Biology Research at Hanford Laboratories

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That a large laboratory engaged in l i f e sciences reatarch is located in vhat hnn been considered a reaote area of the Pacific Northvest often aurpriser riritore. from principally a plutoalum-produciw center to a diversified, broadly baaed complex of research, technologl, and production for peaceful puFp(Mcs, its remoteners I8 ru rishi q. Interest In Ranford's potential is ln c reu ing. The purpose of this booklet iato describe a part of that collplex - the Biology L.boratoq - its facilities, progmm, and scientific staf ' f . Specitic inquiries for -her information are inrited. With the evolution of Hanford

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Hanford -8 chosen ms the rite for the eu lies c pl ut mim production reactors because of its comparatSve isolation md ample supply of water. The eub reactors nwded both - the former for security and the latter t o remom by-product heat. 'dater pumped fm a the Columbia River cooled the rts ctor s and returned to the river containing radioauclldea pr0hCd by neutroa act ira tim of solutes in the vater'. rrdioauclldca could daayrc the firh (then,uaw,a valuable rerlource of the Cohabla River! bee-4 the tint problem in bio lw at Bon fd. hua thtr &Binning in l ghb, the prograa of the luboratoxy developed t o cnccmpaar other biologicel faceto of productSon a t Hanford, rel-std t o river, aoil, rad alr, a broadly bared program of biological the planned crporure of fi rh to reactor effluent to WUUTC its toxicity, sa4 the rup lin8 of mirds in the enr'Aroor of Banford t o =MU= their rdi muc lid c cantent. Thbt y tu the fir rt coat rr ctor for the operation tothe Ceaetrl Electric Caa paa y, and tbt%uh at tur District " of the lb 1950, 8- Y p.0~1-vem upl qed, and ill biological rtudics h d bcco bro\yht together in a ; Yetor area, 30 mile a north of Richlrad.

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Aquatic biology rt u dies were still of prtdasinant concern; a araJOr program of rrbioiadine toxicity studier in rhesp V Nun de rvv,md vuiow naptctr of radionuclide metabolism vere being studied in small Since 1950, pamoanel have more than doubled and labor a toy facilities have bean expanded t o accaaaodate an enlarged pro gru. The early eaphasia aa monitoring has been gr s dual b replrccd vitha broader concern for radionuclide met8bolirm and radiation effect r, in general, md vith studi er utilizing radiation and radianuclidtr in the invert lg ~ tio aof biological problem unrelated t o radiation. The put 10 years hart reen the dotelopaant of a number of research ueu vhich are, to8 degree, unique t o our laboratory. Miniature rvinc are being extensively csployed in studies of rdionuclide retabollmr and toxicolo(p. This animal Is, In respect r, rtrdn of ovine, i r undergoing develop ant.R pure-bred colony of 8pp rox lute ly 200 beylt8im employed IE a broad progrur of in hah ti6a at udi or. ut of rodlonuclide tracer techniques, hM largely supplanted t h e earlier pro go of "biolc&cal w n it or lng " of the Arnford enrlrazlo. This prog tu hu not mly utilized the extensive controlled enrirsnm of the Haford resemtloa, but h u rl.0 been involved 6th studies of " fallout " throu@mut the Worthveat and in Alaska. A field and laboratory ecolagl program, Wing t be in cr tiu ble uburtmge of cloae lids on and cooperation vith the

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maticians, meteorologists, geologirtr - employed in the t o t a l Hanford plant operation; and accesu t o many special facilities not duplicated elsevhert in the vorld. Hav, M Hanford diversifies toa broader eco adc hue, other chvnger and opportunities are expected. ve anticipate a new era of grovth and evolution as part of the Pacific lorthvest Laboratories of the Battelle Maorid Institute. Beginning in January 1965,

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Several aspects of Bio loc growth over the past ten ye= are shma in this graph. reflect the increased quality of staff which is perhaps better eviI n arriving a t annual publication rates, only fuil-length papers in scientific journals o r books vere comted. Oral presentations include only those made at regional, national or international meetings of scienti?ic societies, or at special symposia of national or international scope. The decreasing rate of publication of AEC documents reflects a decline in problems of a security classified nature, results of vhich could not be published inthe open literature; and a policy during recent years of including all progress reports in a single documznt issued annually. The annul budget figures include sunc funds fma the U.S. Air lrorce aad f ' rao the AEC Dir is ioa of Pradnctioa, but over 90% of the total is from the AEC Divisi m of Biology and Medicine. but do not include capital equipment or construction costs. The modest grovth in scientific staff does not the increasing rate of publications and o r a l presentations. These figures include a l l "overhead" charges,

