Minutes of Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine Twelfth Meeting Held at Hanford Operations Office Richland, Washington, October 8-9, 1948 (AEC-Acbm Meeting No. 12)

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Advisory Committee f o r Biolo.gy and Medicine The twelfth meeting of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Nedicino of t h e Atomic Energy Camnissim was convened by the Chairman, D r . Alan Gregp, at 9:OO A.M. at the Hanford Operations Office, Richland, Wabhingtpn, on October 9 , 1948. Present at the meeting were D r . Alan Gregg, Chairman, Weam Members of the staff of the Atomic Energy Commission of Fanford Operations Office attending: Xr. Roy C. Hageman, University of Washington, and Dr. Kenneth G: Scott, University o f Cai if orn ia . The first order of business presented t o the Committee by the Chairman was a discussion o f the minutes of the meeting held on Septenber 11 at the Atomic Energy Commission I n

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aMit ion be included on Page 9 at Northwestern University, Chicago, the end of Line 8: "at Illinois, 'I and that Page 11, Line D r . Hastings made a mction that the minutes be accepted as corrected. Wearn and carried unanimously, The motion was seconded by Dr. Dr. Parker, Manager of the Health Insturnents Division, sought the scientific and professional advice of the Connittee regarding the problem emanating from active particles dissemination fron the process stacks which was ' discovered about a year ago by routine survey men. Dr. Parker explained the situation in detail and stated that the first particles found on the ground were quite active according t o present standards. The hottest was a three particles with a coating of active materials and it was found that they came from defective duct work inthe systen and rust was flaking off and falling within 2000 ft. of the particular duct work. might actually be a biological hazard. !he particles were carrier rust %is problem has been corrected by removing t h i s Ehaller particles were left which The rust particles ranged up toa millimeter i n diameter and the smallest found was 100th of the size. Dr. Parker presented the following data in explaining the seriousness of the problem.

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above inhaled inhaled ' ground per month per month ArPas p e r no. 200 Area 200 W Insd Insd as for a particular nonth does not coincide with the exact exposure tine, due to lag in radioautography and reporting:, not affect t h e argunent presented. Particles inhaled per nonth are based on the number of pr tic les in the mount of air inhaled by a nan working 8 lioure per day f o r 20 days p e r month i n the plant areas, No allowance i s made for rejection of large particles or for the exhalation of a fraction of the entering particles. In resident lal areas, the inhalation figure is based on a 24-hour day and * There was one value of 70 here, not mentioned in the presentation.

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Cocrient on Dr.Zi rk le ' s figure for wanderine 1. A lug active particle at 10 microns gives 10r e p / hy. 2. If the particle nig rates back and forth over aline 100 microns low3 the dose rate is 2.5 rep/day 3 . If the particle wanders over adisc of diameter 100 microns, 4, If the particle nip rates steadily at 100 microns per day i n one direction, the average dose rate t,o a particular cell is 0.5 rep/day for the first five days, and thereafter rapidly In sunnary, rather nore nobility is required for absolute safety than was implied i n the neeting, . After a thorough discussion by the Connittee, the Director of the Division of Biology and Medicine, Dr. Parker and nenbers of his staff and 3r- Raynond E, Zi rk le, of the University of Chicago, it was the sense of the Ccmmittee "€hat there i s no scientific evidence that it is an unwarranted hazard t o continue the present process for six weeks, during which time steps will be taken vigorously t o If, on continued investigation after the installation of the protective neasures, it i s found that particles continue t o be discharged i n appreciable mount,a reanpraisctl of the problem would be necessary. tat ion . which i s divided into three divisions, Operational, Development Dr. Parker presented thc Health In st ment ation Program, and Biolopy, The operational Division is further divided into t w o groups, survey and personnel monitoring, which occupies approximately 190 people reto achieve steady

