Letter to R S Stone, Subject: a Copy of the Proceedings of the First Meeting of the Medical Advisory Committee of the Manhattan Engineer Dist (Encl: re Same)

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MA WILT TAU DISTRICT OAK RIDGE,TEM MES SEE CORPS OF ENGINEERS OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT EHGINEER BEST COPY AVA lUBE

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1. Members of the Advisory Canmittee presen%were Col. Stafford and Capt. B. S. Wolf also attended, L. Betupelman were absent. The reccxmendations noted below were adopted 2 0 The follovPing is a summary of the scope of the 'Xedical Research program adopted by the Advisory Committee, It is recognized that chaages in the opera%ions of the Manhattan District will alter this scope as new problems arise and old problems a s s w less importance, that the entire scope of this program is equally applicable toall future development8 of atomic paver. It is evident During the past three years the Medical Division of the Manhattan District has organized and supervised an extensive research program aimed a t the diagnosis and control of those hazards peculiar t o the development of atomic energy, These include those injurious effects produced through accidental exposure t o radiations emitted by various radioactive materials during experimental o r processing operations as well as the chemical toxicity or localized radiation fron such materials deposited within the bo*. Considerable eqerimental a.rd clinical information has been obtained by this research program during this period of t h e o ious effects following single exposures to large amcmts of radiation have been detennined experimentally; the changes folloiving prolonged chronic radiation exposure have been observed; the biological effects into the body have been demonstrated. Such sixdie5 have been useful in

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Subject: Recomaendations of Xedical Advisory Comittee, 5 6 6 Ssgtmber the detenlination of m-n allmable exposure levels of radlation gr tox5.c materials t o which pe-rsonriel can be safePj exposed f o r a period of time, and the conL-ol 03 such hazard6 by the prevention o f such e ~ os tres. it we di at ely becones obvious that many critical problem of far reaching scope remain t o be solved. duction of these injuricus effects in body tissues i s zlmost completely lacking. No methods are available which might stop or delay the development of radiation injuries. No therapeutic measures are a t hand t o use follawing accidental injury t o radiation o r radioactive naterials. problems mlate t o the f'undamental nature of living matter and demand the careful and continued attention of competently trained scientists. 7Wle the above infomation has been extremely useful in this work, Information concerning the method of proI1 Generzl Studies of Radiation The radiations encountered i n nuclear fissim as well as those encountered from naturally radioacSive substances divide thenselves i n t o kfcrmation available from the literature on previous studies indLcates 2 rather extensive knmledge of the biological effects of L r ~ sand gamm rays and very l i t t l e information on alpha and beta rays and neutrons. Alpha rays, beta rays, gama rays and neutrons. The programs were and are organized using the follclwing basic outA. The Physical Ueasurement of Radiation of various types - Here it is necessary t o develop methods of accurately measuring and standardizing the dosage of radiation t o be used in the biological experimentation and measurement of the extent of any hazardous radiation which might be found in a plant area. B. The Biologic Effects of Radiation. Because of the hown deleterious effect of radiation on the animal organism, it becomes necess a r y t o determine the effect of controlled dosag& of the various types of radiation cc various animal species, s o that such observations can be used in the control of possible human eqjosure. The types of biological effect possible t o study aret (1) The Sunrival Time or percentage that the effect of a given dose w i l l reduce the noma1 lif e span of different animal species. ( 2 ) The Genetic Effects of radiatior, as manifested in the

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Subject: lPecomendations of Medical Advisory Connittee, 5 & 6 September development of abnormal Fndividual types frm changes i n t h e hereditarj (3) Histopathological Changes a demonstrated by abnormal chvlges in the makeup of the various body tissues. (4) Physiological Changes prduced by the alteration of the normal functioning of animal tissues foU.owing radiation. ( 5 ) Biochenical and Enzymatic disturbances which are the potential sources o? these physiological abnormalities. C. Methods f o r the Detection of Uinimal Radiation Damage are developed directly fron observation of the above types and are applied t o the study of the human individual or worker. These include studies and which, if measurable, can be corrected before irreversible damage has taken place. Exanrples of scch change would be effec+a on the aetabolism of copropoqhyrins, excretion of abnormal substances in the urine, and Biochemical ad.Enzymatic Char,ges which m y be detected (2) It has been known that radiation depresses the function of the hematopoetic system and detailed study is indicated t o detect ear= l y changes under controlled dose radiation with all blood elements under (3) The Prcduction of Anatomical Changes s w h as epilation, skin erythema, and alterations in the intenity of the skin and the Uke D. Studies are likwise indicated on methods f o r the preventian of radiation injuries. These includez (1) Methods of hys i c a l detection of external radiation by the development of sensitive &ect reacling instruments capable of the de+&ction of amounts of radiation well below those necessary for demonstrable injury t o the animal subjects. radioactive dusts and gases in a i r , i n water and the like. Idany radioactive Icaterials Uke radium are deposited in the body and ir, such lccntions produce injury t o tissue. Eietnods based OR the determbation of clangereus amounts of these substances by examination of the excreta arid. direct measurement of the body itself are necessary. hbthods for the determination of ham ful amounts of

