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Report: the tolerance of man for hexavalent uranium-samuel basset, albert frenkel, nathan cedars, helen can alstine, christine waterhouse and katherine cusson. Although the "general plan of rochester experiment" as obtained from col. Stafford warren called for inclusion of 10 human subjects in experiment using polonium. All of the documents in our hands, and, we believe available, indicate that only 6 human subjects, all with leukemia, were given polonium intravenously (4 subjects) or by ingestion (1 subject), and one who had finger-skin exposure. These studies were initiated at rochester. There is no indication that any other hospital was used for human use studies on polonium (postum). It should be noted that extensive studies were carried out on accidentally exposed humans. (at least 11 from dayton, ohio monsanto). .
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The tolerance of man for hexavalent uranium - Samuel Basset, Albert Fr enke l, Nathan Cedars, Helen Can Al stine,Christine Waterhouse and Katherine Cusson. Tracer studies employing a n enriched mixture of the isotopes of U234, U235 had been carried out in six human subjects,four males and two females at the University of Rochester under Contract W-7401-ENG-49. The uranium was given intravenously in the hexavalent state as uranyl nitrate in amounts ranging from 6 micrograms t o 70 micrograms per kilogram This study was initiated with the rationale that the metal was considered mainly as a chemical hazard, and it was possible that long cat in u ed exposure to the dust of concentrates of U of more intensive alpha emission cons it it ute a radiological hazard for lung and bone. The studies were designed to find the dose of a so lu able uranium salt when introduced intravenously would produce a just detectable renal injury and t o measure the rate at which so lu able uranium compounds are eliminated,as well as to determine factors that may increase or decrease excretion rate of these. Each individual of the series received a single injection of the metal except for sub jet f6 who was given two widely spaced doses. first of these was when his condition was normal and the second after an acid os is had been produced by ingestion of ammonium chloride. Renal function tests including urinary catal as e,protein, amino N to creatinine N ratio and clearances of mannitol, and p-aminohyppurate were done before and after administration of uranium. level in subject b6 was there as light rise in urinary caa las e and protein suggesting that tolerance had been reached. All other tests were negative. Only atthe 70 microgram per kilogram
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The excretion of uranium was mainly in the urine where from 70 to The production of an acid osi swit h85 percent appeared i n 24 hours. ammonium chloride(subject #6) decreased the rate of excretion. Traces of uranium continued to be eliminated for atleast two weeks after it had been administered. retained in the bones. Attempts at mobilization of the fraction retained by injection of citrate and by the use of a low calcium diet plus It i s surmized that this represented metal de hydro t achy ster ol were ineffective.
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Human Use Experiments with Polonium Polonium an alpha emitter was produce1 in large quantities during World War I1 for production of neutron generators at the Monsato plant in Dayton, Ohio and at the Clinton Lab i n Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Studies of polonium metabolism were carried out on rabbits between 1924 and 1938 by Lacassagne and his as soc is tes.Later studies by Cas are tt and others showed that Lacassagne results were generally unreliable. Reliable methods for polonium analysis were developed during World War I1 after which work a t Rochester was concentrated on polonium distribution, and excretory rates in rats fol la wing intravenous injection. This work was later supplemented by a study of polonium excretion in six human subjects From this work it was possible to arrive at a---(victims of leukemia). correlation between the body polonium content of human abject s and the rate Bale). Subject Dr.Shields Warren's request for information concerning polonium research, January 3, 1949, Document 18968. In this same paper it was conjectured that, "Further studies may b e someday indicated on polonium excretion in human subjects ... (s5nce) The patients with leukemia studied may not be representative of human subjects as a whole". In a letter to Colonel Friedel l, December 5 , 1945, from Dr. Robert Fink (DBER-32; Doc. 5073) page 2 - Studies on the Blood Concentration and Rate of Excretion of Polonium i n Human Subjects, it was pointed out that "four human subjects,including two previously reported, have been studied following single intravenous injections of 0.18 t o 0.3 micro curie of polonium chloride 5/9/45 on the Tolerance Values for Polonium used at the Clinton Laboratory
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mentions the comparative retention of polonium inthe kidney of rats and man. In a report "Scope of Research Program M.B.D. as o f December 1, 1946, submitted by Major J. W . Howland" reference is made to biological effect of tracer amounts of polonium, radium and uranium i n human and animal subjects, and study of metabolism o f plutonium, polonium, radium, etc.in human subjects at the University of Rochester. Although the "General Plan of Rochester Experiment" as obtained from - Colonel Stafford Warren called for inclusion of 10 human subjects in xperiment using polonium. All of the documents inour hands; and, w e believe available,indicate that only 6 human subjects,all with leukemia, and one who had finger - skin exposure. These studies were initiated at Rochester. There i s no indication that any other hospital was used for human use studies on polonium (postum). It should be noted that extensive studies were carried out on accidentally exposed humans. (atleast 11 from Dayton, Ohio Monsato) NOTE: NNES - Biological Studies with Polonium Radium and Plutonium- " Studies of Polonium Metabolism i n Human Subjects " Chapter 3 , This chapter describes5 human subjects used i n polonium studies - 4 of whom were injected IV and one of whom was given polonium orally.A its absorb ability through skin. The intravenous studies(4) and oral administ (1)