Memo to H M Roth, Subject: Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine - Oak Ridge Meeting, May 5-7, 1955

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Ofice Memordndzm UNITED STATES GOVERNMENTJJ Herman M. Roth, Director, Research and C. S. Shoup, Chief, Biology Branch, Research and Medicine Division The spring 1955 heeting of the Advisory Conmiittee for Biology and Medicrepresented the first opportuniw for this group to folrmally review biomedical work in Oak Ridge i n five years. All mbers of the Cod tte e were present including representatives from the Washington Office as Advisory Committee on Biology and Medicine Dr. G. Fail la, Columbia University Medical School, Columbia University, N.Y. Dr. C u r t Stern, University of Calif. Berkeley, Calif. Dr. Shields Warren, New England Deaconees Hospital, Boston, &MS. John C. Bugher, Director, Division of Biology 8nd Medicine Charles L e Dunham, Deputy Director, Division of Biology and Paul B. Pearson, Chief, Biology Branch, Division of Biology H. A. Stanaood, Chief, Prokram Analysis Branch, Division of N. S. Hall, Biologist, Division of Biology and Medicine HIGHLTCrHTS OF THE MEETING: Biology and Medicine (with the exception of Dr. Stern who arrived i n the a description of the prodnction, constmotion, and AEC representatives met atthe UT-= laboratory building. and research and development pmgrams which a r e the responsiOak Ridge Operations. A t the conclusion of the hager rs remarks, the meeting waa opened for UT-AEC t o present

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feels its interests are closely allied ptith programs of both the Commfssion and the University; (b)[they seek and appreciate guidance from the Washington Office; (c) believe i n professional honesty and feel this ill be exemplified their forthcoming progress report g He further stated that the University desires that the Universit j of Tennessee-A= Program develop dong lines originally designated. Mr. John A. Wng, Project Leader, stated further that the functions of the U T - m Program are t o accomplish research objectives witbin Commission and University interests, to use the external radiation field most effectively and t o encourage cooperative efforts with the various departments of t h e University, with other ingtftutions and e and t o provide objectives for training of graduate sh dents. omission of an affiliation with ORQ i n the diagram shown. efforts are underway t o reduce farm costs tothe Commission, that whereas net FY 1954 fanu costs were near $60,000, the FY 1956 net farm costs would be $28,500. It was indicated t h a t UT is supplying support t o the program inthe amount of about $4O,OOO, leaving us ata loss t o fully account for t h i s estimate since personnel support supplied to the program by the University i s indicated by them t o be $2L,OOO. We do not know whether they regard t h e additional $1~,500as representing the value of Universityowned cattle supplied to the UT-AEC herd o r their estimate of absorbed University overhead costs. Patrick, stated the current budget forma 189 represent a cooperative effort of the UT-AEC staff approved by the University i n Knoxville and that the plan of research follous proposals made a t the time of our review meeting i n Washington on January 27, 1955. The program presentation followed. by the effoLs of the new Acting Laboratory Director and w i l l be seen i n presented the UT-= organization chart on the blackboard arwe noted t h e It was stated The Acting Laboratory Director, Dr. Homer 1. Homer Patrick - Fission Product Metabolism. Project 2. ?'his work has included studies on the deposition of Strontium-89 i n bone, and Ca-Sr exchange, particular2y in relation to the protein intake of experimental animals. Laboratory animals and chicks t o examine iihe deposition of several chemical forms of La as they become bound i n the liver, spleen and bone. Studies of La1lro have been started on Work i n progress on the determination of .the endogenous calcium metabolism of the s t e e r with Ca45 indicates the proportion of Ca absorbed and retained i n the bone and the proportional amounts believed unabsorbed i n the G.I. tractor absorbed and excreted. Studies are underway also on the effects of age and dietary protein