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E. Protective adeasures. Studies ~n t l e efficiency of shielr3i;lg against radb, the gficiency 05 e : bust and Trentilafing systems against dangerous mounts of dusts, the developent ~f protec+* ive clothing and devices, and the developeiit of remots control processing nethods 'nave been extreml;. important ia the 'Liarhattar District prtsction program t o date and Jpill continue into the future, Fo The possi3le therapeusis of radiation darnage by t h e use of ductlon i n the exposure f oll ming deposition of radioactive materials in the body deserves considerable s h d y . Replacement of the damaged hematopoetic elements destroyed by severe radiation exposure offers one possibility; detection and neutralization of unkncmn toxic sub-t3 ELnces produced by radiation and other such difficult problem deserve consistent and detailed study. U the above stcdies are necessary in alpha, beta and garma the radLoactive substances t o be disc w sed has l.Zmwbe t o be considered, Also, the effec+,s of a m t e and chronic eqosurre must be detemined separately because of their dissMlarity. I11 Hazards Due t o Special Materials For brevity, it is prefsrablns t o discuss the potential toxicity of special materials 'by first indicating the m e of study t o be carried out, followed by the presentatfm of those mterials on nhich stsldiss have been and are necessary. A, First, an ac+;ual detemination of the toxicity of a substance I n this way, toxic levels may be avoided in laboratory and p b a t must be made, indicating how poisonous it may be i n m c u t e and chronic (1) The mode of entrance into the body by ingestion, inhalation and skin absoqtfon must Se studied as diffsrent mn if esta tim s and degrees of toxicity mqr be produced by each route enployed. tihe biological c h a n ~1~2ththe production of physiological, histopath& logical and bioclienical evidences of damage incurrede (2) A care,W analysis must be ,mde as t o the character of ( 3 ) The nature of theso,inJuries and the nechanisn by which

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Subject: Recamendstions of Xedical A d v i s o ~ ~C&ttt?e, 5; ei 6 Septeder IT Production Hazards The results of studies made on the matorials discussed above are applied for the prevention and control of industrial hazards a r i s i n g in the large manufacturing areas where these materials are used in large aountse In the Electromagnetic and Diffusion bt hods for the isolation of uranium 235, the major h a ds are *om the uranium ccmpounds, the concentration of uranium X1 and 23and the special accessory materials and by products fomed in the process of manufacture. B e the ra n i t e ile where pltltonium ( 2 3 9 ) is produced on a large plutonhn metal a ~ dits compounds, ani the various radioactive r"issior, products resulting from the pile operationo The chemical isolation of polonium, etc. following its formation in the pile incdrporates hazards resulting from absorption into the bo&. De Study of the medical aspects of pbnt programs aside fron the determination of the effect of radiation and chemical toidcity, inclxde additional information obtained from plant investigations, as from scale, the hazards*are *om the alplna, beta a i d gama rays, neiltrons, tilie 1. Clinical survey of aU exposed personnel 2. Monitoring of hazards by special instrunents and methods 3. Surveys of new t-Des of graihite piles and production equipment be Industrial hygiene survey and control V Hazards of Military Use A. Ordnance - assembly of the necessary dangerous radioactive materials into boinbs incoworates similar hazards t o t!iose of plant production. Radiation - the radiation occurring a t the time of the eiqlosion coupled with blast a d heat causes biological effects which may differ fmn those occurring folloving tion, and denand st-xly. Blast - the blast of atonic: ev lm ion is so ink nse and - w e totally iiifferent tries of shock WaTres, racd. xaves w i t h other u,.zFqJe biological effects li&i.ch shudd