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irnprovenent in the light of advancing knowledpe of the art of radiation protection. The @ ? rations Group, with the assistance of Dr, Kenneth Scott, of the University of California at Berkeley, developed the Bio-assay plutoniun The Development Division studies problens i n many fields of science including site surveys for the study of environmental hazards and determining the origin and nature of the particles discussed previously. Dr. Parker discussed the waste disposal problem and the objectives of Hanford Operations t o adopt an improved system t o dispose of such material, Washington & investigations now being carried on at the Applied Fisheries Oprn s . Laboratory, University of Washington and at t h e Hanford Operations Office, Richland, Washington. The laboratories at ten pt to evaluate the overall effects of i adi ation on snlnonoid fishes and their eggs, Over a period of years a study has been made. of sone three and one-half million fish. In aMit ion to the work with salmonoid fish, work i s being also undertaken on other species of fish including the cornon Dr. Donaldson reported on the field laboratory which had been established at the Hanford Works where evaluation studies are being conducted on the effect of the plant effluent on the life in the Colunbia Btver, This laboratory i s under the innediate supervision ofMr. Richard- F, Foster, and due t o the working arrangements between the Aquatic Biology Field

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S t a t ion and the Applie borat ory at the Univer sit: of Washington have nade it ps sib leto carry out a maxfmum research program with a nininun of dupl.ication. Dr. DonalC-son told of the rafiiobiological stufiies which had been carried on during igb6 inthe southw-tst Pacific on the effect of the bomb on the fauna and flcra of the atoll. Stuiiies were resuned ai; Bikini in 1947 supported by special is ’ from other laboratories. Observations were made at Eniwetok iiuring the Spring of 1948 and sanples were collected for measuring [ the early cont wi nation of aquatic forms that resulted from the “Operation Sandstone“ tests. A field party sponsored by the Atomic Energy Connission returned to Bikini during the mer of 1948 t o continue these studies and some 2,000 ashed samples were collected at fourteen major the program and of the continuous progress with respect t o health of enplpyees of the General Electric Company at Hanford Operations Office, its contractors and of the pb li c The hospital t known as the Kadlec Hospital, hasa capaci.ty of ninety beds uncrowded, however, there has been up t o 135 patients hospitalized. It i s Froposed that the capacity of the hos y it al will be increased t o 150 beds, which will take care of a pernanent population of from 3O,OOO t o The staff consists of 28 salaried physicians,. . 2 eye, ear and throat an? 1 eye yhysician. General-Electric

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employees nearly all have availed thenselves of a pre-naynmt sickness and hospitalization Trogram. Dr. Norwooc! expressed his thanks t o the Cornittee for their very real and understanding interest in his problens.. He further stated that the Cornittee brought t o them "unparalleled howledge in the various branbhes of medicine and bio loa and the conbined nature judgnant o f nen eminent i n Sachs - and his family living in Bichland. Vital statistics were present pb li c health program as it pertains to the worker. discussed, Dr. Sachs stated that the birthrate Is high, running between 30 ani! 75 2er 1,000 pop la tion, while the death rate is about 2.5 per 1,000 population. Morbidity statistics were also of interest to the Committee, The State of Washington pb li c health rules and regulations are coq lied with. Tuberculosis cR.ses average about one case a month. Dr, Sachs reported on all phases of nursing other than hospital, which included the public health nursing service procedures for the prevention of disease and Tronotion of health in the family and the community. Also nate rna l hygiene nur sing, which include s po st-nat a1 care and child cbe. Special service is Frovided for the crimiled child,either through the Public Health Service orthe Crippled Children's

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:: Health information i s disseminated to the pb li c 'by enployees and the means of p m ? hlets, posters and nevsyape? stories, and with the aid of a he a it h e4uca.tor and a he a ii h h successful sanitation program Is being carried out for water, food and nilk, Richland isa nosquito-infected area, Anonheles nosquitoes are a potential danger. But through airplane spraying, mist spraying, fogeing, etc., the nosquito i s being Dr, Sachs stressed the need of. a laboratory, ch'lefly for diagnostic services and secondly for the bacteriological analysis of water and milk instead of the nresent use of the Radlec hospital labor at ory2 The Ccmittee expressed i t s approval of the programs as outlined and they felt that an unusually fine contribution was being na2e by all the staff inall the fields. Copment was nade on t h e renarkable low death rate at Richland, even allowing for the difference in age of nopl ation, Resurvey o f Dr. Jensen told of his recent visit to Alamogordo. The question whether the area should be fenced off as a hazardous area was thoroughly discussed. The grasses show a fairly high level of activity.The - level of grazing is a?yroxinately 10-12 anirnals t o 640 acreso The dronnings of animals also have an activity. ten head of cattle be purchased for studies which have been Dr. Jensen stated that it i s proposed that grazing on slightly n warn " areas for sone two years and that

