Minutes - 13TH Meeting of the AEC Advisory Committee for Biology & Medcine, Santa Fe Operations Office, Los Alamos, Dec. 10 - 11, 1948

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Advisory Commit tee for Biology and 1Iedicine The thirteenth meet i cg of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Iriedicine o f the Atomic Energy Commission was held at the Santa Fe Operations Office i n LOS Alamos, New Kexico, on December 10 and 11, 1948. The facilities of the installations were inspected on Friday and on Saturday, t h e regular deliberations Committee Xembers Present. by t h e Chairman at 9:OO A.1;. present atthe meeting were Dr. Alan Gregg, Chairman, Staff Nembers of A,E,C. Present, Members ofthe staff of t h e A.E,C. who were present: Dr. Shields The meeting was convened Ilembers of t h e Committee Mr. Korsu Salisbury, Rodney Southwick, Wr. Clement Palazollo and IIrs, Frances Montgomery. instance o f Dr. Warren attended the meeting and

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consulted with the Cormittee while they were convening Staff Nembers of L o s Alamos Present. Scientific Labor a to q who attcnded included: Mautes of Ideetlng of October 8 and 9, 1948. order of business presented t o the Committee by the Ninutes of Heeting Chairman was the rearling o f the minutes o f the meeting held at t h e Hanford Operations Office, Richland, Washington, on October 9, 1948. After the reading there wasa general discussion and the following changes were recommended. Under Parapraph 1, Pace 12: Change last sentence t o read "With a few minor changes i t was voted unanimously that the letter should- be forwarded". Same paragraph as above - add tho following and signed by Ik. Lilienthal. Dr, Gregg made a motion t h a t the minutes be accepted as The letter was approved by the Commissioners motion was seconded by Dr. Wearn and

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they were approved un,mimously. Rqort on Support %porta.hp nor t for Research Pro.jects. Dr. Warren Projects reported that the fol latd ng projects had been zpproved for support by the Atomic Energy Commission for research i n the medical and biological sciences since the meeting held on October 8 and 9, 1948: Washington University School of ldedicine - Dr. Wendell Scott - "Experiments t o Determine the Feasibility of Developing Epipment that will be Capable of Mapping the Outlines o f Organs or Deposits of Metastatic Tumor Within t h e Body1'. - electric Potentials of Plants and Animals as a "Comparison of t h e Effects of X-rays, Neutrons and Mustard Compounds on the Growth and Development of t h e Corn Seedling". - $3,700. "Proposed Investigation o f Adsorption and As simi - la tion of Radioactive Waste by Bacterial Slimes". ment o f Tissue Dose Due t o Gama and Beta Active Radioisot opesfl. - $6,250, including overhead. Purdue University - Prof, Heinrich Koffler and

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i n Studying IIold iictabolism, with Zhphnsis on the genumfl, - $3,550, plus overhead. t o be built onto Cowell RospitA - $52,000, no Hartman - "Survival. of Red Blood Cells after autographic Study of Beryllium 7". - $29,780, Additional funds for apparatus relative to project Proposals declined since October 8-9, 1948 meeting: "Combined Investigations o f the Relationship of Flavonoid znd Derivative Structures to Irradiation Skipper - "Study of the Nechanism o f Action of the Ap2lication of the Is orr he ic Kidney Preparation to the Ex per inen td Sepnration o f Effects on the Glomerular Function from Those on the Integrity Research f o r work Using Isotopes as !J!racers" - Stu6ies on t h e Rolntion Between i'tetabolism of IIouse Brain and the Synthesis o f Phospholipids

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ti Qmntit,qi;j.ve Ileasurenent o f Peripheral Cir - V&e Forest College - Bowmn Grzy School of o f Liver Ymctions and the Rate o f Phospholipid Excretion o f Sodium andPotassium as Affected by Posterior Pituitary Factors and Factors m d 'Fixation o f Selenium in Soils of Western 1hke Forest Collece - Borman Grey School of Excretion o f Sodium i n Heart Failure and Use o f Cobalt 60 i n bosine AFplicatorsfi. - University o f Snnta Clara - Dean George L. Factors Governing the S act eric i dal and Oxidizing Effects of Algae i n Sewage Oxida- "Proposal for Lifetime Animal Xxperiments $12,000,000 totd budget vith nnnual pnyment The proyosnl suggested a long range (8 - 1 2 year)

