Letter to G Dean, Subject: Meeting of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine on September 8 and 9, 1950

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IN REPLY REFER TO: ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION bfr. Gordon Dean, Chairrrian The Advisory Cormnittee for Biology and Medicine held their Fir& meeting of the fall season in the East Building of the Atomic Energy Conmission in Washington, D. C. on September 8 and 9, 1950. Dr. Warren had included many important and interesting subjects on the agenda for our deliberation. The research projects in biology, medicine and health physics that have been selected since our last meeting by the Division of Biology and Medicine to receive support by the Atdc Energy Cds sion were studied and considered to be relevant to the planned programs. The project of Agriculture, was deemed of utmost importance. We spent Friday afternoon at the AEC project in Beltsville, -land viewing methods and uses for radioisotopes in problems relating to soil and fertilizers under the guidance of Dr. F. W, Parker, Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Plant the knowledge of phosphate fertilizers during the last three years through the use of radioisotopes exceeds the information obtained during the preceding fifty years. we learned further that the annual sales of phosphate fertilizer in the United States exceeds 10 million tons. In this connection Dr. Parker stated that the advances made in The economic importance of this was apparent when We are hopeful that the project known as the Plutonium Toxicity Project and which is to be conducted at the University of U t a h over a period of several years, will bring forth much needed information on tolerance standards on plutonium. After Mr. Derry's statement reg- the budget f o r the FP 1951 and 1952, W held on the over-all prograu of the Division of , It was the sense of the Conanittee that knowledge

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essential t o the applied and developmental program be not curtailed and that we make our developmental program additive t o the acquisition of fcndamental knowledge rather than a substitute for it. This was proved to be of major importance in t h e last war and is of even more v i t a l importance fromthe long range struggle i n which we a r e now engaged with an alien and repugnant ideology. Dr. Warren is planning to forward*to.you a formal statement dram by Dr, Bronk and approved by the whole.c od tte e wh kh will be the essence of our views as to why the planned program for the Division of Biology and Medicine should be strengthened rather than curtailed, Dr, Bmnk raised the question of the dissemination of informstion gleaned from the research projects, as well as how the Science Abstractstt couLd be made more useful t0 investigators, - Dr. Bronk suggested that it might be w e l l to initiate an operational research program through the National Research Council of the various types of media and their relative effectiveness i n order t o see just what is being accmpliahed with the dissemination and utiliz;ation of scientific they will. look forward t o definite suggestions or proposals from Dr. Bronk with reference to how the Committee and the Division of Biology and Medicine may cooperate in such an undertakbg. The Committee approved of this type of investigation and D r , Woodruff of the Oak Ridge Operations Office talked t o us in reference t o extending the basic radioisotope trajning courses to universities and colleges in the larger netropolitan areas by aksisting them financially radioactive materials. Even though the objectives 88 set forth by Dr, Woodruff seemed to be desirable, it was felt that the present training course programs are adequate. in creating facilities whereby they could train persons i n the hnnil3l.ng of I am sure it will. interest you to learn that the members of the Committee expressed themselves favorably towards a broadening of the concept of free isotopes rather than restrictingthem t o cancer research, Dr. W i l l i a m F. Bale oriented us on the problema aasociated with food and water contamination with radioactivity. You, of course, r&ze t h e seriousness of this problem. Dr. Bale stated that figures are being circulated among competent persons asking f o r their suggestions and

