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The tolerance of man for hexavalent uranium by samuel basset, albert frenkel, nathan cedars, helen can alstine, christine waterhouse and katherine cusson. Although the "general plan of rochester experiment" as obtained from colonel 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 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 Albert Frenkel, Nathan Cedars hexavalent uranium - Samuel Basset, Helen Can Al stine,Christine Waterhouse and Katherine Cusson. Tracer studies employing a n enriched mixture of the isotopes of two females a t t h e University of Rochester under Contract W-7401-ENG-49. 235 had been carried out i n six human subjects, four males and The uranium was given intravenously inthe hexavalent state as uranyl nitrate in amounts ranging from 6 micrograms t o 70 micrograms per kilogram of body weight. This study was initiated with the rationale that the metal .was considered mainly asa chemical hazard, and it was possible that long cotinued 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 soluable 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 t o determine factors that may increase o r decrease excretion rate of these. Each individual of the series received a single injection of the metal except for sub jet 86 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. function tests including urinary catal as e,protein, amino N to creatinine N r a t i o and clearances of mannitol, and p-aminohyppurate were done before and after administration of uranium. Only atthe 70 microgram per kilogram level in subjectlj6 was there as light rise in urinary ca alase and protein suggesting that tolerance had been reached. All other tests were negative.
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The excretion of uranium was mainly in the urine where from 70 to 85 per cent appeared in 24 hours. The production of an acidosis with ammonium chloride (subject 86) decreased the rate of excretion. Traces of uranium continued to be eliminated for at least two weeks after it had been administered. It is surmized that this represented metal retained in the bones. by injection of citrate and by the use of a l o w calcium diet plus dehydrotachysterol were ineffective. Attempts at mobilization of the fraction retained
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Human Use Experiments with Polonium Polonium an alpha emitter was produced in large quantities during World War I1 for production of neutron generators atthe Monsato plant in Dayton, Ohio and atthe Clinton Lab i n Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Studies of polonium metabolism were carried out on rabbits between 1924 and 1938'by Lacassagne and his associates. 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 polonilim distribution, and excretory rates in rats following intravenous injection. later supplemented by a study of polonium excretion in six human subjects This work was correlation between the body polonium content of human subjects and the rate From this work it was possible to arrive at a 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 ... (shce) 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 t h e Blood Concentration and Rate of Excretion of Polonium i n Human Subjects, it was pointed out t h a t "four human subjects, including two previously reported, have been studied following single intravenous injections of 0.18 t o 0.3 microcurie of polonium chloride 5 / 9 / 4 5 on the Tolerance Values for Polonium used atthe Clinton Laboratory
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to a report of W. L. Minto and M, Fink, November 11, 1944, (M-1579) which mentions the comparative retention of polonium inthe kidney of rats and man. In a report "Scope of Research Program M.B.D. a s of December 1, 1946, submitted by Major J. W. Howland" reference is made to biological effect of tracer amounts o f polonium, radium and uranium i n human and animal subjects, and study of metabolism of plutonium, polonium, radium, etc. i n human subjects at the University o f Rochester. Although t h e "General Plan of Rochester Experiment" a s obtained from - Colonel Stafford Warren called for inclusion of 10 human subjects in -experiment using polonium. All of the documents i n our hands; and, w e believe available,indic are that only 6 human subjects,all with leukemia, were given polonium intravenously (4 subjects)or by ingestion(1subject), and one who had finger - skin exposure. 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) These studies were initiated at There i s no indication that any other hospital was used for 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 ora € ly.A its absorb ability through skin. The intravenous studies (4) and oral administ (1)