Minutes Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine 24TH Meeting Held at AEC, Washington, D.C. November 10-11, 1950

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Advisory Committee for' Biology and Uedicine The twenty-fourth meeting of the Advisofy Committee f o r Biology and Medicine was held on Friday and Saturday, November 10 and 11, 1950 a t the Atomic Energy Commission Members of Committee Dr.Alan Gregg, Chairman . Staff of AEC and and Medicine 9 bk* Boyer "Dr, Shields Warren Brig. Gen. James P. Cooney

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The Chairman convened the meeting a t 9:30 a.m. The first order of business presented tothe Committee by the Chairman was a discussion of the minutes of the meeting held at the AEC on September 8 and 9 , 1950. minutes were approved unanimously upon a motion by Report on Support of Research Projects The following projects i n biology and medicine and health physics which had been approved by the Division of Biology and Medicine since i t s meeting in September (1) New York University, College of Medicine - Dr. A. Marshak - nlnvestigation of t h e Physiology and Biochemistry of Nuclei and Nucleic Acids - $17,766

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(Approval of Renewal of Contract f o r Period October 1, Cartwright - "Metabolism of Trace Elenents i n Animals and Ken with Spec id Reference t o Their Role in l'3tudies on Eonkeys Following Exposure t o Large Doses

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11 Inflammability ar;d Explosibility of 1kta.J l i c Poxdcrs of Uraniun, Thorium, Zirconiun:, Titanium, Vaadium and (Budget breakdown not available) Pzter Sent Srigham Hospital (Contract 140. AT(30-1)-'733) of Injury and Convalescence'I(Approva1 of Renewal of Contract for Period Aptember 15, 1950 t o Sqtember 14, Previous Allocation $18,282 for 9/16/49 t o 9/15/50 Radiation on Enzyme Systems - $6267

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"The Effect of Incorporated Radioactivity on tie $34,608 - (Approval of Transfer t o AEC and renewal of ONR Contract NR-130-146 for period 12/1/50 t o 11/30/51) of Ionizing Irradiation on Mammals (Approval of transfer t o AEC and renewal of ONR Contract 1:R 124-015 for University of Washington, Seattle - IIStudies Related

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(1L) University of Washington, School of Ibledicine - Emitters From Bone - $9,288 (1) Uoiversity of Arkansas - Part I: I ( Intermediary Metabolism of the Photosynthetic tlBasic studies in.the Utilization of Cobalt 60 as a Radium Subs c it ute - $11,800 Kampmeier - "The Content i n Human Tissues of Eleven Trace

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Wilson - "llctabolism of Organic Acids i n Higher Plants and Microorganismsll (Approval of renewal of contract Previous allocation - $6,500 for 1/1/50 t o Iz/3-/50 Biological Nitrogen Fixation with Isotopic Tracers" - (A?proval of renewal of contract for period 1/1/51 t o 12/31/51) Previous allocation : $5,000 for 1/1/50 to 'IInvestigatLons of t h e Physiology, Genetics and HostParasite Relationships of Plant Pathogenic Fungi by Use of Radioisotopes fpr Tagging Fungous My~eUum~~- Salamanderll (Approval of renewal of contract f o r period 12/12/50 t o 7/1/52) - $7,938 - (Cont'd on next page)

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Proposals Proposals Declined genesis of Radiation Death in Mice" - $9,017. of Radioactive Phosphorus for Studying a Common Cold (6) Universit: o f North Carolina (Cont'd) Prev ioc s allocation $5,547 for 12/12/h9 to 12/11/50 I n connection with the discussion on the distribution o r apportionment of projects throughout the country t o universities and installation pr. Warren explained the operations that are involved, including budgets., clearance, overhead problems, maintenance and guards, and a wide variety of fixed charges before a contract may be conThe individual members of the Committee expressed their views on the general scope of research activities that should beexplored. It was brought out that the AEC might be interested in furthering studies on blood preservation. The Committee agreed that research h the preservation of red cells should be strengthened a s it isa problem of vast msgnitude and will be of primary importance in civilian defense.

