Progress Report to the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, January - Through May, 1950, Part VI, Biology and Medicine (Partial)

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The principal aspects of the Commission's program of biclo&y and medicine to receive emphasis duI*,r:g the next 1 2 mofiths are: 1. Civil defense liaison activities,including the develop ment of ra diz tion detect i cn in st went s ; rad is tion, Studies to establish pe miss i ble levels of exposure and radio z ct ive waste disposal ; Studies of radiation injury ad long-term effects of including the work of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission Training of health physicists in rai irt ion protection; Study of theto ~ cit yand metabolism of carbon 1b and Civil Eefense Liaison The Commission's program in civil defense was outlined in testimony and statements submitted to the Joint Corn it tee in executkve session, February 17, 1950, and i n t h e open hearing, March 1 7 , 1950. significant phases of the pmgratz since then is described below; at Brookhaven National Lsboratory, atthe Atomic Energy Project,University of Calif on ii a at LOS Angeles, and at Oak Ridge, began i n March and April. There were 15 participants in the Brookhaven course, 1 2 at the University of California, and 21 at Oak Ridge. Similar courses will be given at two additional locations, Reed College, Portland, Oregon, commencing i n June, and the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois,be gh ning in Oneweek courses i n t h e Medical Aspects of Atomic Vlarfare were held a t seven locations during Karch, Eqril, and Kay and had the fo1lawir.g Institut i cn NO. O f Students University of Rochester Atomic Energy Project Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Pzgonne National Laboratorg PTestern Reserve University School of Uedicine

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I n stit uticn No. of stu dect s Vniversity of Utah School of Medicice 8 OrgaAzation ad training of University of California at Los Angeles University of Alabama - Znergency ra a is tion control prograr;. tte emergemy monitoring teams continued under the jurisdiction of the ments tc the teas was nearly cGmpleted. was engaged in assembling standard indi ~ dua lk its t<ibe used by the four teams in that area. CperatioRs Office reviewed operating plans and manuals for t h e i r respective emergency radiation con tr cl prograns. All mati on of s to c bile ra diz tion detect i cn instruThe Hanford OPerstions Gffice The New Tork Operations Office and the Oak Ridge Technical info met ion for the NSRB. The third and last report in the series t o be abstracted from the h‘eapons Effect Handbcok was forwarded tothe National Security Resources Board on April lb, 1950, for use In their civil defense planning program. the subject of this interim report.L/ Radiation Detecticn Instruments is Radiation Detection I n st ments I n Jarmary the Radiation Instruments Branch, Division of Biology x.d bledicine, was trvlsferred fra Oak Ridge to its present loc z tion at the Kational Eureau of Standards, Kashir,@cn, D. C, This move w i l l fac ili tate general AEC-wide coordination in ra diz tion detect i cn instrumentation and Rill ?emit closer work with the Bureau. Contacts were made with 38 industrial concerns for the purpose of obtaining their ideas on the development of a simple, inexpensive rcdiological safety instrument. As a result of these cmt acts, 27 proposals raging in cost fr on approximately $3,500 t o $50,000 each were received fe rent types of devlces, are being reviewed and c mtr actual action on s we ral is expected ‘ t o be initiated. These proposals, suggesting the development of 9dif - Six projects for the development of simple, inexpensive radiation detection instruments were being carried cin by instrument experts a t various AEC laboratories : 1. An ionization chmber instrument about the size of a photographic light meter was developed by the Oak Ridge Naticnal The report was transmitted t c the Joint Committee by letter, ApAl 13,