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reconmendations on mergency levels of cofitamination and i n the near future it may be possible to arrive a t figures that can be used as guidance to civilian defense agencies i n decidfng a t what levels radioactivity can be permitted in food and water, Dr, Claus and N r * Deal brought us up t o date on the status of the Arc0 site and the radiation background survey of the Reactor T e s t Station. pleased t o learn that the facilikies t h a t are now available at Hanford are being used t o assist in this survey. --. ~~ Dr. Zelle wcplained t o us thiit jn v i e w of the discrepancies jn the two genetic sections of the Handbook on the Effects of A t d c Weapns, that he and Dr. W. L. Russell, of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, with the approval of Dr, Warren, collsborated on revising the two eectiom, revised sections express views Conrpatible w i t h the opinion of a committee of geneticists convened by Dr. W m n last March, An errata sheet was included in the book before i t w a s released to the public, The meeting on Saturday mornfng wa8 opened with D r . Hardie summarieing his report on his trip to Japan t o survey the activities of the Atomic Fhnb Casualty Commission, M r , John V. Lannon, who visited Japan with Dr. Hardie, reported on the txhinistrative controls that are in effect i n the operation of the program i n protecting property and supplies. I shA71 not attempt to outline the report in thia letter as I understand Dr, Warren has sent you a copy of the report for your perusal, However, I do wish you t o know that the Cdt tee studied the problems emanating from the discussions and they have asked me t o transmit to you the following statement : YRm Committee on Biology and Medicine of the Atomic Energy Codssfon, having h d the reports of the Ahdc Bomb Cas d ty COmmi8SfOn, notes with satisfaction the progress made various aspects of t h e study, including the work in genetics, medicine and i n the orgsnieat9an of the ataff, The Committee on Biology and Medicine notes, however, that little progress has been made i n screening larger groups of the population. While re cog dv hg the bp rh n ce of complete physical examinations and the various laboratory studies, t h e Committee feels that it should re-emphasize its desire for the screening of larger numbers of the population with a view to discovering early and acute changes i n the hemotopoietic and

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" kta joint meeting of Camnittees from the Division of BiOlO $ g - and Medicine of the Ataidc & e r g Commission, and the National Research Council on February 4, 1950, it was agreed t h a t more emphasis should be placed upon the screening process and t h a t more careful studies be carried out upon these groups, discovered by the screening operation t o have It wa8 t h e sense of the Commit&q that this statement should be transmitte d to the President of the National ,A,ademy of Sciences for his guidance in recommending the research program t o be followed by the Atomic Bomb Casualty Coxnission. i n Japan, Of course, gou delays in the civil defense planning program. Both Mr. Bawrsn pad Hr. Derry explained the recent developatsnts along tbat line. encouraging t o learn that a chapter on ahelter protection which had been prepared by the Mvision of Biology and Medicine for the National Security Resources Board was included in t h e pamphlet recently released the concern that the Committee haa felt over the Dr. Warren gave us an interesting portrayal of his recent t r i p to Europe wherein he attended the Fifth International Cancer Congress in Paris and the Sixth International Congress of Radiology in London. He felt that the cancer congress was disappointing in its scientific value, whereas the radiological congress had much t o offer. that our AEC representatives made a creditable presentation of their papers in the radiobiology field. It was encouraging t o learn We d~scussedthe ramifications of the national draft program and the pertinent amendments to the selective service a c t a8 they relate to and retaining scientific personnel for service in the Division of Biology and Medicine. The Cdt tee was of the opinion that it m i @ t be helpful in obtaining scientific administrative personnd if they could be encouraged t o continue their research activities within the laboratories o r universities that are i n close proxirnityto the AEC. Dr. Bronk reported that t h e National Research Council have received a letter from Dr. Htzer regardFng the pro bla of whether they woad be willing t o assume once again the full responsibility of the fellowship program. We are hopeful t h a t the former arrangements can be resumed and that we I&U be advised of the Council(s conclusions at an early

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You may recall that Dr. Louis Hempelinann, forinerly of hs fia nos and now at tie University of Rochester, worked with several others and made a very c m p l e t e and valnable study of the accident cases at Los Alamos. The Committee discussed the worthiness of publishing the reports in the open scientific literature and they.,wera unanin0us in their opinion that these reports should be published. '. I do wish once again t o extend my thanksL.toyou and those of the Committee for your personal greeting at our meeting. Inasmuch as there are so many Office, it was deemed wise t o current problems emanating front he Washington hold our next meeting in Washington on Ernest W. Goodpasture, Vice Chair marl Advisory Cdt tse for Biology & Medicine