing a significant role through consultation and provision for equipment such as ir radiators. He described also the insect Proposed improvements inthe technology of film badge processing were discussed by Dr. Lough. on the accuracy and reliability of film badge processing. He advised the Committee of a forthcoming report - _ -.Radiopharmaceutical regulation is now a n AEC responsibility but this function should eventually be transferred to the FDA. The question as to when and how was placed before the ACBM by Dr. Sagan. ation here is the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) requirement for new drug applications, which would temporarily stop the flow of many commonly used Dr. Sagan raised another more general question, namely, should organized medicine be involved in the certification for use of radioisotopes. The Committee informally endorsed the recommendations contained i n the Trowbridge An important consider - This requirement has been waived with AEC regulation.
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The present status of the " irradiated sucrose problem" was described by X - irradiated 2% sucrose solution is apparently not mutagenic although there may facilitate identification of the toxic material. H e reviewed studies which indicate that an autoclaved Further studies of the chemical changes in irradiated solutions In its executive sessions,Dr.Totter informed the Committee of his impending visit to UCLA with Dr s. Cohen and English. This is for the purpose of determining the future of the UCLA Project in conferences with university Several members of the Committee expressed the view that it was timely to think about DBM goals and future directions. Should Committee members be asked t o make analytical reviews of various aspects of che program, e.g., i n regard t o environmental health, ecology, etc. ? How does one evaluate the major programs, e.g., at National Laboratories ? be given to investigators abroad? st anti ve questions will be considered at the November 9-11, t o UCLA. Inthe meancime, Drs. Cohen and Russell will draft a position paper on the general subject of DBM objectives as a basis for discussion. To what extent should support It is proposed thac Lhese and other subThe place of the meeting will be determined aEter the site visit The Minutes of the 119th meeting were approved as circulated. Scientific Secretary, Advisory Committee f o r Biology and Medicine, USAEC