Note by the Secretary, Subject: Report on Meeting of Advisory Committee

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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION ON MEETING OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR BIOLOGY AND Note by the Secretary + 1. Attached is a letter from the Chairman, Pdvisory Committee for Biology and Medicine, reporting on the meeting of the Committee held in Washington on February 12, 1949, together with a draft reply to Dr. Gregg commenting on the subjects considered by the Committce. 2. This paper is circulated for consideration by the Commission during the week of March 28, 1949. Deputy General Manager 11, 1 2 When separated frqm enclosures 13-15 handle this document as. ......

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This document consists of 6 pages-- COPY No * 11 of 35 Series A NEW YORK 20, NEW YORK MEMORANDUM TO: Carroll L. Wilson, General Manager FROM : Alan Gregg, Chairman, Advisory Committee for SUBJECT : REPORT OF MEETING OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR Biology and Medicine This is to report on the meeting of the Cdvisory Committee for Biology and Medicine, which was held in Washington on February 12, 1949. The Committee was pleased that the Commissioners were able to attend the meetings and the joint discussions were most helpful. The Committee discussed the program of the Atomic Energy Project at the University of Rochester, which represents a substantial investment in buildings, equipment and trained personnel. The laboratory is carrying on a research program, largely programmatic in nature, which includes studies of the effects on the body of a number of the elements encountered in the project. In this regard it is unique; the remainder of the program falls into the general research in the field. The Committee felt that there has not been adequate scientific replacement since Dr. Stafford Warren, Dr. John Lawrence and Dr. Andrew Dowdy left for the proposed medical school at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Warren advlsed the Committee that the moneys allocated to the project for Fiscal ,Year 1950 will be reduced to $gOO,OOO, a decrease of 25$, with a corresponding decrease in personnel. This, o f course, will call For a curtailment in some phases of the research program which will be studied by Dr. Elair and his staff and approved by Dr. Warren. We plan to review the progress of the program at Rochester within a few months. ported on the particle problem at Hanford and Oak Ridge. We were pleasea to learn that the sand filters that have been installed have proven to be approximately 99.7% efficient. Although there is no immediate hazard, there is a need for continuing study which will include a determination of the health hazards involved. In connection with the particle problem the Committee unanimously recommended that it would be desirable to use cancer research funds for studies on cancer of the lung. At the meeting held in Los Alamos in December, the biological aspects of the program for future tests was discussed with Dr. Graves. Since that time the Comrrittee have been studying this problem and will submit suggestions as to material to be used in the biological experiments. The Director of the Division of Biology and Medicine re-J

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You will also remember that at the meeting held in Los Alamos the Director informed the Committee of the progress being made in civil defense. The subject was once again presented to the Committee by Dr. Warren and it continues to be a major concern. After considerable discussion the following recommendation was unanimously approved by the Committee: "The people of the United States naturally look to the Atomic Energy Commission for precise information re- J garding atomic energy, urgent requests for such in- L/ formation are being made, and it should therefore be understood that one of the important obligations of the Commission is to disseminate the information. The Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine recommends that the Atomic Energy Cxnmission select and appoint a staff member to give his entire attention to collecting the necessary information and to studying the relations and activities of the Atomic Energy Commission in relation to agencies concerned with defense of the civilian population and the training of appropriate personnel to handle disasters due to atomic warfare. The identity,. programs and personnel of groups concerned with Civilian Defense should be determined and listed. The type and range of information that the Atomic Energy Commission can release to such organizations should be determined and formulated, and insofap as is not clearly inconsistent with nationinterest, the Atomic Energy Commission should disseminate facts regarding the extent and limitations of atomic energy, this dissemination having as its purpose allaying extravagent fears and creating a consciousness of real dangers. We believe that a well and truly-informed public is the best guarantee of effective organization and maintenance of disaster relief. We would, therefore, recommend that the above-mentioned staff member pursue a long term study of the relationships with civilian defense agencies, in order to improve them and stimulate their organization as well and as s3on as In connection with the Civil Defense discussion, both Mr. Lilienthal and Mr. ,Dike spoke of the issuance of the Weapons Effects Handbook that is now being prepared at Los Alamos. It was stated that the Commlssion would appreciate the views of this Committee on the desirability of this handbook, how best to transmit it to the people and the most suitable way t9 translate It for various audiences. We will be pleased to consider these The Committee appreciated the summarization by Mr. Bowman of the studies on the effect of possible attacks on AEC installations and means of minimizing them. Lt. Col. Efnor reviewed the present status of the radiological warfare program being conducted jointly by the AEC and the National Military

