Human Radiation Research Review

Page 1

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY NAVAL SUBMARINE MEDICAL RESEARCH US ORATORY NAVAL SUBMARINE BASE NEW LONDON From: Commanding Officer, Naval Submarine Medical Research To: Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (MED-21), 2300 E Sub]: HUMAN RADIATION RESEARCH REVIEW (b) NSKRL ltr 3900 Ser 00/096 of 10 Feb 94 Encl: (1) Memo of 20 Jan 4 5 from CDR Chrisman 1. In response to reference (a), the following updated information to reference (b) is provided: A. 1) Name and Location of Activity: Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory (NSMRL) Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, CT 3) Applicable records located? NO 4) Status of Search Effort: 99% complete 5) Assessment of whether command conducted or sponsored human radiation research: of US Submarine Base New London, CT; Medical research evalaations of radi-am in the prevention and treatment of aerotitis media in submariners. This medical treatment occurred during and immediately following World War 11, and was carried out under Research Project X-434 (Sub No. 90) "Aero-otitis media among submarine personnel - predecessors has been identified. - No other human radiation research at NSMRL or its B. 1) Medical health records associated with the use of radium in treating aerotitis media may have existed at the Medical Research Laboratory (MRL) after the war; however, their existence within the physical facilities of MRL or its successor NSMRL remains unconfirmed.

Page 2

Subj: HUMAN RADIATION RESEARCH REVIEW Treatments were carried o u t in Building 126 on the SUBASE, adjacent to the present NUMI; a tennis court now occupies this footprint. The physician administering the treatments during the war, LTJG Henry L. Haines, remained under contract to HRL as a civilian The OIC of KFU from 1951-56 confirmed that MRL participation in radium treatments had ended by the time he assumed command in 1951. Dr. Hainesl contract was not renewed by MRL. Captain Duffner, OIC, recalls the results of medical treatments ICW submarine training during the war being kept on 5 x 8 cards, and perhaps radium treatments were recorded thusly. Captain Duffner has no recollection of radium treatment records being kept at MRL. 2) NSMRL has copies of articles written on the results of radium treatment of aerotitis media I C W this project. These articles do not provide identifying information on the submariners receiving radiation. - A l l senior personnel in terms of NSMRL service recollections surfaced of radium or other radiation research records. .- Intensive, comprehensive search of central NSMRL archives in Basement of B l d g 148 by 18 staff members including senior scientists over three days yielded no radiation research records. box/file was opened, contents thoroughly examined, and documented in writing. L- Review of publications from 1950 to 1961 by CO, and title review of publications by XO from 1961 to present, found no evidence of other human radiation research at NSKRL. - Room by room search of NSMRL Bldgs 141, 148 and 156 by Department Heads and staff yielded no records; results of room-by-room search documented

Page 3

Subj: HUMAN RADIATION RESEARCH REVIEW correspondence of Captain Schilling, MC, USN, first OIC of MRL (1938-47). In these files are letters, manuscripts and reprints of several papers on the treatment of aerotitis media. Enclosure (1) was found among this correspondence, and is the only evidence uncovered with names of submariners who may have received radium treatment. In addition, proposed treatment of aerotitis media in submariners by X-radiation was never completed, as documented in correspondence. 2. One locked safe and two locked filing cabinets which we are unable t o open remain to be inventoried. called to open these structures, and the results of their inventory will be submitted t o you. A locksmith has been initially retained by NSMRL Executive Officer, and then returned to NSMRL Librarian for safekeeping. Personal correspondence files of Captain Schilling will be