Minutes Meeting of Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine Held at the Atomic Energy Commission Washington, D.C. March 11 and 12, 1955

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d This document consists of ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION person is prohibited by law.

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ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR BIOEY ANTI MEDICINE The forty-ninth meeting of t h e Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine was held a t the Atomic Energy Commission i n Washington, D. C., on Friday and Saturday, March ll and 12, 19%. Dr. Earl Lo Green Staff of Dr. Walter D e Claus Miss Elizabeth Hower

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The Comkttee assembled fora study period and t o read 51 variety of documents concerning biological and medical problems confronting the Division of Biology and Medicine and the Atomic Energy Commission. Re search The Chairman convened the afternoon session with a l l , members present. He asked Dr. Bugher t o open the meeting by discussing the Off-Site Research Contract Proposals t h a t had been approved during November and December, 1954 and January 1955. Dr. Bugher spoke of the vigorous work t h a t had been performed by the Research Committee i n passing on t h e 62 Research Proposals which carried an allocation of funds totaling $950,076. Division's budgetary situation was relatively firm. He said that the However, it had been necessary t o request an additional $300,000 t o augment the obUgational authority f o r the oceanographic expedition "Project Troll."

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Dr. Green told of one contract which concerned a symposium on Population Genetics and which isto be held atthe Long Island Biological Association i n June Kith invited participants from many nations. The Research Committee was of the opinion t h a t it would be advantageous t o the AM: t o assist i n financing this program with an allocation of funds i n be a uorthwhile research project as it i s important t o the AEC t o develop a s much information as possible on population genetics. Dr.Stern stated that he believed that this would The Committee then discussed three proposals concerning t h e field of teletherapy evaluation. Two o f these proposals were i n the form drawn up by t h e Teletherapy Evaluation Board which meets periodically i n Oak Ridge and the other proposal w a s an independent document. position of t h e Division relevant t o support of the-Teletherapy Evaluation Board approved projects had been discussed ata meeting of the Committee held i n June, 19%. At that time the Committee recommended that the AEC support be limited tothe four already approved projects in this group,

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except for projects offering something unique scientifically. The Committee reaffirmed i t s previous recommendation that the prevailing policy of the Division should be continued and that each proposal for supporit by the AEC should be considered on it$ merits i n relation t o the Commission's current investment in the field,irrespective of whether it had t h e endorsement and recommendation o f the Teletherapy Evaluation Board. The Committee also expressed considerable interest in t h e program i n oceanography that the Division is proposing &specially becausesof iks-.relationahip.=to:thed i qo sing of radioactive wastes inthe sea. Dr. Claus stated that the Cod tte e will be asked for comments on the project when it has crystallized. Upon the conclusion of the discussions on the projects, the Committee expressed many favorable comments on t h e projects that had been selected by the Contract Research Committee f o r support by t h e AEC.

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Weapons Project summarized the research program i n the medical field D r . Louis Browning of the Armed Forces Speoidl that the Department o f Defense i s supporting. He stated that each of the services has a different philo so pb of the manner irt which they let Weir contracts. The Amy has the majority o f its funds i n civilian institutions with only about one-third of its total funds i n Arnxy Laboratories. The Navy does a l l of its work a t Navy laboratories and t h e Office of Naval Research which comes under the Navy Department gives all of its contracts to civil lan institutions, The Air Force does much ofits research atits Laboratories i n Chicago and a t the School of Aviation Medicine. Dr.Fail la suggested that it would be well to coordinate the work/ the BEC much duplication, especially with research on effects of ionizing radiation. Cole Browning sad that this wa8 being done to a certain extent. Dr.Cant ril reminded the Committee that Mr. Corsbie brought up ata previous meeting the problem of obtaining further information on