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on the calcium and phosphorus absorption in rats. some studies were being made of Vitamin D but this appears to have little influence if the available calcium and phosphorus is a t the normal intake levels. It is planned that phosphoms availability studies will be made on sheep and swine and will include isotopic It was stated that Attempts are made t o evaluate the effects of total body irradiation from 100 t o 400 r. on reproductive functions of the male. A search will be made for the minimum level of radiation exposure that produces changes i n the sperm and sperm counts in cattle. may be found at some dose level lower than that producing visible effects on sperm morphology.I. It i s thought effects F. W. Lengeman - Iodine Elimination i n Milk. Project 7. Work on milk secretion using mainly 11% was described. It is believed that4to 7% of the iodine dose goes t o the milk no matter how the dose in butter fat. It was interesting that goats do not eliminate the711J1 dose exponentially as do cattle and sheep. The iodine appears t o be free iodine and does not seem About 1/10 of 1% of 1131 present i n the milk Kill remain Some aspects of the large animal external radiation studies were covered briefly, and it was pointed out that the need for the project has outlasted the original objectives. studies have been accomplished a t different energies of gamma irradiation and these have emphasized the energy dependency in radiation effects. Recent studies on swine using airconiumdobium sources and a dose rate of 2 r/hr indicated resistance to radiation effects since to date the swine have shown no radiation sydrome following a total of 600 r. Using burros, lethal dose . College of Agriculture people were caU8d on t o describe some of t h e mrk the &ivslsity mtsto do on beef cattle breeding i n the control herd at UT-=. They plan on l i n e evaluation, feeding tests, and detection of potential dwarfism from X-ray photos of vertebrae. feeding and expanded use of the exposum field are ln clude d in their projects. Stil best r ol Dr. George I[. Schweitzer, who serves a s part-time radiochemist, briefly discussed radiological physics work and indicated UT-UC regards this phase as a service duty to the program. Ne believe this attitude is a serious

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Herman M. Roth May 19, 1955 error in that the radiological physics and radiochemistry portion of the program i s basic tothe effectiveness and quality of accomplishimts the laboraitory. However, a new radiochemist nil1join UT-AEC this month and it i s hoped that this phase of the work will be improved. Dr. Paul B. Pearson referred t o the use o f the exposure field by the Southern Pgricultural Stations. He a d Dr. Singleton of Brookhaven . i n New Orleans where Singleton spoke on agri cult urd. uses o f external radiation. Pearson expects the UT-AEC field and possibly the Oak Ridge graphite reactor can be used for plant ani seed exposures a t no cost t o the stations. However, this would be under a plan providing for the several stations doing t h e i r own planting and follm-up studies under their own individual state support. " meeting of the southern experiment station directors Atthe conclusion of the program presentation, Dean J. H. McLeod requested a closed session with the Committee and Commission representatives. asked for a criticism of the program. This request was met by expressiuhs that the people presenting the program appear_gnthusiastic, that there is general approval for their entering into some amount of plant work with the exposure field, and that full advantage might be taken for cooperation with others w the rn institutions. Dr. Warren stated that UT-bPTX: represents the only large-animal facility we have, and that the radiation field is unique and the-advantages of the f i e l d should not be overlooked2 One criticism was voiced regarding the size of the UT-= technical advisory committee in that too large a committee with too mch emphasis might tend to stifle free investigation. The Dean noted t h a t Dr. Patrick, as acting laboratory director, had been i n charge for eight months, and asked the opinion of the Conunittee regarding his designation as Director. attention that nearly all those present had but sbrt acquaintance Prith Dr. Patrick and the current developments in the program, and no action would be appropriate on this question a t this time. the proceedings it was pointed out thata decision regarding a permanent director should be based on experience of the man and the local and regional leadership he could demonstrate and that a director for the UTAFX Program should be of such stature that he could meet other leading scientists and OB0 laboratory directors on a n equal basis of leadership the visitors could have time to visit the exposure field. FRIDAY, MAY 6, CfRINS MEDICAL DIVISION, 9800 A.M. It was called to the Dean's At this stage in A t about this point the meeting adjourned i n order that The Oak Ridge 1nstitu;te of Muclear Studie8, Medical Division, covered t h e following projects in their program on the morning of May 6:

