Archive description
This report is a transcript of an interview of William J. Blair by representatives of the US DOE Office of Human Radiation Experiments. Dr. Blair was selected for this interview because of of his participation in the University of Rochester Atomic Energy Project and for his radiological inhalation research at Hanford Site. After a brief biographical sketch Dr. Blair discusses his remembrances on a wide rage of topics. Discussions include his graduate studies at Rochester University, use of human subjects at Rochester, his inhalation studies, his limited involvement with human studies, differing biological effects of plutonium 238 and 239, emissions from proposed nuclear-propelled aircraft, cancer research, cleanup at Nevada Test Site and Marshall Islands, impact of Langham studies to understand Plutonium exposure, and AEC controversies and colleagues.
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June 1995 Setting: October 14,1994, Richland, Washington Interviewers: David Harrell and Cindy Shindledecker (DOE Office of Human Radiation Experiments) ORAL HISTORY OF HEALTH PHYSICIST Conducted October 14, 1994 in Richland, Washington, by David Harrell from COMPA Industries, Inc., and Cindy Shindledeckerfrom Kouchoukos and Associ atesfor tlK Office o fHuman Radiation Experiments, US. Department o fEnergy. William J. Bair was selectedfor the oral historyproject because o fhisparticipation in the University o fRochesterAtomic Energy Project as J. Newell Starmard’sfirst graduate student in radiation biology, andfor his radionuclide inhalation research at Hanford Site. The oral history covers Dr. Bair’s education and his career at Hanford, including his role as manager o f the Biology Department and his role as Director o fthe Life Sciences Program. Dr. Bair was received his B.A. in Chemistiy from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1949, and received the first PLD. in Radiation Biology fixim the University o f Rochester Atomic Energy Program in 1954. Dr. Bair went to work for General Electric Ebnford Laboratory (Richland, Washington) in 1954 as a biological scientist, and has worked for Hanford’s management and operations ^ & 0 ) contractors throughout his career. In 1956, he became manager o f tire Inhalation Toxicology Section o f Pacific Northwest Laboratory’s (PNL’s) Biology Department. From 1968 to 1975 he managed PNL’s Biology Healtii, and Safely Research Program at Hanford from 1975 to 1990. From 1986 to 1993, he was manager o f PNL’s Life Sciences Center. His research focused on tire inhalation of radio nuclide aerosols, mostly fission products, by various animal species, primarily beagle dogs. Dr. Bair’s professional affrliations and appointments include; Member, Health Physics Society, President (1984-85), Member, Sigma Xi, Member, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (1973-92), National Academy o f Sciences, and International Commission on Radiological Protection. In 1970, Dr. Bair received the Atomic Energy Commission’s E.O. Lawrence Memorial Award for Research on Radiation Biology o f Inhaled Radionuclides. He has published extensively on animal inhalation of radionuclides as well as on the implications o f this data for human respiratory models. SHINDLEDECKER: This is Cindy Shindledecker and David Harrell from the DOE Office of Human Radiation Experiments. It’s October 14, 1994. This is the oral history interview o f Dr. William Bair at Pacific Northwest Laboratory in Richland, Washington. Thanks for talking with us. Dr. Bair; we ap preciate you taking the time to do this.
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