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blast effects and the Committee had agreed that such research was essential.Dr.Cant ril inquired whether the Armed Forces are conducting research on blast. work i s being done a t the present, probably not more than $50,000 has Col. Browning replied that Ttery little research on blast effects. He stated further, that Defense concurs wholeheartedly-in the EDA studies and they feel that the studies that are being conducted on shelters should be continued and extended. Dr.Cant ril brought out that beyond the problems of shelters, there was the problem of physiology and pathology of blast effects, D r . Dunham.said that more work i s being done now under AM: contract tothe Lovelace Foundation directly in capjunction with the 1955 series of tests i n Nevada and a t Sandia where studies are being made on direct blast effects and missile effects. participated in the development of methods far measuring smaller and

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smaller amounts of radioactivity with ease and ace&acy and t h a t it had occurred t o him that this development certainly makes possible the utilization of isotopes i n healthy people without i n any way endangering their health. Therefore, it makes possible a widespread use of isotopes for diagnostic purposes, ments on the usefulness of isotopes for culture of radioactive plants His remarks included state - ca&XWing radiocarbon and t h e usefulness of isotopes i n low concent ration in ordinary medical practice. Dr. Libby said that there remains much t o be done inthe development of the uses 6f isotopes - - as a matter o f very high priority in the general program of promoting i n every way that the Commission can - - the peacetime applications of The lack of interest in devalop$ng more sensitive instruments by the instrument companies was brought t o the attention of the Dr, Libby stressed his willingness to enthusiastically support a program of seeldng new every-day uses of isotopes for the

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average doctor inLe every-day practice of medicine. The Chairman expressed his thanks and those of the Committee toDr. Libby for his presence atthe meeting and for his very interesting presentation on the Use of Low-Level Counting Techniques. .@gheActivity The status of the availability of high-activity cobalt for medical therapy was presented by Mr. Iiaggerty. We learned that t o date a total of 30,400 curies having an average activity of 41.1 curies per gram have been produced inthe Materials Testing Reactor a t Idaho, Requests outstanding total approximately 22,000 curies, and each has been pending for atleast one year. Ofity has been given the cobalt presently inthe Reactor (22,000 curie potential) with the expectation of ct xp let ing irradiation by December Of this year, that it is likely that there will be no high activity cobalt available Hr, Haggerty stated Further that the distressing thing is during 1956 and also the first halp of 1957 under the present planning. The Committee felt that this wasa most discouraging picture in view of

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the interest generated during the past two years relative to the use of isotopes f o r peacetime application. We concur in the view held by the Division of Biology and Medicine t h a t the production of high activity cobalt must be increased 4fld Wt o approximately 50,000 curies r eafl Apparently, i f the AEC falls short of this goal, the Atcanic Energy o f Canada Limited Will aptwe the lead i n supplying cobalt for medical purposes a t an international D r , Aebersold, Director of the Isotope Division of Oak Ridge, presented a status report of tk activities of that Division. He spoke of the Licenses under the new Atomic Energy Act i n which the AEC ha8 been given authority t o license all. materials for both possession and useo He explained further the difference between a general license and a specific license which the new Act permits and spoke on t h e Exporting o f Isotopes t0 Pbrsons Outside of the United States. The question of licensing physicians t o handle isotopes even

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though they a r e licensed to practice medicine was discuswd. Dr. Aebersold brought out that it would be discriminatory to exempt physicians from obtaining a license unless it was felt that physicians as a class had more understanding of the safe handling o f radioisotopes than scientists as a class or industrialists as a class, The Committee agreed with Dr. Aebersold that assistance should be asked of the medical schools t o give better training courses i n use of isotopes. Mr, Brow discussed the procedure for obtaining a subsidy for purchase of isotopes and summariaed the staff paper that is for consideration by t h e Commission concerning the Proposed Subsidy on the medical research by subsidizing 50% of the c o s t of radioisotopes t o be used i n medical research, therapy research and agricultural research. This program is for the AEX: t o support bio-

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Current Activities - Dr. Failla convened the heeting for the second Commission day and asked D r . Bugher t o open the discussions by bringing the Cormnittee up t o date on the activities of the Division. The first item for discussion was proposed modification of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission Frogram i n Japan. portant tothe Atoms-for-Peace Program t o continu& the long-term study He stated that it isim - of the Japanese sunrivors as well as vital for the AEC research program. I n this connection he brought out that it would be advantageous both t o the United States and t o Japan to establish a radioisotope distribution center i n Japan and t o construct a medical research reactor i n conjunction with the Medical School a t Hiroshima, Mr, Brown provided the meeting with a report explaining details of certain changes recommended inthe organization and the - - . program of t h e ABCC i n Japan. The Committee withheld comments.

