Letter to D E Lilienthal, Subject: Report of the Board of Review

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Lir. David E. Lilienthal, Cinairman Atta&led you will find the report prepared for the Atomic Eners Comission by i t s Boerd of Re-Jievr. Folloi.sing your presentation of the problem of policy concerning research in the fields of.bio logic a1 and ned ical science a s they now confront the Comission, the Board of Reviev en3arked qona series of the Board held inter via i ~ sn ith eleven PXI who have had intimate contact xi th the rrork of the i:an?ilattan Dis3rict and the htorzic Enerar ~ States Pubiic kea l th Service. Furthermore, the Q02rd had access t o . and utilized for its inffomation all reports pertinent to the problems xith which it had to deal. I n addition, conferences were held with After the Board had acquainted itself vrith the work of the past and the various proposals concerning the future of the program, it discussed at length on June 20th ths Droblems presented and has summarized its thoughts, its recommendiitions and suggestions inits of its deliberations may prove of assistance to the Comission i n establishing certain matt ars of policy. It is the sincere hope of the Board of Review th z t the results

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medics1 ani biologicnl research in the field.of radi a tic n, as related to the policy oi' the 4,tonic Ziiergy Comnission, t h i s report :);ill describe 2nd dei"it:e i n Section 11 the ? ri ix ry z.reas of responsibility of the iitornic En.2rgy iownission for the maintenance o f medical ma biological resecrci?. Section 111 will outline 2nd discuss what nmy be c sl led the tion or shared responsibilities with other bronches of the Government o r with uni varsities and private institutions. Section I , 11, and I11 conthin specific reconmendations of the i3oard o f Review within or imine2is t ely fol lov.5 ~t he st c tem nts of related conaitions o r objectives. From this point the report proceeds t o des1 i n Section I V with ti6ndicnps the Atonic znoru Coinmission must surmount in fulfilling to the recruit nen t and training of psrsonnel, i s ?resented, with recomComiission's work which cont rc sts s nar ply with the usual circwnstancas of scientific work, namtlly, its mcr z t,restricted,or classified character, and some of the implications Vnereof. Tho report concludes with a Section (VII) devoted to 8brief statement regarding an organization within the Atomic Ensrgy Commission with responsibilities for maintaining satis fao tory direction and supp0r.t of nedical ad.b io logical research in or related to the Atomic Energy Commission. A much more important set of problams, those rel at cd Section VI i s devoted TO cn aspect of the The iieed f o r 7liodical and Eliological Research and Training. Secause admnces in medical and bio lozi cal knowledge ere of vital public advmtagc, becauso rzdio-activz mat cri cls can be effec t iv ely used i n obtnining such knowledge, and because naw medical and publio he zl tn problems nre associated with the deve)ogmont of atomic power for both indus tria) and military purposes, we strongly recommend that rosearch arid training in all aspects or' the spplidntion of atoiaic energy t o mediccl and bio i ogi cd problens be continued and where profitable expanded. The extent to which the Btomic Energy Commission should conduct, financially support, o r assist without financial support,' re sew ch md training in medicine and biology will be further defined. The nead for medical rind biologics1 research on the various effects of rzdio-active substances and atomic fission is both urgent and cxtznsivc. Itis urgent becQuse of the extr-ordinary danger of exposing living creatures t o redio-activity. It i s urgent bacauso effective d cfm sive neasures (in the military sense) against radiant energy are not yet known. Irom now on we snnll mine, trcns?ort, process and use rsdio-activa substances as sources of power, tools for investigation of bio logic cl processes, and for the treatment of disease. be inccssant danger i n handling such substances and using their radio-active I?s an explorer allows for unforeseen hardships and unprediotable events, the investigator must pl sn for extensively unforasean eventualities. The number of radio-activz subst moe s is large ; many have never been identified. es existing in tnt uro, Zscts 1carIb:d and the mastery ob tai xd in the post fcur years acquire most of their imincpse significance not merely fron their present state of deveiopment but i'ron what they will lead to. AS the sole possessor of 'the materials and tha Drocesses involvca. t h e Atomic EncrKy Commission must There will therefore Tnt, wed for further research is extensive as well as urgent. S,ich substances call for suspicious study. The ontinue and extend rescnrch has the primary, a d in t h e U.S:A.'