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(4) Illinois Institute of. Technoloyg - Armour Research Determinntion of Cobalt i n Human Blood" - $7,000 Growth, of Plant Seedlings as Lffected by Irradiation ft ?3tudX of the Effects of Neutron a d Gamma Radiation on t h e Eletabolism, Reproduction and Heredity of Plants'' The Committee was of the opinion t h a t when proposals are declined a brief reason for the declination should be stated on the agenda and a statemcntnede t o the investigator that reconsideration could be given to this proposal at a later date. Genetics Genetics Program Dr. Zelle explained the overall picture of the genetics program stating that there are roughly 20 contracts in this field. He summarized the work being undertaken by each investigator. that Dr. Lauren ljonaldson a t the University of Washington, Seattle, has a program in marine genetics, using both trout and salmon. In this connection, Dr. Zelle and Dr. Curt Stern are planning to visit this project after the Committee meets at Hanford Operations Office i n January It was brought out

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ilr. Zelle raised t h e question of whethey work on human genetics should. be allowed t o develop by i t s ovm resources o r should the AEC enter into this area of by supporting certain well-qualified investigators. It was generally agreed that the knowledge of human mutation rates is extremely important and the question o f further at the meeting to be held i n January, 1951. . Reports and Visits t o Projects Considerable discussion ensued regarding written reports received from investigators of projects as well as of the necessity of the staff visiting the project. The Committee was of the opinion thata.short concise report was more advantageous than a lengthy one. brought out that it was infinitely more effective to make personal contacts with investigators even though it would involve a great deal of travel for the staff of the Division and also travel requires an adequate allocation of funds for this purpose. In connection with the discussion inthe Biophysics Program it was stated that the overall activities can be divided into two categories, the first of which isa determination of tolerances and permissible doses by a human being and the calculation of maximum permissible isotopes in a i r and water.

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Dr. Claus stated that within the next two weeks there will be issued the official figures for the permissible dose for the h hen being through external radiation and through radioactive isotopes. The Committee xas gratified to learn that during the p a s t two years there has not been a single case of radiation injury due t o the activities of the AEC. A t the conclusion of the discussion on the research programs Dr. Warren read the following letter - from Br. Dean which reiterated his views on the- continuance of the research program: . "Thank you f o r your note of October 23rd and the enclosed correspondence with and from t h e Department af Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health. I think this is useful documentation for Bureau ofthe Budget purposes and for any attempts by t h e Appropriations Committees t o eliminate such programs. "You will be interested to know that in our conference with the President this week he wash full agreement with the Commission that it would be a great mistake for.us t o retrench in our research programs, He was quite positive about this and Iwas happy to be reassured." It was the belief of the Committee that research should include projects of an exploratory nature with new ideas and new investigators within the limits of the atomic energy - field and not be restricted to specific

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Current Program ih Protection of PersonnelCurrent Protection Representatives of the medical branches of t h e Armed Services, which included General Wm. H. Powell, Admiral and Brig. Gen. James P. Cooney participated in discussions regarding their ' current programs for the protection of their personnel against acute injury from atomic A s the'discussions became more provocative, the Committee became aware that the big problem, becoming more acute each day.and for which there has not been . found an answer, isthe physical reaction which.a comnanding officer might expect from troops who have been exposed t o heavy doses of ionizing radiation. Whether these troops will be fit for further combat duty is a complex and serious problem, and the subject will again be considered by a group of outstanding medical men and scientists at a meeting t o be held on Status of b di ation Instruments Branch h. Butenhoff, Chi g of the Radiation Instruments Branch explained the general status of the program, and displayed radiological instruments which are designed f o r field use by the Department of Defense and those designed for civil defense rzdiological monitoring by the AEC.

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General Cooney and Dr. Tolbert oriented the Committee on the biological aspects of "Greenhouse." The Committee was gratified to learn that General Cooney i s acting. as an advisor t o General Quesada on the Task Force as well as i n charge of Dr. Alvin Graves' radiological safety group. This involves the protection of all of t h e task force a t the time of detonation. Dr. Claus reviewed the work that has been done on the Plutonium Permissible Dose Level. * He stated that the National Bureau of Standards Sub-committee on Internal Dose has taken a hand in the problem and has re-surveyed the various data which were mail able. on the problem. ' The Committee is hopeful that through these combined studies there will be a possibility of tying down the permissible dose of radium that can be taken by a human being. European Biologic& and Medical Sciences Dr. Gregg gave the Committee an interesting portrayal.ofhis recent trip to Europe, giving his general impressions of t h e present state o f the work now going on in biological and medical fields. Scientifically it was his belief that the picture is very spotty with

