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Radioisotope Committee of Cliriton Laboratorietr SPFCIFIC PROPOSALS FOP, THE NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF FUDIOISOTOPES PRODUCED BY THE MW Z TAN ENGINEER DISTRICT The prowsale dilrec2ly stated herein without diacuasion are ENGINEER DISTRICT" and the subsidiary memoranda attached t o the latter, Both of these dome nts were prepared by Waldo E , Cohn, a member o f the Radioisotope Committee of Clinton Laboratories, at the direction of the Cornittee. This com ltte s was apminted by the Director of Clinton Laboratories emessly for the study of the problem of radioisotope production and distribution and includes those individuals w h o are in direct charge of the emerhental uroduction of radioisotopes a t The specific momsals are divided into four gcoubsg as
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Since radioisotopes are produced a t mesent only on an emerfmenW basis by research and develonment groups within the Project, and since suitable facflitles for routine production or f o r rxroduction in other than specified foms are not that radioisotopes be underskood t o be available only i n the amount8 and foms and a t the times specified by t h e prodwing laboratory, and fhst tbia laboratory be regarded as the ffnal aUthodty rsl@ive to 8vai.lability and as t o whet materials m a y be exmsed in the biles, avafiable, we recornend Since the same groups and individuals withfn the Project who are able t o moduce radioisotopes in forms suitable for general d is tri - bution are also those in whose hslnda lies the resuonaibblfty far expansion and devsloment of radiofaatope aroduction within the Project, we recommend that no commitments be undertaken with regard the direction notd and that theg be recognized as the authorities . relative to the balance of sup~1.y~demand and urogpss, t o aresenti moduction tht, w i l l hindor or obstruct their mogreas in \ (3) since radioisotopes a r e at this time Dpimarily of Val- in scientific researcho which i s in the public welfare, and since the Project and its personnel have a definite interest in mor not a auch research and have a debt t o it, we recommend tht radioisotopes uroduced by the RoJect be distributed preferentially t o research workers oaho will make generally known and available the results of t h e research facilitated by the use of Project-supblied radioisotobe8, said d is tri - bution t o be a t a nomind. cost o r out of mcket cost, if such can be Since industrial or comsreial. use of radioisotopes, other than that resulting in publishable research, is less in the bublic interest than research use and since ix benefits the user over his competftors and over all others, we reconmend that distribution of radioisotopes to an industry o r commercial concern for non-m&Ushable work be limited to, those materials o f which there i s a mrplua after all research needs are filled and further arranged so a8 to s u ~ p l ya l l corumting orgmisince widesmaad use and aaplicatlon of radioisotoms In science wXI,.I. benefit the nublfc welfare and since it is the stated aim of this distribution program t o aid and sasi& such us8 and apvlication, we recornend that the distribution of related and neces~iaxyinfomation which w i l l further this aimo suoh as radiochemical techniques, instrtnmentation and health dratectfon measures9 be regarded as an integral part of the distribution nrogsam, and t h a t this be uursuud by all meane avaflable, including consultation with and the training of sc fen tiff e personnel narticipating in t h e use of radioisotones,
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(4) Since there am iiaznrds to the heelt? m e safety af individuals and the public iz\ the hsndljng, use and dfspasal 3i' radioisotopes, we recornend th& r dio ipo top eo be nado amilobts only to those individuals wh3 can satisfy reasonable roqairmenfs as to knowledge and equipnent f o r circumventing these hazards and that such distribution be made only through and with the lolow1CGge of the institution of moral and legal remonsibflltty relating t o tne use an8 dimosal of the materinl by the recipient, and that ~cscoadmydistribution by the recipient of aatomts above those explicitly atxthorieed be forbidden, since the legal resnonsibilities relatfng t o the use o f any expeZ-1m e n $ a 2 matorhl tn humans are even snore stringent than those relating In humsns, whether expsr,'mantel, d bgnostic, thereueutfc or wbatsver, be rnriide only after aplrroml by conpotent medical advisors and only t o material, we recommend tka-t st0ps (which may include discussion of. the reletive comwtence of rmaU-el investigators, the release of informat i o n relating to mior ~ s r kon the =ne &ancnnena done on the Project, ete,) be tnken to avoid such duplicetioao (a) that, the ur inchi u of maximum benefit, in the way of scientific (b) that,, t o lkethcr, the above nrincirle, fmdamontal research in the basic php icd md life sciances bcz given maference over afl other uses9 including -the applied scion cx of nediche a d engineering; that, to encour,.tge the develapment 02 the understanding of, the a certain miniwm mount of each available radiofsotoue be made available to &rUy invest€gatar 0;' taochcr desfring t o use the (d) that needs for conthaing aupnlies of rnslCerin1 for extended research moblcms be recognized whore possible; investigators nf shi les phenomma,; the choice be made on the o f such judgernw beir-g commwicatoe to rill dnterested narties,