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the end of the year. of existing metiods of water treatrnsnt and purification t3 removs radioactive cont a dt ation f ron prater sup?lies. Initially,the Lrtvestigatims will be on the ability A proposed Columbia fiivp_r survey was agreed upon by the '1. S. PJblic Healt3 Service and isnm under consideratiion by the Hanford Cperaphysical, chemical, and 3io lag ical chara cte - is tics of the -aver a s they relate t o Hatford plant operation and waste disposal befor3 'hnd after future izrpoundment 0:" the,aver by McNary Dam, now under construction. The study i s expected t o begin July1 and last two years; the costs are t o be borne by the. ? ublic Health Service. The survey will obtain information on t h e hydrological, Various surveys ivere initiate ? atthe Reactor Testing Station, ainong thein a meteorological snrvey by the U. S. Teather Bureau and ages logicaY study by t h e 3. s. Seological Survey, and plans are being made f o r radioactive background studies. Pond and drainage basin at Oak Sd ge was begm in collaboration with TVA. An ecological survey of the %ite Oak The second grxp of 2 1 fellms training in health physics at 9a!! lii9ge and the University of Rochester will coq let e,the regular courses i n September, 1350. An addi5ional three fellows were offered an opport.3nitg to take broader train i3g in radi a tim biophysics, and two are now studylng at the University of Mme sota and one at the California In sti - tute of Technology. A s an extension of this plan, t h e Advisory Coninittee for Biology and Uedicine recowended tii at the AEC establish approximately 20 fellowships for predoctoral training in biophysics. After t h e National Research SZouncil withdrew from adminis3ration , of the A Xp red oct wal fellowship prograin, administration of a national program was m der taken by the 3ak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies. Arrangements were instituted vdth Vanderbilt University for its part ici - patio nh the Cak Edge part of the progran. Graduate credit is offered for course wqrk a t both training centers (3ochester-Bmokhaven and Oak Ridge-Vaqderbilt), and provision i s rnade for selected fell gw s to take master ' s degrees u?on an ex ten sim of the fellowships. From arron!: 194 applicants, LO Tellowships were awarded by the Fellowship Cod tte e, conposed of representatives from Rochester and Vanderbilt Universities, Oak fiidge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, adthe AEC. This group will begin their train hg in the Fall of 1950. Cancer Research Plans and i7aci li ties vers it y of Chicago and the Atomic Energy Sods sion for operation of the Argonne Cancer fiesearch Hospital and the contract for the lease of the prs per ty to the Vniversity of Chicago were signed. Bids for construction of the Hospital are n m being takm and an award i s scheduled for,June.

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O a k Ridge cancer research unit. at the Oak Ridge Hospital was conpleted, and the unit was equipped and ready t o receive patients at the end of May. cer research activities 7pas established and includes anong other studies the f oll ming : Construction of t h e cancer wing Ap lar for the initial can1. The use of radiogalEum inthe treatment of eger i mental and, later, human cancer; surf ace tumors; The properties of radioruthenium in the treatment of The use of radiomanganese inthe treatment of thyroid h. The action of antimony compounds in cancer by r a d i o tracer techniques; and 5 . The development and design of a tele cobalt therapy unit t o use a thousand curie source when this becomes available. project is being carried on in con jun c tim with the Post-Graduate School of Medicine, t h e University of Texas, and t h e M. D. Anderson Hospital f o r cancer research. Research Proposals Approved A list of the research proposals a2proved bjj the Division of Siology and Eedicine during t h e period January through April, 1950, i s

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Biology and Medicine Program Direction and Source & Fissionable Materials $108.7 $23.5 $36.0 $24.9 $84.4 Changes in Undistributed Plant and Equipment and Equipment Programs PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (*) Detai1.k.y not add to total due to rounding.

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Table 2 . - COSTS INCURRED - BY OPERATIONS OFFICES Plant and Equipment and Equipment Programs PLANT AND EQU " m (*) Detail may not add to total due t o rounding.

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PHYSICAL RESEARCH PROPOSALS APPROVED BY TEE DIVISION OF RESEARCH, JANUARY TBRU APRIL, 1950 Institution, investigator, subject of research, and estimated annual cost American Smelting and Refining Co. Carnegie Institute of Technology Carnegie Institute of Technology cal research with 35-inch solid metals and alloys - $27,000 Structure of fluocarbons and Use of thenoyltrifluroacetate Illinois Institute of Technology chemistry and chemistry of acids of hydrogen fluoride system - Illinois Institute of Technology chemistry of ozone - $11,900 Illinois Institute of Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology reactions of inorganic complexes - (*) Represents continued support by AEC, heretofore supported jointly

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- Solution chemistry of ruthenium in lower valence states -.$7,500 nation compounds and related Washington, University of (C:L. Wichita, University of (Luther Brick) - Thermodynamics of iron- ment of surface area of Freiser) - Organic reagents for Blaedel) - High frequency ,. Marshak) - Nuclear research with Each of the above projects is for Unclassified work. Represents continued support by AEC, heretofore supported jointly

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izing radiation on electrolyte and water metabolism - $47,174 methods and instruments to improve the localization of radioactive materials in the body; with special reference to the diagnosis of brain Minnesota, University of (Dr. Samuel Schwartz) - Synthesis of hemoglobin in bone marrow and maturation and multiplication radiation and chemically induced bone marrow injury upon North Carolina, University .of Berkut) - Tracer studies and irradiation in dental metabolism - North Carolina, University of (Dr. Arthur Roe) - Carbon 14 research - North Carolina, University of (Drs. bution and retention of beryllium Morton) - Physical and medical principles in the therapeutic use of radiocobalt 60 - $25,000 Montefiore Hospital, New York City and Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (Drs. Daniel Lazzio ship of stable and radioactive lanthanum to nucleic acid fication of flavonoid pigmenix of use in the control of radiOregon Univsrsity of, Medical New England Deaconess Hospital, Scientific Advisor) - Acute radiation injury - $15,400 plus New York University :Bellevue duced by low voltage roentgen Studies on metabolism - Pittsburgh, University of (Drs. Effects of neutrons from a cyclotron on mammals, with particular reference to the development of Rice Institute, Houston, Texas of the influence of adrenocorti-

