Hanford Biology Research Annual Report for 1964

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UC-48, Biology and Medicine HANFORD BIOLOGY RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1964 of the Biology Department PACIFIC NORTHWEST LABORATORY

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This is the fourteenth Annual Report of the Hanford Biology Printed in USA, Price $6.00. Available from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information National Bureau of Standards S p rin gf i e Id, Vir gin i a

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T h i s fourteenth Annual Report of the Hanford Biology Laboratory will be the last to appear under such title. The Hanford Laboratories, operated by the General Electric Company for the U . S. Atomic Energy Commission, became, on January 4, 1965, the Pacific Northwest Laboratory, with administrative responsibility assumed by Battelle Memorial Institute. This report, issued by the Biology Department of the Pacific Northwest Laboratory describes work done in 1964 by the Biology Laboratory of the Hanford Laboratories. The change of contractors involved no personnel changes in evening of November 3, t h e building that housed all of o u r aquatic biology, and much of o u r ecology laboratories w a s destroyed by fire. With the help of the Division of Biology and Medicine, by mid-1965 s o m e of the more critical aquatic biology facilities were back in operation and the remainder of the aquatic and ecology program was housed in temporary appearance of this report. this report follow. Another event of late 1964 w a s traumatic, however. On the The ensuing disruptions may to some extent excuse the late Topical summaries of many of the papers in Of 40 dogs that were experimentally exposed to Pu23902aerosols, 10 succumbed two to five years postexposure, and five of these showed f r o m 1-3 uCi with 40-7570remaining in the lungs and 20-5070 in bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes. Plutonium burdens at death ranged Of particular interest in other inhalation studies was the ob serva - tion that uranium and thorium activities frcm inhaled uranium ore dust are handled biologically in very different fashions and must,therefore, be separately considered in hazard evaluations. In basic work on lung biochemistry, it w a s demonstrated that fatty acids can be synthesized by pulmonary tissue, and some knowledge was obtained of the mechanisms with whicn this occurs.These fatty zcids

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are probably constituents of surfactants which are needed t o reduce surface tension for maintaining proper physical characteristics of the alveoli. Of considerable interest and potential is the observation that leukemia can be induced in miniature swine by radiation. after initiation of daily feedings of S r g Oto the animals, five of them developed neoplasia of hematopoietic tissues--four of these w e r e on a 125 pCi p e r day intake, one on a 25uCi per- day intake. as yet been observed, and no effects of any kind at intake levels of 5 uCi per day, or less. Two t o four years N o effects on bone have The major experiment in feeding 1131 daily to sheep, begun over 15 years ago, is drawing to a close. concerned with peripheral studies, such as content of milk, absorption of through the skin, and analog computer studies of the metabolic kinetics of the Te 1 3 2 -1132s y s t e m . In a cooperative study with personnel of the Radiation Protection Department, the passage of 1131 f r o m cows to man via milk w a s measured, especially noting the effect of inert iodine Present efforts are principally Factors that influence C s 37 concentration in rumen contents of sheep relative t o that in feed w e r e studied to aid in the interpretation of observations made on wild ruminants (caribou, reindeer, moose) in o u r employed to measure the --in vivo gamma radiation dose from internally Thermoluminescent dosimeter s were successfully Subcutaneously administered P u 2 3 9 0 2 in the miniature swine was much less mobile than similarly administered plutonium nitrate. Such translocation as occurred was principally to the regional lymph nodes. Efforts to influence the acute toxicity of Pu238 or Pu239 in rats by prior spienectcmy were without success. Of particular interest is the description of a new method for uitrahigh-speed gross alpha autoradiography. Using a ZnS intensifier and high-speed Polaroid film, exposure time can be reduced to 1/1000

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of that required by conventional methods. This technique may have many important applications where time, rather than the ultimate in resolution, is the critical factor. Several different systems for removing internal emitters were ing agents on ruthenium, and DTPA on inhaled C e 44- Pr 44 oxide, Further studies on the involvement of bile in the intestinal radiation syndrome showed that 1500 R to the abdomen of a r a t reduced bile salt reabsorption in the small intestine by 5070,with a resultant increased excretion of this bile via the l a r g e intestine. The effect of bile in promoting the loss of mucus, particularly from the large intestine, was demonstrated i n autoradiographic studies employing S 3 5 -labelling of the sulfomuc opolys a c c har ides. Effects of X ray, fast neutrons, DDT, and dimethylsulfoxide on flour beetles are described. study of population effects. These insects, offer many advantages for the Several interesting observations are reported from cytological studies of the liver of radiation chimeras. The hepatomegaly character - istic of these chimeras seems to arise from an increase in all functional elements of the liver. of the total mouse liver cells, showed a shift to a lower DNA content The parenchymal cells, which constitute 60-7070 population following foreign tissue injection. shown to provide a sensitive early indication of graft-host interaction. Leucocytic infiltrates we re In the microbiological area, evidence is reported f o r a specific role for methionine in the regulation of RNA synthesis. Certain hitherto unexplained peculiarities in the tryptophan requirements of Neurospora were clarified by demonstrating that indolepyruvic acid may be r ever si bly accumulated and serve as a n ancillary source of tryptophan for tryptophan The effect of many variables on the f o l i a r deposition, root uptake,

