Note by the Secretary, Subject: Advisory Committee on Biology and Medicine Report on October Meeting at Hanford (Encl; Report of Meeting October 8-9, 1948)

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COPY NO. is ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION cml3 79ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE REPORT ON OCTOBER MEETING AT HANF’ORD Note by the Secretary 1. Attached is the report of the Director of Biology and Medicine on the recent meeting of the Advisory Committee on Biolbgy and Medicine a t Hanford, October 8 and 9, 1948. a draft letter from the Chairman, AEC, toDr. Gregg, Chairman of 2. Atthe Commission meeting on Octob6r 27 the Director of Biology and Medicine wii l report on staff action taken and planned as a result of recommendations of the Advisory Committee atthe A brief summary of staff action will be d is tri - 3 . It will be recalled that the Commission recently requested reports such as this on the meetings of advisory groups and on resulting staff action, and it i s expected that such reports and informal Commission discussions will become regular items on DIS”RIBUTI0N COPY NO. DISTRIBUTION COPY NO. Deputy General Manager 8 General Counsel 9, 10 Reactor Development ,,- 1 P Biology and Medicine 11,12 Research 23

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This document consists of 3 pagesA ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION TO : Carroll L. Wilson, General Manager FROM: .Shields Warren, bi rector, Division of Biology Report of Meeting of Advisory Committee f o r Biology and Medicine, Hanford Operations Office, October 8 The Advisory Committee f o r Biology and Medicine met Octo- e ber 8 and 9atthe Hanford Operations Office. on an inspection of the facilities as they bore on medical and biological problems, the evening i n informal discussion with problems of the staff in biology and medicine, and the9thin de liber a - tions of the Committee. I am writing to you inthe absence of Dr. Alan Gregg, the Chairman, who i s on vacation. All members of the Committee were in attendance, There was presentation of the particle contamination prob e m by Dr. Parker, who pointed out that at present approximately 10 particles were being discharged per month and that an appreciable number found their way into the operating galleries of the canyons as well as being present in the area outside. The-nature, acti - vity, and hazard of the particles were discussed i n great detail. Dr. Zi rk le, who was present, took part in the discussions, as did Dr. Parker and members of his staff. It became apparent that s o long a s only isolated particles were concerned that those particles even if retained in the lung would be phagocyted and removed from the alveoli, probably moving several centimeters i n the course of their active life. Since a particle would have t o remain stationary to be carcinogenic, and since only a period of six weeks was involved, it was deemed that no hazard would exist in permitting operations t o continue for such time as was necess ary to install the sand filters and to test out,their efficacy as a method of reducing the output of particles.If, on re appr a i - sal after the installation of the protective measures, it was found that particles continued t o be discharged in appreciable amount, a reappraisal of the problem would be necessary. Dr. Parker, the medical program by Dr. Norwood, the program i n public health by Dr. Sachs, and the program i n biology by Dr. Donaldson. The Committee expressed its approval of the programs as outlined and felt that an unusually fine job was being done i n all these fields. The remarkably low death rate a t Richland, even allowing for the difference in age of population, was especially The 8 t h was spent The program in health instrumentation was then presented by

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The need for expansion of facilities and the proper techn ical features was then discussed. The Committee emphasized that it was not wise t o consider setting up Hanford as an additional national laboratory; that it was primarily a productive center and its activities in the field of biology and medicine should be essentially geared t o those of a production center. It was felt that it was important t o have fireproof laboratories for the in - valuable records instruments of f he health instrumentation grcup; that it was highly desirable to pave adequate facilities for aquatic biology and for a large animal farm, but that the soil science laboratory projected was not a wise act iv it iy to be developed a t Hanford, The danger of newly developed facilities competing for personnel with already existing facilities was stressed, It was felt that appreciable economies could be made inthe plans for the projected laboratory buildings. through the Office of Naval Research was re-examined and It was felt desirable to enter into direct contracts for research with universities and other institutions as well as t o operate through the Office of Naval Research, looking forward tothe time when the major portion of the program would be supported through direct discussed and it was felt that continued limitation of the program there was advisable in view of the personnel now available, tracts under the Atomic Energy Commission were discussed and pointed out that it would be difficult for the public to differ en - tiate between work done by a given individual who has AEC contract and inhis own capacity. Consequently, it was felta responsibil it y & vol ved upon those holding AEC contracts to be sure that no question could arise with regard to activities in treatment of patients, whether done under AEC auspices o r not. There was extensive discussion of radiological warfare, particularly in relation to the program of the Chicago Toxicity Laboratory. The program as outlined by the Director of the Division was approved. The importance of intensive work in this field in a relatively short time was stressed. There was general discussion of the relationship 3f the Atomic Energy Commlssion tothe problems of civilian defense planning. It was pointed out that the public would look tothe AEC for adequate information in this field, and that under the Act, no other agency has the necessary information t o provide sound data for planning. It was felt that the present work of the Comission In developing a study of attitudes and of recommended methods of action in relation to atomic hazards was much t o be commended. The Committee placed itself on record that in view of the terms of danger t o human life, and in fact of all life,the Cormittee itself felt and assumed that the Commission feels responsibility for taking an active role In this immensely important field. The Committee learned with appreciation of the statement of policy with regard to clearance in relation to the fellowship program. It was felt that the action of the Commission was inline with the best traditions of scholarship and should prove t o be of value tothe Commission and tothe country as a whole. The relationship of the research program of the Division The personnel situation at the University of Rochester was The problems of experimental therapy by t h o s e holding con-

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The matter of support and mode of dist ci but ion of cyclotronproduced isotopes was discussed. of the Sub-committee on Radiobiology to subsidize to some extent produced isotopes was highly desirable and in the interest of Dr. Jensen, and It was felt that further studies are indicated to determine the exact nature of the hazard. The problem presented by the disintegration of the fused trinit it e was discussed and it was felt that active measures should be taken t o remove this as members of the Committee and the Director spent October 10th a t the University of Washington In Seattle, reviewing and discussing Dr. Donaldsonls program in aquatic biology. It was f,el t that the proposal The re survey of the Alamogordo area was reported upon by The meeting adjourned a t 4:45 p.m., October 9 . Several

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DRAFT LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN, AEC, TO CHAIRMAN, ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 1. The Atomic Energy Commission appreciates the help &iv?n by you and the members of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine. Your appraisal of the program a t Hanford Operations Office at your last meeting i s most serviceable and was particular - ly helpful in unraveling the particle contamination proble:n, which might have been a serious hindrance to the essential development of our production schedule. 2. Your comments on what you feel to be the responsibility of the Atomic Energy Commission in the field of education inre - la tion to the problems of a to qi c energy are constructive and will prove of value to us in our planning. The progress of staff conside ration and action on the Committee's other recommcndations and observations may be of interest to you, and is outlined in the in closed memorandum, *