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The pr ici pal Biology facilities are located adjacent ton reactor area, thirty miles north of Richland, Washington. within the Hsnford Reservation, they are outside of exclusion are6 fences and permission to visit the laboratory is easily srtsnged. The main laboratory building is a four story structure with same 30,OOQ square feet of floor space. biology activities except those associated vith the use of large animals and aquatic organisms, ryld a portion of t h e ecology studies. Special facilities in the main laboratory include 15 specially y - ir radi at lm room, a 250 Kvp X-ray unit, tvo eiectron microscopes, controlled environment chambers for plant grovth studies,a centralized facility for radionuclide malpes, a library of approximately 6,000 bound volumes and with current subscriptions t o over 220 Journals, and a conference rocm seating 100; i n addition tothe more usual laboratory and service facilitier,. This building houses a l l A secocd laboratory building hoilses t h e aquatic bloiogy program and most of t h e ecology program. Its 9,000 square feet include er'-enslve trough end aquarium facilities, which are supplemented by outdoor ponds. A small hatchery and ponds are located i n another area vhere reactor-associated studies a r e conducted. The ecology program util it ea the 800 acre Rattlesnake Springs Ecological Preserve, located in a remote area of the Hnnford Reservation vhere field etudies employing radionuclides may be conducted vith minimal

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Large animal 6tudies are candueted i n a ccaplex of buildings and outdoor pasturcgc vhich provide accommodations for 400 sheep, 450 miniature pigs and 200 beagles. goats are also maintained. These facilities include highly developed t q pipe nt for the exposure of dogs and e4maller animals t o radioactive aerosola), and a partially underground, lov-bacQ-mnd counting room ioi total-body counting of large animals. A fev cow and a flock of pygmy

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EDUCATIONAL MD TRAINING ACTIVITIES With t h e graclual deeaphasis of production-oriented research and expansion into areas of vi der in tere - t and more general application,activities have been introduced t c stimulate creative research vith in the laboratory and t o broaden our influence inthe genereil are briefly described belou. Socne of the more significant of these act iv it - ? e Seminars and Lectures. An exchange seminar program vas initiated 20 repres2ntativcs of WSU have spoken t o us and 19 of our scientists have made presentations a t WSU. Well-knovn life scientists visiting Northwest institutions are encouraged t o include our laboratory i n their itinerary. Members of our staff rather routinely present lectures in arena of their specialty at such Rorthvcst institutions aa the University of Washington, Washington State University, the University of Oregon and Oregon State University. A course i n radiobiology is offered by members of our staff at the University of Washingtor Center f o r Oradmte Study in Richland. Institutes of Radiation Bio lm.In 1959 the Division of Biology and Medicine of the U.S. Atunic Energy Cmmioeion initiated a program of Sunamtr Institutes in Radiation Biolcgy. We ess is tcd the Univei-sity of Washington in the establiahment o f such an institute and have participated each summer in their program of teaching high school and Junior college science teachers them dame at als of raciiation

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campas for brief peric,fls, and providing students the opportunity t o spend a fer days vith investigators in our laboratory. of M0ntc.a and Utah, and Oregon S t a t e University have established similar programs i n vhich ve have cooperated t o a lesser degree. This hrrs involved sending instructors to the University k3io Ioe ical Physics Pellavship Training. This is a graduate program conducted by the University of Weshington under Atomic Enera training at Haaford. Several of these Pell ws, each summer, choe? too b tak +.his experience inthe Biology Laboratory. Its participants spend a summer of on-the-job Grm3uate Training. Pour people nre currently doing thesis work in our laboratory for credit tovard graduate degrees to be avarded by Waehlngton State University o r the University of Washington. Biology Staff members have been granted leaves-of-absence t o pursue Train f ne of U.S. Air Force Veterinarians. This progrnm vas initiated in 1952 t o provide research experience i n radiation biology t o selected Ais Force veterinarians. Twelve officers have campleted one- t o tvo-year tours of duty i n our laboratory. Training of ?o:-eign Scientists.Wo International Atomic Energy Agency postdoctoral fellows vere assigned t o our laboratory for one year. The first of these VM professor of physiology from the University of Ankara, Turkey; the second w a s from the Indian Atamic Energy Establishment in Bcrnbsy. Scientists frun France, India, Japan, and Iporuay have spent shorter periods vith us t o gain special training and experience.

