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ma v result in REPORT TO THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON ATOMIC ENE
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The primary goals of the Co mission ls biology and medicine 1. To protect and maintain the health of all per sms slxbject tc the effects of a tonic energy operations. ~ f 2. To promote and ur-dertake research i n medicine,I: bic logy and biophysics as they relate to atcmic 3. To promote the training of sufficient technical awl scientific personnel to proceed witti the pro pans in biology, medicine and health physics. The work i n biology and medicine is therefore ccncerned withi such problems as the health of the workers i n Conmission projects, the recognition a deval u a tim of enviroimental prcblems rel sting t o operation of Corrmissim facilities,under stan sns the efiects of radiation on plants, animals and humm beings, the developlent of instruments for the detection and measurenent, d radiation, and the apg li cation of radioisoto?es in bio l qg, medicine and biophysics. Informztion fully discussed in the Fifth Semi-Annual Report tcthe Congress rill mt be repeated here. Soil Studies. Contract arrangements were completed with the U. S. Department of Agriculture late i n Novexber to study various . relationships between soils and cert.zin radioactive materials. Included in the investigations will be determination of the rzte a t which certain radioactive substances are taken up and accumulated in plants ; measurenent of the characteristics of certain soil types which might make them useful for the disposal of radioactive wastes;' and the possible erriploynent of certain p1m.t species to aid in restoring the usefulness of land areas which have been contaminated with certain fission products, whether accidentally or intentionally. The Commission will provide up t o $200,000 for the erection mental rooms, and radiation measurement instruments. 'Qperating funds for these studies are to be provided for the Department of Agriculture by the Commission and are expected t o be roughly $200,000 during the
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h vi rom ien tal Sanitation The disposal at production plants and research laScrs:.efies Gf solid,liquid, and gaseous wastes which are tcxic or r.zScXt.ive involves a responsibility to others which the Commission recc$Scs and has scted on. stad point of current operations ar,d future developnients; seed, it. has directed that methods and facilities be develcged tG re5lce in volume and to dec on tmi nate the wat es its operations; m.d third, it has undertaken t o inform represd.r\'. First, it has appraised the prcbleH frw t : x of responsible public agencies as to operations wbict xrii$lt. tion of the Public Health Service, the GeoloGcal Survey and tke ;fkather Bureau, which are familiar with the environmental asp2Ct.s of industrial waste disposal. Moreover, through the activities of two special cod t tees ( a Stack Gas ;lorking Group and the Comnittee on Liquid Process .rkiste Disposal and Reclamation) the Commission has obtzined fra eq erie n ced independent experts a review of its gaseous and lWUd waste disposal problems including recommendations for re sea di sxxl Through the presentation of technical pzpers by the CdS Sic n. ' s ' staff, the members of a number of professional associations lmv infomed of the work being carried out or planned by the caclLissiO:1: Uay 4, 1948 - Atlantic City, New Jersey Wastes and Sewage Works Association 2 1 s t Annual Ueeting - Federation of Sewage i%'orkS
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Semicar- Hassachusetts In st it cte of Technology Bist Amual Keeting - Anerican Public Health I n respocse tc special technic d interest in the disposal of wastes fron: atomic energy operations, t h e Commission held a seninar on waste disp c cal at ;'Jashington on Jascary 21;-25 attended by representztives of the following professional grocps: American 4ater Works Association Conference of State Sanitary Eq,''ineers Conference of Uunicipal Switq En,'n neers Those who attended this serr.iriar were selected by their pw fess ional organizations as key me:, technically qm li fie d to assist the Commission in its effort to stimulate publjc interest. uld cooperation inthe environmental aspects of tlie atomic en?r.g,- is utilized in various industries,the potentially large demaqd for it as a moderator i n proposed reactors accentuates the iq or tan cz of better understan.di?g of its health problems. of continuing research at t h e University of gincinnati, Samnac Laboratories, Yarvard School of Public Health, t h e University of XochesLFr and Commission Laboratories, methods a d standards have been developed which can eradicate PO perccnt of the health problems associated with t h e use of beryllium. Ahi nist ration of Research Contracts Through contracts administered by the Office of Naval Research, (OW),the Commission undertook i n 1948 t o give financial support t o research projects at a large number of universities,hospitals, and other institutions. Because the Commission's staff in these fields
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was sczll, administration by GI W per - Ltte d sore projects to be u der taken in a short Perid of months thai ~ oul dotherwise have i n numbers and e.merience, a ih in is trail ve a dte zh niz aldi rz c tion of thesc r3search ?rejects by the Coirmissinn has now become pr act i - Asthe staff i n iYasliin~t,on an3 the field has grown I n order t o achieve the advantages listed beloou, a decision has recently been made, therefore, to enter into direct contracts covering research projects in biology and medicine, rather than t o continue t o rely upon the facilities of the Office of Naval Research. These advantages are : 1. Research projecSs closely related to specific Comlissim problems and program, but not within the scope of ONi3 interest, can be nore readily promoted. 2. Xore complate exchange of information can be effected between research investigators and the Commission's 3 . The investigator ' s dual relationship with two federal 4. Financial control can be more closely integrated with The me rations Offices of the Commission will negotiate and administer the bc sines s aspects of the contracts, whereas the selection of projects to be supported and their technical super-lision will 3, there spm sibi lit y of the !'iashington staff. Nea contracts, and many renewals o r supplernents, will be shifted over to this arrangeaent. For exarqle, the research projects under way at the four university training centers cooperating inthe fellows-hip progran will be renewed under direct contract so that the training and re sean h aspects of heir activity ma;. be more closely coordinaLed.
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Far the Period July 19 15&8 through DeceIcber 31, 1948 (In Millions of Dollars) Source and Fissioosble Materials Plant and Equipment Research and Develaplasnt Plant and Equipment Plant and Equipment Research and Developmnt Plant and Equipment Biology end Medicine Research and Development Plant and Equipment