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Results are reported froma third survey of radioactivity in northern Alaskan natives and their foods. Eskimo Cs137 levels in the summer of 1964 were about double those measured in 1963, but still well below any level which should be cause for concern. mined by caribou hunting patterns, and caribou feeding patterns can now be fairly clearly defined. deposition interrelationships are also described for a continuing general survey in the State of Washington and in a carefully studied cheatgrass Seasonal fluctuations as deter - Food chain, precipitation, and radionuclide Looking toward a broadened study of the dynamic balance of radionuclides in the Columbia River, preliminary results are reported on the role of plankton and periphyton in the accumulation and transport of P Further studies of the economically important columnaris disease in fish have led t o the demonstration of anti-columnaris titers in f i s h exposed to the organism. exist in the majority of Columbia River fish. cal techniques in this area opens many exciting possibilities f o r study A sampling program showed that such titers T h e third Hanford Biology Symposium , on Inhaled Radioactive Particles and Gases, was held on May 4-6, 1964, and was attended by some 170 visitors, 20 representing seven foreign countries. The complete proceedings of this symposium were published as the December 1964 issue of Health Physics. The 1965 symposium will be on Radiation and Terrestrial Ecosystems, and planned for 1966 is a symposium on Gastrointestinal

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BIOLOGY LABORATORY STAFF Corinne H.Brea zeal e - Adm. Clerk Donna B. De mers - Biol. Analyst Ed mers on - Biol. Tech. Hendrickson - Biol. Analyst Patty JoS or dahl - Biol. Tech. Ric ke tt s - Biol. Tech.

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BIOLOGY LABORATORY STAFF (Continued) EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL FARM I F HA LA TI ON TOXICOLOGY Hackett - Biol. Scientist Joan 0. Hess - Biol. Tech.

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BIOLOGY LABORATORY STAFF (Continued) J. E. Ballou - University of Rochester, Rochester, New York - Experimental Animal Farm - Experimental Animal Farm

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BIOLOGY LABORATORY STAFF (Continued) - Experimental Animal Farm - Experimental Animal Farm - Experimental Animal Farm Erickson , AEC Richland Graduate Fellow Fort, AEC Health Physics Fellow Price , AEC Pre doctoral Fellow Watson, AEC Health Physics Fellow - Experimental Animal Farm J. Eapen, Atomic Energy Establishment , India - Assigned to Biology fora one year period on a Fellowship sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency and supported by the National Academy of Sciences

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Biology Laboratory Staff . Chronic Effects of Inhaled Pu23902 in Dogs-Progress Report Selective Tissue Accumulation of Uranium and Thorium in Rats After and Ru186-Rh Oxides in Beagles Inhalation of Uranium O r e Dust Experimental Beagle Colony - Breeding and Animal Care Program Improved Respiratory Valves for Inhalation Studies A Versatile Iodine Vapor and Particle Sampler Bio lod cal Effects of SrgO in Miniature Swine - Fifth Progress Cycling of S r g Oin Molting Crayfish Biological Effects of 1131 in Sheep and Cattle Sheep Milk Production and I t s 1131 Content Thyroid UpTake of 1131 from Skin Exposure halog Computer Evaiuation of Tellurium -Iodine Contamination

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Relationship of Cs137 Concentration in F e e d and Rumen Contents Radiation Dosimetry of Cs137 in Sheep Evaluated with Thermo - Metabolism of Cs137 in Trout Transuranium and Rare Earth Elements Liver Damage from Np237 in Sheep Translocation of Subcutaneously Administered ~ ~ 2 3 9 0 2 Effect of Splenectomy on Acute Plutonium Toxicity Gastrointestinal Absorption of Ce144 and Pm147 in Miniature Swine Chemic a1 Carc in o gen s and R adionu c li de Met ab o li sm Toxicity of Stable Zinc and Stable Cadmium in Sheep Effect of Chronic Ingestion of Zn6' in Trout Toxicity of Copper and X Rays in Rats Ultrahigh-speed Gross Alpha Autoradiography