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progrnn for study of del,?,ved effects of total body ir rd in tion in 1,400 dogs and 3,300 rats. as it was presented ina preliminary form, with s o much detailed study necessary t o implenent the program, it was the unanimous opinion of the Cornit teeth at it should bo first evKLunted for the that the hollowing recornendation as Wggested by the bireckor o f the Division o f Biology and iiedicino "It i s recormended th;it this proposal be referred t o an ad hoc committee of three geneticists, one veterinarian and one pathologist f o r evaluation" Medical Records Stud.. - Oak Ridge he rations Office -IIedical Records Ridge Operations Di-?Albe~i;S oll and, Iiedical Advisor and Rirector, Jjfvfalon of Research and IIedicine ofOak Ridge Operations Office, forvarded a proposed statistical study of 611 accumulated medical records with relation to occupational hazards o f the Manhattan District employees and those of the Atomic Energy Comnission and its contractors, which Dr, Warren presente-d t o the Committee. This study would be aimed at the deterninztion o f special hazards, seeing whether the norbicity and mortality rate is

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higher i n the personnel involved th,m inthe general population, whether o r not there is R greater incidence of malignancy or related conditions them i n the general population. This infornation wotlld be o f value i n deternining qualifications of enployees f o r the Connission and contractor enployees and would give additional data with regard tothe question of hazards as related to employment. cost of this study,which would include insurance problems and labor relations studies as they relate t o nedicnl records, would be apFroxinately $350,000. After a full discussion ofthe importnnce o f the project it vas the sense o f the Committee that the question o f medical records should be submitted t o D r , Lowell Reed, Vice President, Johns Hopkins as to the statistical reliability and ayplication of these recordso Policy on Anount o f Infornation t o be Given Bmloyees Concerning Radiation History. Dr. Warren stated that the Ihnager o f the Oak Ridge Operations Office had subnitted a report on radiation history of enployecs f o r study which had been studied previously by represent?.tives o f the Carbide and Carbon Chernic,?ls

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ii atc rials ~ l n dInfo2nRtion Branch; Insurmce Board and representntives of t h e Office of Research and o f the National Connittee on Radiation Protection , Dealing with Pernissible Tolerance Dose. sets forth the following reconnendations: (1) a terninating employee be provided with a state - ment that he has not exceeded the pe miss i ble exposure tora a ation, or i f he has exceeded the permissible exposure he be made aware of this fact by the physician giving the exit interview; (2) that there be R clearer policy on release o f infornation on radiation e qo sure records and other nedical records t o the contractor insurance carrier and life insur;r-?ce companies; (3) that the terminating mployee be advised that if he is t o work with radiation In the future, his cew errployer c,an nnke arrangements t o procure his past radiation exposure history; (4) thata group of qualified radiologists md physicicms be available f o r consultation by any person who feels that he has been bmaged by radiation in an B.E.C. installation.

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A full discussion ensued an?, each iten YES considered i n place ofthe stnted reconncildntion aten in rt ting employee should be mlvised at the e x i t interview as t o the care that the h.E,C, utilizes in protecting similar protection could be afforded t h e enployee If he contenplates a change i n cnploynent t o an industrial concern if the employer would request a statement from the A.E.C, as tothe occupational exposure to radiation that the employee has received while i n the elnploynent o f the A.3.C. on the Fellowship Progran, stating that the closing date for applicp.tioiis for medical fellowships h d been extended because o f the small nmber o f applicat ions so far received, The Board i s planning t o meet It vas the oninion o f thc Cormittee that It should be further advised that .the early part o f March t o consider the present dfull discussion followed on neems o f placing in for nation regarding medical fellowships as well as the biological and biophysical fellowships before interested persons. Dr, Gregg pointed out that it night be worthwhile t o have sone one personally visit

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ncdiccql sc kool s md hosFitnls t o intervievr internes and rcsiCents i n order to interest then in a plying inthe pronulgation of the progrcm the National Resoarch Council wrote t o the Denns of schools asking then for names of ap pop ria te individuals preferably inthe top third of their classes, that the National Research Council could personally address i n order t o interest then i n applying fora fellowship. Com.ittee was of the opinion t h a t the procedure followed by National Research Council was most likely top roh ce the best results in obtaining applicants. Discussion of Intezration of Biolo&.cal, Health Phvsics an& Medical Problens at Los Almos : Dr,Lmr is ton Taylor explained that Physics and iledical Shipm, presented t o the Comnittee an outline of their present and proposed program. Dr. Bradbury stated that the biological and medical operations at LosAl ~ n o shad been placed into three categories, first,industrial health, second, research i n biology, biophysics and medicine, third, the activities of the health division. The hospital i s under the supervision of the Zin Compnny, while the health group, including the biological and medical research