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Subject: Reconmendations of Medical Advisory Committee, 5 & 6 September Bo Preventative measures require study. (I) he effectiveness of phys ical methods for the removal of hazardous dusts, reduction i n skin contact and prevention OS iagestion must be measured, and methods f o r acciiate determination of such hazards must be developed and used. as protective measures must be studied as ta t h e i r efficiency, The use of certain chemicals, ointments, and the like (2) Protective devices such as respirators and clothing m i i t be tested on re-d substances againat which they w i l l be used. (3) Finall$, appropriate investigation of a erap eu tic meacmes t o be used i n the treatment of both acute and chronic poisoning states must Completion of a l l phases of tlie above program on a variety of substances provides complete information as t o Lhe medical aspects necessary t o consider in prctection o f the worker, preve??tion of injury and treatnent of injury should it occur. C. Substances on which stadies of this t y p e are necessary are: (1) Uranium and its ccrmpomS a. Uranium metal and its chemical cornpounds, axid, nitrate, chloride, bonnide, tetra and hexafluoride, sodium and annnonium sulfates. b. Uranium chain of heavy metals (2) zC,rium and its chain

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have not been EtlicZed. effect cf all three item in this grcup: This also inclcdes tie cor.&inatLon d. Tactical - netk;Ods of use of bomb f o r greatest personnel '-protection of am assault troops; application cf other types of atonic eq los ion and their biolcgical. effecw a. ProtectiveDevices - study of methods o f protection against the radioactivity deposited a t the time of blast. the like must be worked out for clean2n.g up active areas. ana tested for use in investigating bombed areas. d. Study of casualty effects - fields tue of fLsslon clouds, possibG injury t o water supply, soil and the like, human k g e try population surveys, e. St& of treatment of a l l inmediate effects such as rzdiation, heat and blast. ( 3 ) Preparatior, of pertinent in;'ornation in proper f o m f o r use by VI Personnel Problems and its continuance seriously threatened by the f a c t that personnel in key and subordinate positions have l e f t the project and are being replaced with conherent weaknesses in the pmsezt Uanhattan District Medical prcgram: A t the present time the above programwhich is advocated has been hampered The investigators haTe BC. assurances of length of tenure. Yhny have no academic asscciation or affiliations r.rf;ich would fbm-ish 3. A considerable portion of the required research is not. of tihe type IJo specific objective for the bxE16dual problem has been stated. spontanecusly chosen by investigators of the Seskd ca7ibre.

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Subject: Recommendations of Medical Advisor;r Committee, 5 & 6 September 5. The usual difficulties related t o exckange of informztiog, publi cation and the like occur in few other research organizations. It is obvious that continued success of the research progran as established and maintained by this organization, aemds first of all the inmediate correction of each and all o f the above4uentioned personnel problems, present deterioration of most of the medical research programmakes correction in its applications t o atonic energy problem alone, became, as it has already been shown, the techniques developed w i l l . yield information of great importance t o almost every branch of biology and medicine. Organized effort againovill. successfully develop additional. n m tools which can be used in the attack on f o r a period of 5-10 years is necessary f o r the complete success of such an It must be emphasized that this progrm would not necessaril;r be li it ed It is realized that proper long range planning 3, It i s obvious that a proper knowledge of the health hazardi3 and protective features required play a Vital part ia safeguarding the operations of the m t t a n hgineering District. Tnere are a vast nmber of problems yet t o be solved, since the biological and medical research done s o far has si.ti.cn period. These groups mill have t o be reorganized and built up a g a b and others brought into the picture i-aorder t o carry out t k e work reqxhed, The budget actually approved for the current year "&erer"ora includes o w what can ac';uall;r be carried out in t h e c-~trrentgeare Allmaace should be nade f o r whatever increases can be made in suitable dirsc+ZoAns t o accomplish t l e desired calbd flapplied research," and not atWacti-ae t o the unPJersities and other goup3 best qualified t o do it. program shea amount t o approxhatdy one and one-half percent (1%)of the total. budget of the matt an Engineering District, and Wiu. be refined after deterd??ing the details of an adequate research progrm a t a futuro lneethg. This figure …