Engineers on 8/14/45. It was cc-ed to Norman Hilbern (assoc. project director for
Metallurgical Project) and R.S. Stone. The following outline is taken from other sections
of this proposal:
I Plutonium
A metabolic behavior in tracer amounts
a) inhalation
b) injection
c) ingestion
B toxicity experiments
C decontamination studies
D fixation in soils
II fission products
A metabolic behaviorat tracer levels
B fixation studies on soils
III other radioelements
IV iodine studies using radio-iodine as a trace. object is to learn how best to
block uptake of radioiodine by prophylactic means
June 18, 45: Hamilton wrote the following in a report on tracer studies, which were
"needed for evaluation of health hazards which are related to nucleonics.
a. Expansion of knowledge concerning modesof entry, distribution within certain
organs and tissues, and exact rates of excretion in man for polonium, uranium, and
plutonium. Considerable information concerning the metabolism of plutonium in animals
is available. Relativelylittle direct knowledge of the behavior of plutonium in man is at
handat the present moment. In the case of polonium and uranium both human and
animal studies are far from complete. Thoroughly accurate quantitative values in the
human for the distribution and excretion of these three substances are needed before
reliable and realistic tolerance values can be established. The very probable large scale
production of 233 suggests that this substance may approach in scope the problems of
health protection already before us that have been the result of the preparation of
plutonium in kilogram quantities. Moreover, the production of u235 containing up to
several percent of U234 likewise emphasizes the desirability for very thorough study of
the metabolic properties of this element.
b. The development of methods for treatment of individuals who have become
infected with long lived radioactive materials such as fission products, plutonium,
uranium 233 and uranium234 etc. This work mustfirst be initiated on the tracer level to
permit a reasonably rapid survey of possible therapeutic procedures.”
Jul 25, 45: William Bloom to Hamilton: "This is a fine experiment”
30 July, 45: Staffor Warren called for a review of the Manhattan District projects--only
those directly related to the war effort were to be undertaken; longer term projects
belonged to peace-time agencies.
Stone notified Stafford Warren (23 Jan, 46) that he was leaving the Metallurgical Project;
he suggested, however, that work being doneat the radiation Laboratory and at UC Med.
be continued.
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
Archives and Records Office
Human Radiation Experiments Search and Retrieval Project
Anna Berge Research Notes
Electronic DocumentTitle: Bancroft/EOL
April 4, 1994
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