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The Cod tte e was extremely pleased t o learn of the developments inthe Program and especially that the agenda for the conference a t Geneva had been amended t o include discussions on biological and medical problems as they may relate to utilization of nuclear energy, I n connection ui th the Technical Cooperation Program, Dr, Bugher stated that British representatives and the representatives of the AEX: who would be attending the International Conference are planning t o hold a conference i n England i n acivancs of the Geneva Conference t o discuss matters relating to llptaka.a$'AiCisdan products in soils, plants and animals. Dr, Dudley told of his recant visit t o England to try to promote sample collection for Project Sunshine and t o discuss information the British had developed from their own activities in the field of Sunshine and Gabriel,

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Marshallese Dr. Bugher informed the Committee of the second medical survey of the Marshall Island inhabitants that votiLd soon be underway. This survey would be under the guidance of D r ,. _.Eugene P o Cronkite who headed the original medical party and who has left the Navy and joined t h e staff of the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Spring Test Series Dr. Dunning briefed the Committee on the procedures and the criteria no* accepted by the AEC for protecting the public during nuclear weapons tests at the Site. Project Troll At the meeting held a t Hanford Operations Office on January 15, 1955, Dr. Pearson and Mr. Eisenbud reported on the fitextremelysucceaaful United States - Japan Confetence on Radiobiology in TokyoOfit A t this conference the Japanese had presented data collected by the SHUNKOTSU MARU and these data had been analyzed by the New York Operations Office, and suggested that the activity from the CASTLE series which had fallen into the Pacific Ocean or drifted out from. the @goon was not being diffused evenly. The Corm&titus.hrt&~dbded t h e

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view that it would be provident to initiate inmediately another oceanographic survey t o assess and verify the Japanese findings. Mr. Brown, Mr, Eisenbud and Dr, Boss reported further on vessel was obtained f o r this Marine Biological and Oceanographic survey. The Cod tte e was deeply concerned with the effect on public relations if the results of the data collected from "Project Troll" were withheld from the public until after the completion of the mission, and the effect on our relations with Japanese scientists if an announcement of the fact of a mission is not made prior to the time the TANEY reaches Therefore, t h e following resolution was approved unanimously by the Committee with the request that it be forwarded t o t h e Chairman of the AEC.

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The Advisory Committee f o r Biology and Medicine notes with approval that it i s intended t o declassify "The Advisory Committee f o r Biology and Medicine recommends that this de classification be made effective prior to the arrival of the vessel i n Japan, recommends further that a public statement about the study be made at that time.*t **TheAdvisory Committee f o r Biology and Medicine discussion ensued and upon its conclusion the Comfnittee recommended that the following statement be transmitted tothe Chairman of the AM;: "The Advisory Committee far Biology and Medicine has learned that l*Wigwamtl is not to be announced i n advance and feels that this ahn ge from AM; policy will seriously undermine public confidence here and abroad. Health, safety and public confidence in related AEC policy, including also the safe conduct of weapons tests is a concern of the ACBM. "Because of the unfavorabla public and inter - national reactions and consequences t o previous withholding of information until it was forced t o public knowledge, which will in this project be renewed with continuing detriment tothe Weapons Testing Program, the public relations of the AM: and tho international relations of the United States and because ata time when the President's "Atoms for Peaceff program is being implemented by an important International Conference, the anticipated public and international censure of "ProJect Wig war dr when accomplished without prior knmledge and consultation will severely place i n jeopardy the position of the United States in the forth- "The ACBM therefore urgently recommends that :

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(1) Inthe current planning stage of "Project Wigwam,fl the in h rests d fishing agencies, the …