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based 03 !nedical and biological science. in term of huma:.~ life, this rssearch must be -The i'riygr;: and Exclusive E esp on sibi li ties of the ktomic irie primary res poi is i bil it y cr' the Atomic %era Comnission for medical axd biological research isina Sense self-contained, direct materials, the r-tomic Energy Conrnission has heaF7 res gon sibi li ties to its employees anti t o any otliers who could suffei- fro!n its negligence or its ignorance. 'JJith an absolute monopoly oi new arid powerful tools for research and important knowledge, t h e Htonic Energy Commission has obligat ions to share it sac qui sitio i is with the scientific world wherever security In control of oijeratioris wit ii potentially dangerous Because the Atonic Energy Commission i s charged by law with the exclusive control of materials, equipnent,processes and information which are unique, constantly dangerous and certainly not yet sufficiently understood, t h e Commission has every reason t o assume extensive responsibil i ties for further development and study of the effects of products of atomic fission on human life. agenop has the information, the %novJ--how,ff the equipment, orthe substances possessed by t h e Atonic Enerar Comraission. For reasons of national safety, no other The possible hazards to the health of human beings, animals and plants,incident to research, developrlent and production of materials concerned :.rith a tonic power, rcake knoxledge regarding the nature of such hazards, their recognition and their control a subject for which the Atomic Energy Commission must assume primary responsibility at this time. Such research i s of the programmatic, ap2lied type, related to the protection or treatment of persons possibly exposed to or affected by radiation. It i s not directed to the furthei7arice of knowledge regarding cellular physiology as such, Fission able material i s being produced. This Mill continue, and in all probability the discovery or' new substances and new production methods will raise new research problems, the solutions of which are the responsibilities of the Atomic Energy Comission for t'ne protection of their workers in the factories and the pib li c in their environs. Such research belongs in the regional laboratories because or" security and availability of special facilities. It must be classified and i t will usually be programmatic and applied to specific problens or difficulties. It calls for and has greatly benefited fror.1 the services of healthphysicists, doctors of medioine and considerable numbers of dependable personnel less extensively trained. here its profound admiration for the work acconpU.shed during the past four years in protection of t'ne factory and laboratory personnel. The Poard of th view wishes t o record We reaomnend that for the further study of the biological effects of radiation and all forrns of detection, prcteution and treatifieiit, and for the prc tec tion of employees, the public i f exposed, and the civilian population i n case of war, research involving classified materi also r operations be liberally provided forin Atomic Energy Commission installations. Vhere research bearing on tho detection, prevention, o rtreatment of radiation effects can be carried on properly outside Atomic

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Ei:ergy Com ~ issio : ~i n stall at ions, tliere should be rio obstacle t o par'bfal o r coin:)lcte ritomic 3x:rgy Coxmission support for such research. Xe--_- recomenu that(a)the biological and medical conseqiiences (b) the training 02 2ersorincl i:i the recognition and coiitol of radiation hazards , and (c) the hezltll control oi operations irivolving hazardous mounts of radiation be made prlnsry act iv it les of thc: Atonic Biergy Those activities irivo2ving classified materials o r operations must be supported b:J and cczrried out witiiin Atomic h>iergy Cormission install at ions, support with funds correlative studies at universities, contributing t o knowledge, on the biological and medical effects of radiation but not i n - volving the use of c lz s s if i ed materials or irlforrnation. It will also be desirable to encourage and,, where necessary, l7e recommend that the Atonic Energy Commission continue t o provide isotopes for sale a t nominal prices to sci b nti sts qualified to work with mcli materials. Isotope Eranch.for'the purpose of protecting those engaged inthe use of radioactive isotopes derived from ktor.illc Energy Commission sources, A consulting service should be provided through the The time i s approaching when the supply of isotopes for the study of fundamelital biological a1id medical problems will morc than meet the needs ci' American investigators. progress i n medicine and biology that qu alix i ed irivestigators in other countries have such isotopes for their studies. It would be i n the interest of We suGgest that steps be taken t o make isotopes available to for c ign invest icL tors. It might be noteu that the publication of the monthly sales record of isotopes in Science would aidin showing the scientific world that the Atomic Energy Commission is effectively contributing tothe advancement of knowledge despite the impressions often left by se our it y CoIfiparable to the distribution of isotopes, the dissemination or' scientific information by the Atomic Energy Commission calls for favorable, though cai\tioas, attention. Pror,ipt clearance of papers submitted by formcr steff rnenbcrs and tlie publication of accumulated information inthe rity, would si mils rly enhance the scientific status 02 the Commission, the morale of its staff, and further accelerate biological and medical research. Probably much of tkLe inforr,iatiori not :rot published will prove t o be tentat i v e and incomplete, Hovrcvw, recognition should be given , wherever security considerations will now perinit publication,to workers whose patriotism often persuaded then t o forego the credit of having done valuable work under exceptionally difficult conditions. i We recommend active encouragement of publication of aucumulate d scientific papers a € ter de class if i cat iq n, eitl!er as records of the Atomic Energy Comniission o r througl- subsidies to profkssional journals, as may be proposed by the Medics1 LJirector and approved by t h e Medical