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Effect of 1127 on Passage of 1131 from Cows to Man via Milk Removal of Internally Deposited Plutonium from Rats Removal of Internally Deposited Ruthenium from Rats The E fect oflyzPA on Translocation and Excretion of Inhaled ANIMAL AND CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY Bile Salt Absorption f r o m the Irradiated Rat Intestine The Effect of Bile on S 3 5 Incorporation into Intestinal Mucopolysac cha rides Influence of Fission Neutrons on Rat Reproduction X-Ray and Fast Xeutron Effects on Productivity of DDT Toxicity in Flour Beetles Effects of a Sulfoxide Compound on Flour Beetles Exposed to X Rays Cytophotometric DNA Studies on Livers of Xenogeneic Chimeras Liver Infiltrates in Radiation Chimeras T h e Synthesis of RNA in Escherichia -Coli The Role of Indolepyruvic Acid in the Metabolism of Tryptophan by Lung Mitochondria

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Absorption and Translocation of Rb' and I- by Intact Plants Effects of Moist e and Air Temperature on Deposition and Retention of IF on Plants and Soil Influence of Soil Sodium on Plant Uptake of Ca45, Sr85, and Cs137 Effect of Root Temperatures on Plant Uptake of Potassium and Radioactivity in Northern Alaskan Natives and T h e i r Foods During Radioactivity in Alaskan Animals and Forage Plants Studies of Fallout Nuclides in Plants and Browsing Animals of Relationship of Annual Forage Yield and Fallout Deposition in a Cheat grass Community Radionuclide Accumulation and Transport by Plankton in the Radionuclide Accumulation and Productivity of Periphyton in the Antibody Production and Immune Response of Fish to C. Column aris Chinook Salmon Spawning Near Hanford - 1964 Reactor Effluent Monitoring - 1964

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2 0 6P a per s Presented at Society Meetings and Symposia Off-Site and Local Seminars.. 210

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CHRONIC EFFECTS OF INHALED p u 2 3 9 ~ 2IN DOGSInhalation of Pu23902 particles by 4 0 beagle dogs caused death in 10 animals 29 t o 5 6 months postexposure. The body burdens at death ranged from1to3 uCi with 40 t o 7570 of the body burden in the lungs, and 20 t o 50% in the bronchial and mediastinal l > mph nodes. The liver contained 2 to 1570, and the skeleton, 1 to 570. Cardiopulmonary insufficiency and ljmphopenia were the primary clinical signs. Pathologic effects in the lungs consisted primarily of severe fibrosis followed by alveolar cell hyperplasia, and bronchiolar and squamous types of metaplasia. bronchiolo-alveolar carcinomas, an incidence of 1370 a s compared to a primary lung tumor incidence of 0. 270 in canine necropsy material. The bronchial ljmph nodes were com - posed of dense sclerotic connective tissue devoid of any the bronchial lymph nodes were seen in one dog. Five of the animals showed Metastases of the pulmonary tumor to T o study the long-teqm translocation and biological effects of inhaled P u 2 3 9 0 2 J 4 0 beagle dogs w e r e given a single 10 t o 30 min exposure to PuZ3’O2 aerosols. The count median particle diameter of the aerosol clinical and pathology procedures were described in previous reports. Aerosol preparation, exposure methods, and This report summarizes the tissue distribution of plutonium and biological effects in these dogs five years postexposure. Mortality and Body Burden Ten dogs died o r were sacrificed when death was imminent during the three to five year postinhalation period. period to determine the tissue distribution of plutonium. at sacrifice in these dogs ranged from0.01 to 0.9Xi. One control dog was also sacrificed during this time period. Twenty-six esposed sud 23 control dogs still alive three to five years posrexposure are being main - tained f o r long-term effects studies. The body burden at death Four additional dogs mere sacrificed during this The body burden

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Distribution of Plutonium The body burden and distribution of plutonium at death are shown 76to 95% of the body burden, while the livers ranged from1 to 157'0~and the skeleton 1 to 570. The bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes had the highest concentration of plutonium at death, accounting f o r as much as 4 0 t o 50% of the body burden in some dogs. The lungs and bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes contained T h e first indication of a pathologic change in the exposed animals values 3 3 weeks postexposure, decreased to one-third before death monocytes and basophils were within normal range. decreased proportionally to the decrease in lymphocytes, while neutrophils were not significantly different from the control values (Figure2). lymphocyte counts of six exposed animals and their approximate body bur - dens at death a r e shown in Figure 3. than 0 . 1 cCi) did not show lymphopenia. erythrocyte counts, and blood u r e a nitrogen were normal. before death t h e r e were elevated leukocyte and erythrocyte counts associated with dehydration and hemoconcentration and the absolute neutrophil counts Lymphocyte counts, approximat3ly one- half of control There was no associated decrease in eosinophils, and the Dogs 158 and 64 (body burdens less Packed cell volume, hemoglobin] During the week I Three to24 months before death respiratory rates progressively increased.from the normal of 20 to40 / m into over 150/min the week before …