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studies be l ~ e rfc rne dt o see if there 'rs anything of a detrimental nature accumulated in these animals* The moblem :!resented by the disintegration of the fused trinit it e which covers the area in a layer one-half inch o r soin thickness of one-hax mile radius was discussed and i t was felt that active measures should be taken t o remove this as a potential hazard. It was the sense of the Committee that this was an engineering problem as to best nethods of covering the Medical Dr. Warren proposed that consideration be given t o the for Div. naming of/successor as Director of the Division of Biology Medicine and Medicine. Dr. Warren suggested the name of Dr. Joseph Hamilton of the University of California at Berkeley. The Committee agreed that the appointment be offered t o Dr. Hamilton if .it was agreeable tothe Comnission and the Relnt ion ship Dr. Warren outlined tothe Cornittee the proposed consoli?.ation of many of the ad n in is tr at ive fu ict ions of the Division of Research and t h e Division of Biology and Medicine. Dri Warren recornended that thYs central executive grWF could handle direct contractual relationship with some of the nedical ad biological contractor investigators instead o f having the contracts administered by ONR. It was his belief that if such a procedure cotlld be placed into effect

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through Atonic Energy Conmission channels the administration of the cc n tracts would run more smoothly, This nrocedure wou'i. eliminate the overhead charge by ONH for administering the contracts which the Office of Naval Research and the AEC staff believe is eq ul table, but would entail additional AEE a dni nist rat ive expense. - After afull discussion it was unanimously voted by the Connittee that Dr. Warren should investigate with the officials of ONR and the Atonic Energy Comission direct haridling of research contracts by The Atomic Energy Comnission and make every effort to establish this new procedure at the earliest possible date. It was understood that the Office of Naval Research should continue t o handle contracts wherein there was a joint interest; ofthe Office of Naval Research ani! the Dfvision o f Blology and Medicine i n the research nroblen. Dr. Warren prosented tothe Committee a letter fron Dr. Henry Blair, Director, Atomic Energy Project, University of Rochester, which listed the personnel working on the project. In view of the size ofthe arogram at Rochester, the importance ofthe ?reject and the amount o f moneys that have been allocated to the University by the Atonic F4ergy Comnission, Dr. Warren asked the Committee t o make a study of the project and t o renort at the next ne:ting of the Connittee "as t o whether o r not any sters should be considered between the Division and the University o f Rochester as t o

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A draft letter personally written by I)r, Alan Greg? t o Dr, Robert Stone was circulated to the Cornittee for discus sion. The letter set forth the policies cf the Atonic kergy Cornnission and the Division of Biology and Medicine relating t o experimental therapy and that it was a measure t o be enplcyed by the Ccm it tee to bring to Dr. Stone's attention the confines and limitations of his work under his AEC contract, With minor chaages the cormittee reconmended that the letter should go forward t o Dr, Stone. Dr, Warren ieviewed the RW Frogram of the Chicego Toxicit y Laboratory and pe sent ed to the Conmittee his sqqzestions as given toDr. McLean on the organization of the RW Study Panel and t5n outline of its proposed activities. The members of the panel are as follows : Dr. Lo S. Taylor, Division of Bio low and Medicine, BEC Dr, Austin N e Brues, krgonne National Laboratory Dr. Raymond Zirkle , Univer si t y .of Chicago Dr. Robert D. Boche, University of Chicago Lt.Col. Robert H. Blount, Office of the Air Surgeon Maj. Albert J. Bauer, Mac. Office o f Surgeon General of Biology and Medicine, AEC Afull discussion followed on the broad program of RW. Dr. Warren circulated a draft letter which had been ayprcved by the Office of the General Counsel t o Dr. Stafford inB & M . Warren, which exylained the reascns of the Cob it tee for

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the li refusal t’t tho Ccmmission that funds i n California, L.A, for the construction of a building for. nuclear research - in bio loa and medicine ... With a few n5nor changes it was voted unanimously that the letter should Dr. Warren summarized t h e Hanford Operations Of’f ice program as outlined in their proposed budget. The need for expansion of facilities was thoroughly …