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(Suggested Personnel Are Listed in Part IV) To affect the above policy and t o soUait widespread aupoOrt and understanding of it, the following organizat%onis recommendedo TUs committee i s to advise the Manhattan E;ngfneer District on matters of broad policy (see PaTt I) and to gain fer the Dfatrlot a general understanding and acceptance by the pubfie of the adopted palic~ee. Its members should be representative of' the aettaral major di-sions of pure and amlied science that are iraterested in radioisotopes rather than of specific working groups, laboratories or organbatkons; equitable and widesmead geographic representation should likewise be sought, We recommend that the President of the National Academy of Science be requested to nominate for Manhattan Engineer District appointment such a committee,: This Board is t h e agency within the Manhattan Engineer District which uroduces and/or mepares radioactive materials for shiment €n response to accepted apnlfcations. It will receive the specific requests for radioactive materials and will specify shipments in accordance with these, the moduction mechanisms and gac ili ties and of the states and quantities fn which rsdioisotoms can be produced and shipped, as well as of the detaLls involved in their handling and useo moduction and development, Its members must heve detaAtled knowledge of Vf8 recommend that the Radioiaotom Committee of C:?inton Laboratories, with certain specific additions (See Io, 3 ) # be appainted as t h e Allocation Board,
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in tbc assessrrrent of n-ioritiss and res nan sibi lit les and tbus to ensrrre oqxitablo and safe distribution o f materials, ~.rc'vfsethe Policy Coismittoe if so requested. Tl.elcis in which radio iso tows are used, Each -el should he cmr ~ 3 e dof several active workers in the field renresented ,, f'rosi men who we cl we Lot he laboratory, clinic or nlmt. .orjr,citmj. crit ey in to be am lied in selecting a member of any' Panel are Tiis oki.l.ity, lcnoml edge and acyrrYirtariceshir, in his !?io:ld nec essr ~ yt o judge the arm li cation of a co-worker, re qu kes knoxledge by eact ncnber of bcth the men rrnd the meth:>ds i.nvo3ved in h i ? svecific field of work, Sneciflc na'nels. recomieiided are Physics, Chenistry (Inorganic, Ctrganic tirid ?hyci aai, , Siclogy (Biochemistry and its subdivisions of Pham,acplogy, Plant Nutrition, otc. Physiology, Picrobiology, Radiobiology, etc, l 9 hkdicine (all members to be Doctoss o f Mediche and $0 represent bcth fiadiology and Clinical Medicine), and Engineer- '>:e recomaend that the Pclicy Committee nominate for hknhattan Exgineer Zistrict mmoirmierit Advisory Panels as specified above
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Wlic announcement of the general. ulan of procedure by the Manhattan Engineer Oistrict should be made, Thfs ~ l a nshould include the followhg : I, The appolntxnent o f the Polioy Committee by the Manhattan Engineer District (after nomination as specified in 11, 1). 2, The amointment of the Advieory Panel by the Manhattan Engineer District (after nomination as mecified I n XI, 3) with a statement of tentative policy, The apnointment of the Allocation Board by the Manhattan Engineer District (as specified In 11, 2). 4 . h statement by the Policy Committee to each member of the Advisory Panel and of a l l other mobably intereated individuals and organizations, both inside and outside t h e Manhattan Engineer Cistrict (universities, societies) asking them, elternativelyt a, To submit a statement of views and critiques of the Drowsed alan and mlicy to the Policy Committee, b, To meet with members of the Policy Committee for the Wpose of shaping and explaining the Policy, c, TO do both the above. 5 0 The drawing up of the final statement of policy and nlan by the Policy Committee, acceptance of this by the Manhattan Engineer District, and distribution of thb, with a request for a l l moposod applicants to communicate their needs for radioactive material to the Executive Secretary of the Allocation Board, in the following manner: a. Publication in scientific journals of wide distribution, b, Direct form letter t o all known interested -ties,
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j.sot,ones (trJ be sub rit ted by the Allocation fioard). 3oard without reference t o the Advisory Panel if the rate rial is available and the application is such t h a t no such reference selected cembers of %??eAdvisory Panel who will ret7Dii it, 30 him Secrettiry ill keeo aTX interestm? ner ties informed on tho Xhen relative i7riorities o r refereaces are necessaryy 2 , Shiyvents will te ~ s d ed i rect ly *om the nroducing laboratory :Clb,tcm Laboratories) to the institution ob' which the apnlicant 3 I iioqaests req&-ing uddil;ion&l Ir,form tion will be handled by
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Red ioiso tone rsque st ed ; nrobltms t o be attacked and time interval during which it is needed; Fom, nurity, cmceritretiori, solvent required a t +,he tire of use; F'acilitieu and smeerlence a t hand for converting suqnliod fom. to form hdi cn ted in (31, if it differs from the suppl ied fom j measurement and for heaith nrotection; %et!iod of disposal of largs amounts OT of long-lived material, if such is reque7ted; Need for continuing sumly tn the solution of the t.rublerr! a t hand, arid timing of such,' Descriation of wonased problem and its genesis, including methods to be usec! and t y r s of solution sought; Eenendence sf nronosed nrltblem umn radiofsotone, .:Laamount Provious emericnce with radioisotone raterial. or other sources of commrable nalwe; Pcusfbie alternate SOUTC ~ ~ Sof material requoeted, dth discussion; Possibility of rec1amat:m and return, 7 , Gigmture of officer of institgt,€on to the effect that the receint rind f u r roLam of containers, Sip at we of amlicant sti the his willingness to nWds by decisicri of Allocation m d Xdviscsj Boards and to adhera t o pncsai nolicic.; of c?jstribution, ir xh dlr q gmrantee of no secondary dist rih it ion riot exniicilly suthorizod by the Policy Committ,ee.,
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We submit the following lists of individuals from which nominations t o these committees could b0 mads. and ( 2 ) , the lists are exemplary rather than comnlete and may easily be extended, (1) Polias Committee (numbers not specified) : Wigner, G o Foilla, J, Franck, NI, Twe. Rearesentinp Medicine: *R,S, Stone, S,L, Warren, Cap,: Rhoads, . {2) Advisors Panels (Fn addition to any listed above; a large number desired) :
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lo Better titled AThe Manhattan E;ngine@rDiWtnict Advisory Board on 20 Unless this Board is advisory to h i m ,