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I would like to bring to your attention that ?n two different occasions the Committee has recommended that the b m a d subject of RW be declassified. We are hopeful that the Commission may be able to see their way clear to act favorably on thts Dr. Philip Owen reported on the activities of the Atomjc Casualty Commission. He stated that temporary labwatqries have been completed at Hiroshima and Kure and that permission has been obtained from SCAP to build a permanent laboratory and acqulre land on a lease basis from the Japanese. Housing, as in m s t areas, is a problem. It is anticipated that the moneys allocated to the Atomic Casualty Commission for the Fiscal Year 1949 arc sufficient to carry on the present program inasmuch as there has been a delay in the construction program. is interested in having the Division of Biology and Medicine the focal point f o r the next semiannual report to the Congress. Each mem’ser of our Committee is planning to send a list to Dr. Warren of possible subjects that could be discussed. We believe that special emphasis should be placed on things that have been discovered in fields of biology and medicine which were not known before the AEC ar,d the Manhattan Project began operatim and which are of real value t o medicine. We were glad to learn from Dr. Warren that the Commission. Dr. Jensen reported on the Seminar on Waste Disposal which was held on January 24 and 25. We were pleased to learn of the cooperation that is developing betwecn the Division of Engineering and the Division of Biology and Medicine in studying this problem. Medicine will be held at Brookhaven National Leboratory, April The next meeting of the Advisory Committee for Biology end

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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION DRAFT. LETTER TO THE CHAImUL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 1. We have received and considered your interesting report on the meeting of the Advisory Committee for Biology and r.!edicine which was held i n Washington on February 1 2 , 1949. between the Commission and the Committee were most helpful in a number of the aspects of our program, and I thought that you might be interested in our comments on the various subjects which you and your Committee considered, 2 , We have been aware of the general problem atthe University of Rochester and are conscious of the funds that have already been invested in the project there, We feel that the reduction effected by Dr.Shields Warren isa wise one and that the program should be reviewed within the coming year for further decision as to the level of support. We recognize that the completion of the building for use in the training program may require some rco rien - t ation in the program a t Rochester and i n view of the resp on sibi li - ties placed upon the Commission in this regard, we are anxious that full advantage be taken of the facilities which we are establi shing there. 3. The Division of Biology and Medicine and t h e Division of Engineering are carrying continual cognizance over the particle ter s at Oak Ridge has produced satisfactory results on the problem arising from the pile stack. A rkcent report shows ' that the installation of the fil - 4. Dr.Shields Warren and his staff inthe Dlvioion of Sio lc gy and Medicine are presently engaged i n drawing up plans for the

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biological and medical activities in future tests,A representative of the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory is participating in the biological and medical discussions in the "J" Division a t Los Alamos and discussions have been held by the Division with represent at ives of the Armed Forces i n regard to their participation in the biological and medical testing.Steps have been taken t o designate as c leh ti fic director for the biological and mcdical 5. We have stud led with considerable care thc recommendathe Secretary for Dcresponsibility for civilian dcfcnsc

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against atomic weapons, we feel that we role in the release and dissemination of infoymation 8 , W e also recognlzkthe existence of several means by wpich this information may b.6 disseminated. First, through the app'ropriate civil defcnde agency with its,organization for suc,h'dison Atomic Energy th the Joipd Cornmittcc looking forward to the report,,by Mr. Bowman of the Harlford facilities in $He event of an pons, W e would appreciate consideration in regard to possible release of these studies to thc public. 9. It is anticipated that within the next few weeks the members of the Division of Biology and Medicine will meet with representatives of thc Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission for consideration of the level of support in the coming fiscal ycai-. We recall that in previous meetings thc Advisory Committcc has d l s - cussed the feasibility of attaching this program more intimately to existing Japanese medical institutions. FJe would appreciate further cornmcnt from the Advisory Committee on this subject. 10. In regard to the semiannual report to Congr>css, the Division of Biology and Medicine has advised a number of its investlgators of its desire for material for inclusion in this report. It i s hoped that this will furnish a comprehensive document in the biological and medical field. 11. We will look forward to a report on the meetings of thc Advisory Committee at Brookhaven on A p r i l 8 and 9, 1949.