Mechanisms of heavy-metal toxicity.
Heavy metals, such asflead,
mercury, and uranium, whether radioactive or not, tend to be toxicfand
provide industrial hazards during their handling. However, the toficity
of each of these substances differs somewhat and may have several facets.
A full understanding of this problem requires knowledge ofthe reaftions
of these materials with the vital materials of the cells and the rpgsult-
ant upsets of functions at the cellular level.
A series of studies are being performed at the University
Rochester Atomic Energy Project on toxicity effects in micro-org
and organs such as the diaphragm and intestines of higher animals
‘utilization. Glucose utilization was completely inhibited withinla few
minutes in the presence of certain dilute concentrations of merc
However, using a sensitive histochemical method at that tile, no
inhibition.
(End of UNCLASSIFIED section.)
Radiation Instruments Program
Film badge calibration a. At the requdst of
the Radiation Instruments Branch, the National
Bureau of Standards has
recently completed a study of the various film dosimeters used wjthin the
AEC. ‘This study was divided into two parts. First, a laborator¥ study
was made of the minimum range, quality dependence of the dosimet@rs, and
second, a cross calibration consisting of an evaluation of the agility
of the site to determine doses that were applied to the dosimetefs by
the National Bureau of Standards.
The cross calibration data coflected
by NBS is now being analyzed by the Instruments Branch.
It has been suggested, in view of differences reported
Canadians and Knolls Laboratory of dosages received by United $
sonnel who worked in Canada on the reactor clean-up, that an inv
be extended to the Canadians to participate in a similar cross
tion study. Word has been received from Canada that they would
to participate in the study, and it is expected that this work
completed during January.
(End of section for OFFICIAL USE ONL
Civil Defense Activities (UNCLASSIFIED)
Emergency radiation monitoring program. Recently, revifion was
approved in the directive governing the 18 emergency radiation
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ridé.
mercury could be detected in the diaphragm muscle cells.
A few h@urs
later, as the mercury appeared within the cells, the respiration fecame
progressively depressed.
Thus, it appears that the mercury-sensifive
reactions involved in glucose utilization are at the cell surfacefiand
are concerned with the passage of sugar from the outside to the cll interior. The mercury-sensitive respiratory reactions, however, ockur within the cell, and this imposes a time lag before appearance of th
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