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I n cgnzrast, t o tF:o ;:1-inary rcsFo!isi.Sj.li?,izs of the Atomic ,-.Enery;p Corn!1i~s5.onf o r ;‘:ark dezcribed i n section 11, there isa second %ions. Here the uomjjission should collaborate, offering the use of its eqvlipnent, staff expr ien ce, materials such 3s isotoTes, and the ser vlc es cf i.ts staff as teachers, lecturers or consultants. Perhaps the simplest way to present this field of irork is to nam the agencies with nhich the Atomic 'Energy Conmission siionld be preaared 50 collaborate in the study of medicine and biology. authority as a gpardian of the public :iealth i n peacetime and of civilian which compare favorably-Kith those at universities. lished administrative structure to deal with industrial hazards. muld have a logical interest in the industrial developments of atomic fission. It has had for 25 years an increasing measure of public confide n ce and Can pes s ional support. Inits National Institute of Health, it possesses laboratories and a growin5 staff of medical and biological scientists.In the interest of protecting the public, the Atomic Energy Comnission might look forsrard t o tfie establishment, i n conjunction xith the3. s. Public Health Service, the Bureau of Standards, the Department of Agriculture, and other pertinent Governmental agencies, a center for researc!i a:id for trainin:; to provide a n extensive reservoir of personnel i n and out of Governmental services, equipped for qe cia l needs of t k It can offer careers i n medical and biological research 2e recornend that in vie x of these considerations the Atomic-Energy ComLssion e ip lore and consolidate, i f possible, coop rat ive reing the5. s. Public Bealth Service personnel opportunities in the Atomic t ne rgy Co-mission regional labor z tories to learn and further investigate methcds of protecting industrial employees and civilian pop lat ions against hzsards 03 gases, dvst, conlact, effluents, and other forms of exposure to radiation possibly affecting industrial workers and defense aya in st atomic bombs. Accordingly, itis imperative fpr the Atomic Lnergy Comission to offer instruction and experience to Army and Navy medical and ancillary 2ersonnel i n the protection of troops and ships from t h e effects of atorriic weapons, thz accumulation of a backlog of trained personnel within and outside the Armed Forces can n o t be over-em?hasizcd. ' h e Armed Forces have grave responsibilities for Th2 urgent need for .ye recomncnd that offers be promptly made for the training and instruction of rcprcsentativks of the medical personnel of the Armed Forces in the install st ions of the Atomic Encrgy Conqission and such further collaboration i n the study of pro b lms already common t o both organizations as may be nossihle .f o r :!le s?eclal izc6 trainin: 2nd in doc tr in at jon of personnel a t various levels. fhcse sho:il.d inclcde t h e doctoral, bechnical, and a7prentice

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a tonic fission concej.vaXe came al coste a tire Pyi kon uri vs rsi ty staTf ad university - trained Len of my Imds. and our knoxledge of radioactivity &p$nds also on t5ere crni tn ent and training providac! j y the universities. stand though ahas+, in pos sib h to dupliGate elsewhsre. contact w i t h a constant oncornins stream of anbitiotls and eciucable young men, they foster a passionate exercise of untramineled curiosity, they possess a broad and stimuiating variety of in t sl lect u al contacts, at rad lt ional yet Eve lys kill in teachin,;, and a continuit;T and stability for persons of exceptional ability in taaching and research. personnel at their best exercise freely the irc - wi osi ties over a wide range of theory and exparience. This ail too brisf account reveals the advantag:es that university contacts afford to scientists in the the universities in return ? The knovrlsdge that made The future of a tonic fission There Is nothing nysterious meir2ecu liar contributions are easy to unc:er- ?',kat carl the Atomic Enargy Commission offer The & tonic D rgy Compissioa can off sr the use of its It oan furnish material, e,g., isotopes (as unmatched equip m …