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Tennessee, University of (Dr. Tennessee, University of (Drs. The uptake of radioactive sulf u r by the lungs of mice infected with swine influenza - Determination of the effects of anoxia on the thyroid glad (b.) Study of the metabolism of radioactive methionine in tissues during normal metabolism, in tissues undergoing repair and in radiation tumor - H. Sprunt) - Study of the use of radioactive ruthenium in the treatment of superficial lesions Vorwald) - The influence of cortisone upon chronic inflammatory - disease of the lung - Tufts College, Medford, Mass. effect of radiations on reactions associated with 2 (*) Renewal of project. Burch) - Study of the turnover rate of chlorine under controlled dietary and therapeutic conditions in patients with congestive heart failure and in control subjects - Utah, University of - Basic training course of physicians, nurses, and dentists on the medical aspects of atomic Wake Forest College - Bowman and turnover of sodium and Wake Forest College - Bowman Gray School of Med. (Dr. Camillo Artom) - Formation of Wake Forest College - Bowman Cayer) - Toxicity of radiation as related to previous damage and the functional capacity of an organ; the effect of P32 and X-rays on liver and marrow - A . Finch) - Studies on iron gamma ray as a therapeutic agent

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and thyroid metabolism - $8,320 Pincus) - An investigation of the effects of radiation on the biWashington University - St. Louis - osynthesis and metabolism of of nucleic acids, nucleotides and related organic phosphorus comBattelle Memorial Institute (Dr. active indicators in the study of the mode of action of California, University of ( h s . Chemical activities of plants California, University of (Drs. Roy Overstreet and Louis Jacobson) - The mechanisms of ion absorption by plants - of radioactive drug compounds - Connecticut Agricultural Experiment disease by nuclear radiations - Isolation and properties of rat liver nuclei; Shell formation in mollusks as studied by radioInvestigation of enzymatic degradation of native and chemically Schoenborn) - The production of mutant strains of euglenoid flagellates and their use in the study of carbon dioxide fixation The chemistry of biosynthesized and allied polysaccarides - $15,500 Metabolism of vitamins and their interrelationships with amino

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- The content in human tissues of eleven trace minerals - Cowen and Janice Stadler) - A quantitative study of lifetime sickness and mortality and progeny effects resulting from exposure of animals to $293,910 plus overhead (2 years) Studies on the metabolism of purine and pyrimidine bases on nucleic acids and Johns Ropkins University (Drs. through the use of suppfemental environmental factors of the frequency of gene and chromosome changes induced by and nitrogen mustard - Long Island Biological Associmental populations exposed to (*) Renewal of project. case and other carbon compounds in lactating rumitritional factors which alter the effective half-lives and differential absorption ratios of calcium, manganese, and cobalt in the animal body - Minnesota, University of (Dr. of radioactive substances on plant pathogens and other North Carolina, University of seed irradiation project - Ohio Agricultural Experimental Physiology and genetics of isotopic carbon compounds used Correlation of radiation effects with physical and chemical changes in viruses - $12,900

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influencing the solubility of heavy metal complexes and their comparative biochemistry of molecular hydrogen: I The physiology of hydrogen bacteria - Distribution and accumulation of radioisotopes of physiological importance in shellfish - Southern California, University of radiation on intestinal absorption and metabolism of fats oxygen tension on the frequency of X-ray induced mutations and chromosome aberrations in . drosophilia - $5,065 plus overhead ionic imbalance and cellular membrane permeability to Na and K in adrenal insufficiency, the effects of radioactive.iodine on patients with carcinoma of the Utah State Agricultural College radio iron in studying llme-inWashington, State College of (Dr. ment of ions into and through plant parenchyma tissue as affected by rate of water uptake - Biological nitrogen fixation with organic acids in higher plants system of animal tissue - $29,400 of intermittant radiations on use of isotopes to ascertain the role of root-grafting in the - translocation of water, nutrients among forest trees - $8,748

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Howard University - Washington, Studies with radioactive and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Distribution and effect of radioactive calcium and strontium in bone development - $23,620 Massachusetts Institute of The efficiency of present water treatment methods in removing radioactive substances Loevinger) - Measurement of tissue …