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Foreign AssiKnments and Scientist &changes. ILO members of our staff spent a year on leave vith the International Atomic berm the test ban, our 8cientia;s assisted vith aeveral studies i n the Pacific Test Area, related to fisheries and marine ecology problems. In 1960 ve initiated a program of oce ytar scientist ex ch wes, the first of these involving an exchange v i t h the United Kingdam's Agricultural Research Council's Radiobiological Laborstory. A second exchange vas initiated vith the assignment t o our lsboratory of a scientist from the University of Tc?!msBee'B Agricultural Research Project. The Royal Veterinary College, Stockholm, Sweden, i a currently interested i n such an exchange. One vas assigned t o Tunisia, the other t o Greece. National Committee Appointments. have served on the Biological Effects of A t d c Radiation Cornittees of the National Aced- of Sciences - National Research Council. We are also represented on conmclttees of the U.S. A i r Irorce, Aircraft Nuclear Propalsion Office, and of the Rational Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. Six of our senior staff members Henford Biolm Syupos&. These annual symposia, sponsored by the U.S. Atomic Energy Camnission's Division of Biology and Medicine, have served t o organize knowledge i 3 the fleldn covered. The first sympodium, on the Biology of the Transuranium Elements, vas hela i n t i v e s from England, France, West Germany and Canada. The Hruiford Symposium on the Biology of Radioiodine vas held in June 1963, v i t h Seventy visiting scientists attended, including rtpresenta-

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140 vhitsn ragirtered urd eight foreign countrier repmtsebte?. The third mppoaiur i n the aerier, held i n N ~ J .196h. yu 011 the subJect of Inhaled ?tadloactive Particle8 and Oases. About 160 riaitom registered, vith eight foreign countrier reprcrented. proceedings of these symposia have been published each year as the December issue of the Herlth

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Inthe prder vhlch follou, an effort 10 made t o review the ueu of rt8ear chl nter ert in the B lolo g Laboratory, aad to ln tro - due the rc lent lf lc personnel of the lr borat oxy. The dir irl a a of effort implied by the organ it ation of material in this rectlaa a m Laboratory often cooperate on the rme problem, urd m8ay pk*l@U involve caopermtiaa vith pcrsaar out aide of Bio log. Table of Or gml tat loa vi11 be found at the Clare of thlr booklet. The maor re re uch pro pars of the laboratory, sw l red in the fol lou ing pages, include a In vbich a m no laa(lcr bein6 cur sent inter cat. E.pha8is ham been placed on find in6r of the prst several years. A detalled presentation of remearch remultr la, of ccwse,bq on d the scope of this booklet.Current research rerults are published annually i n Hanford Biolom Research Annual Report, a copy of vhich may be obtained on request. Published papers li r ted in this booklet are only illwtratire of the range of interests of laboratory personnel. ' hey u@in no renue a complete bibliography of recent vork. Durlw~1963, h8 papcrs vere published in the scientific literature,not including.bat tact so During the stme period 3'1 papers were pre a tnt td nt rpecial symposia and a t meetings of professional societies.

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bloch a is try, mineral rta boli u biochemistry, lipid wta boli u AEC portdoctoral f e l l w in biophj.rics, Unir. of nimesct., 1966-62. ,ph u uc ology,WtF o antero log Iati0a.l Institutem of Health pot doctoral fell cn,)I kb icd blocbaristry, mined rtabollsm member Sub cdt tee OLI Purr is sib la Internal Do8c of Rational. member Sub cdt tee oa Toxicity of Internal kl tten of Natiaral Council OQ Rmdiatim Protectloo and Mtaaurement. Acadapr of Sciences - Hati ad Research Couacll Recent Represent8tirc Pub lia tia as : mt adrenal, Rdia tia a Research 22, 81-9b (1964). Removal of deposited plutanium by trie th j l cnet t tr.rinc ex ~ ceti c acid, I.ctor8 and caaditioas rodlfy?-iit h e ab.-.orptioa uad retentiocl of 8tmtiw Acm as Bio l q ical !4edwmne#, Academic Pre8s, Icv York (1963). Metabolism of rinc-65 in the rat. expcmun limits, Health Physics 5, 6-18 (1961). Cami der at i at of pel.rlssible

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Aa the principal proQct of Emford, plutollium has OC CUPid a central role in aur me arch program. involrin(l daiw feebiqp of raxy dilute Pu(llO3) ~ solutions for pcrioda of u 1- u a yeu, ti- eat rb li rh eda figure of 0.003% for the ~ tm in test in i labrorptiaa of plutoniur in this chemical farm. Abrorptiaa v u rboun t o be unaffected by plutonium concentratim over the rui at lm in gut ro in tc rti a al abrorptioa vith chemical fom of pl ut adur fed, and vith age - absorption i n very young rats is a8 much Ihrw studies vlth rats, Very rim ll u reoulta vere obtained fra limited Sub8equent studies have dasoastrated Rr tre roar ex per iw ntr vu-e performed t o evaluate the skin M a route of plutcmium entq, and to err lute the effcctfreness o? skin dsconturinatioa procedures. The intact skin is a very effective buri …