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Sweden; Switzerland and to a certain extent Britain trying t o resume scientific research. Mr. Derry and Mr. Stanwood opened the meeting by presenting a review of the present and proposed budget estimates which included construction needs and personnel. Budget charts prepared for exhibition t o the Budget Bureau were displayed and it was brought o u t "one picture by the Chief of each Branch discuss hg his respective This presentation was followed st was recognized that real advances had been made i n compiling budget information for presentation since the inception of t h e Division. hkchle of the NRC joined the discussions regarding the problems emanating from the ABCC i n Japan. The-Com..ittee was i n agreement that in view of disturbed situation in Japan it would be well to have a representative of the NRC and the AEC, preferably a member of the ACBM go t o Japan tostudy the problems. discussions, it was the sense of the Committee that the I n connection with these genetics program should be continued for ten years, A recommendation for the continuance of the medical progrm

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will be based upon the report of Dr. ldachle of the NRC and Dr. Goodpasture who have agreed t o go t o Japan for The statement which was prepared by the Committee at their September meeting and modified at this meeting concerning the recommendation thata rapid screening be made of a larger number of the population i n Japan been forwarded by Dr.. Warren tothe President of National Academy of Sciences, It reads a s follows: “The Advisory Committee for,Biology and Medicine of t h e Atomic Energy Commission, having heard the reports of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission, notes with satisfaction the prograss made in the various aspects of the study including the work in genetics, medicine, md in the organization of the staff. “The Advisory Committee for Bio log j and Medicine notes, however, that little progress has been made in screening larger groups of the population. While recognizing t h e importance of complete physical examinations and t h e various laboratory studies, the Committee feels that it should re-emphasize its original desire for the screening of larger numbers of the population with a view t o discovering early changes in t h e hematopoietic and other of the population can be accomplished without further delay, and it should be emphasized that this should be done within the present budget and structure and not as an added activity. It i s hoped that the screening of larger numbers “ At a joint meeting of committees from the Division of Biolo&lr and Medicine of the Atomic Energy Commission and t h e National Research Council on February 4, 1950 it was agreed t h a t more emphasis should be placed upon the screening operation t o have zb no mali ties .It Dr. Hardie reported that the administration ofthe ABCC contract with the NflC will be transferred from the

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IZC i n Wsnington t o the NYOO effective December 1, 1950 in order for thc contract to follow the general pattern of all &C contracts. The Committee was pleased to learn that the contract had been made unclassified under CIA-93 which will greatly facilitate its adminisDr. Bronk and Dr. rearson reviewed the rgcent developments and changes i n the Fellowship Programs. The Committee looked with favor upon the entire program' being retained under the auspices of the ORINS. In this connection the following excerpt from a letter written by the General Manager toDr. Pollard ofthe ORINS was placed in t h e records "The Commission i s informed by the President of the National Academy of Sciences that the National Science Council is prepared t o assist, including several ways, including t h e evaluation of all applicants on a nationwide basis. It is our understanding t h a t the oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies will use the service and establish the order of selection of candidates, and t h i s procedure meets with the approval of the Commission. In addition, the Oak Ridge Institute may require an additional panel of not exceeding 7or9scientists, drawn from over the country, t o make the final review and appointment o f fellows in establishing a total number of fellows t o be appointed i n each category, and by appljring the spec id criteria of paragraphs 3 and 8 of Industrial Industrial Medicine Fellovrships Fe llovrs hips Dr. Hardie stated that two industrial medicine fellows had been selected,thst clearances were now i n process, and that it was expected they would begin their

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studies at the University of Rochester on November 27. Four fellowships are to be offered next ykar m d six will be offered if qualifications are Ebout equal. Civil Civil Defense I&. Bowman briefed the Committee on the recent developments i n the civil defense progrzm. the current releases.concerning civil defense were given t o each member of the Committee. He stated that the AEX had entered into an agreement with the Army Corps bf Engineers whereby for $10,000 the Corps of Engineers is making astudy cf the flood hazard in the Columbia River …