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Gould A. Indreus - Clinical Colloid Studies. Reported on remnt thosphate and .&I98 with two less familiar 0nes~Y90-91 and Id.1~77, given as chlorides along wlth stable carrier but which behave as svelopments ina long-range program on clinical colloids. Chromic 0. C. gyker, Rare Earth Studies. %e metabolism and distribution of many rare earths. The metabolism and distribution pai;terns of carrier free rare earths have also been followed. Carriers from other members of the rare e a r t h family have been added and it has been found that the metabolism and distribution atterns do not change except i n minor detail, but advantages are from 'Btalph Kniseley, Thyroid Pathology. -iodine administration, the blood levels of iodine-131, and t h e Excretion patterns folloning his to logical picture in thyroid recovery, were described. C. LO Comar, Low Level Courrting. present work on Iodine-131 determinations in cattle and human of 5 x 1 0 - % ~ . Milk values are less than 5 x 10- uc/ml. A brief di script ion was given of nd on milk and bone, the measurements going at a sensitivity Marshall EWucer, Thyroid Uptake Calibration Program. Studies were DreSented of the mock-iodine spectmm, the plans f o r evaluation of balibrations, and the proposed- presentation- f o r Geneva. Vincent Collins, Teletherapy Evaluation Board. Dr. Collins of the Eaylor University School of Medicine, presented t h e main aspects of the TEB program. A question was raised as t o the TF3 evaluatLon of survival, and i t was stated consideration of this information would be a p a r t of lung aarcinoma studies and some of the bone work. the conclusion of the ORINS Medical Division review, the visitors were taken t o the Oak Ridge National Laboratory fora luncheon provided by Carbide at t h e 11-10 Cafeteria. The afternoon session covered Program 6000 research i n progress a t CIRNL. FBXDJLY AFTER=, MAY 6 - BUILDING 4500, OAX RIDGE UTIONAL LABoRgToRY 1. K. 2. Morgan, Director, Health Physics Division. The main areas Of research i n Health Physics were presented, together with a resume1 of efforts toward securing additional data relating to calculations for the maximal permissible concentration for various radioelements, a main problem being interpretation of single dose data i n terms of

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Herman Urn Roth normal base-line of trace elements i n the human for boron, cesium, manganese, iron, nickel, copper and strontium. the cooperative study with the Massachusetts General Hospital, continues t o 'supply data bearing on the Y-12 model for uranium i n blood, bone, kidney and urine. nature of the work in progress, Tiving -edit t o ORNL f o r its imt i at ion. ORNL continues t o seek further information on the Dr. Fail la remarked upon the unique Stanley Auerbach, Ecological Consideration of Soil Organisms. Attewts areto be made on identification of radiation effects on._ orgaksrns of the forest floor. on t h e so-called *tree-hole' fmertebrate population as reprssentativ6 of a habitat niche, a t dose range of 1~,OOO-1,OOO,OOO r. and it is found the range of a t least 50,OOO r. i s required t o cause depletion of key organisms. Currently studies are being made Conrad Straub (USPHS) - Soil Absorption of Specific Isotopes. Qaturation and migration capacities of varlous s o i l s are und& study. Evaluation is being made of clays and o t h e r materials for pit liners, and studies on pit models include entrainment tests and consideration of possibilities for air-borne escape mental and theoretical.physics consideration of stopping power and important contribution tothe development and-application of new methods o f dosimetry, and from this has come more accurate measurements t h a t have improvdinterpretation of recent data, especially t h e dreenhouse information fmm %he lead hemispheres. Research in dosimetrg includes both experi- %e fast neutron dosimeter vas described and the S-U-Np-FU It was noted t h a t Hurst's work has comprised an I n concluding t h e Health Physics phase of the program, Eirkoff and Snyder reported briefly on work in progress regarding ionization and stopping power i n various msdia, alld securing of depth dose curves for media contain bg tissue elements. reported on the Radiological Physics Fell m ships, noting that of the 101 who have completed the program, 62% arein H.P. work, and 20% are i n graduate schools or are extension fellows. demands for people with this training are anticipated. 5. R. F. Kimball. Cytogenetics. Reporting on the general cytogenetics phase of work a t the Biology Division, ORNL, Kimball covered briefly the main outlines of studies on Paramecium, Tradescantia and -Vicia,/ $d-ft- :I 4- 1 maize, Neurospora9 and the insect work.

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Waldo E. Cohn. Biochemistry. 'be sequence of work on nucleic acid and nucleotide identification ih hetemgeneiw and function, and relationship with coenzymes and DNA, RNA, was described. enzyme-substrate complex studies and synthesis of protective compounds was described briefly, together utth TotterIs work on labelled precursors such a s glycine, leucine and formate, and Arnold's studies of plant bioluminescence. biochemists that he felt he could sit dom and talk with them for another fill day with pleasure because of the quality of the mrk who had a two-day visit previous he so enjoyed talking with QRNLt o the current meeting, incorporation of carbon compounds and their intermediates in microbial metabolism, and also %he work under Tolbertls program in plant biochemistry, emphasizing the seven-carbon sugar studies, metabolism of glycolic acid and the s i d e reactions that may give rise to glycine and …