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Los Alp nos fac il it los,is 7-p r t of the University o f California L95orntory. Due t o the inaccessibility of research facilities at the hosplt&l, qur li fie d physicians are difficult to obtain. The lack of suitable housing for scientific personnel and especially hones for large fan l lies was brought forcibly to the attention It was evident to the Comit teeth at a much closer coordination was needed between the Zia Conpany and t h e University of California, a6 presmably nany of the activities o f these two facilities overlap. Inasmuch as the dn in is trn t loe functions o f the two ect iv i ties are handled separately, the Cornittee thought that there nay be soae duplication o f expensive laboratory f nci li tie s. Los Almos Hospital. Dr, WillirrmIJhite urged that an early decision be rnade by the A.E,C. on the construction o f the hospital. The Comit tee fully discussed the problems as they relate to the hospital and as outlined by Dr. White* They were ofthe opinion that ten free beds should beset aside in the hospital for indigent and interesting patients referred. by their physician and that conversations should be held with Xev Nexico' s

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senior senator so that full cooper2tion will be obtained fron the people and physicians inthe region. The problem of staffing the hospital was discussed. Dr. White reported that there i s not adequate work i n surgery and ENT to enlist the best talent, whereas, there is sufficient work in obstetrics to enable then t o obtain good Research Pro,?rm. Dr. Langhm reported on the research program at Los Alanos in bio loa and nency of the prop an was hanpering their activities. He further stated that whrit vas needed wasa unified comitncnt on the part of Dr, Bradbury and the Atonic %era Comission that the rnedical and biological research progrm at L o s Nanos would be pursued t o lend stability to the progrm. Ho st n ted that the fee line of lmpermaprogram would then attract scientists of note. Dr. Langhm stated that he would like to see A permanent stp ff amo in ted consisting o f FL pathologist, two or three biochemists, a bio-physicist, a physiologi st, three orgnnic chenists, a physical chemist, an analytical chemist and a microbiologist. This staff would be inthe permanent staff member

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categorj nnf! it is his belief they vould be able t o take czre of m y progrrtnnatic research requested, Dr, Langhan suggested that there be an integration o f the research progrrm at Los Almos with other A3C installations in order that each installation nay be kept advised ofthe work that is being Carrie6 on throughout the areas. This could be done by circulating alist among interested people which would give the title of investigation, the Investigator, and whether the problen is active or inactive. Warren stated that it would be helpful t o the Division of Biology ,ad IIedicine i f the progress reports emanating from Los klanos would include n pp-ragraph o r two on present find- new problens that a r e now w a s discussed, however, the Comnittee was of the opinion that that should not be a barrier to tackling the problem by another investigator ina The nat ter of R duplication of work The Connittee wasin full agreement thata reasonable biological, nedical and bio-physical research program should be activated ,and continued at Los Alanos.

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ilr, Tyler entered the neeting at 11:OO A.13, present an2 future objective o f the Health Division was to protect the health of the enplogees o f LoS Alarnos <and that in his opinion the i mediate construct ion of the hospital would be an ime asura lle benefit tothe Health Mvision. advantzgeous t o have the hospital ,and the Health Division housed under one roof as t h i s would enable the hgs pital staff to have access tothe laboratories and research facilities, Likewise, the Health Division staff would have the hospital available for integration of the hospital staff nnd the Health Division stp ff,Dr, Shipmn urged early decision He stated further that he f more d an on t h i s problen as well as one on the physical location of the hosFital and the Health Division, ing an interne And resident progrun at the hospital, Itwas his belief that such a prog rm would provide st in ul ation to nenbers of the hospital staffs who are not now interested in research. He reiterated Dr. Langbm' s views thata pernanent research staff should be available at all tines to undertake any particular

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prograns and problc-ns vhich nay arise, The present Hefilth DiTision consists o f approximately eighty-three persons, and it is anticipated that when the necessary eq an sion takes place, the conplenent of personnel will A thorough discussion folloved on the problems presented, with the Connittee nembers interjecting with questions tothe staff. for presenting their …