©. FICIAL USE ONLY
In the interim, after conferring with Dr. D. Hylton, of Rocky Flats,
Dr. Roger McClellan, of Lovelace Foundation, and with Drs. Kylstra and Hall,
of Duke University, who are experienced in performing lung lavage on humans,
Mr. Olveda agreed to a lavage.
On August 29, in Albuquerque, his measured
lung burden was 426 nanocuries, compared with 450 nci observed at Rocky
Flats on August 22.
Complete lung function tests and other preparatory tests
on August 28-29 were normal.
On August 30, under a general anesthesia,
his right lung was lavaged with 25.5 liters of saline.
This was repeated on
his left lung on September 3.
On September 8 his right lung was washed
again with 12 liters of saline.
These three sessions were uneventful with
full subjective recovery in several hours,
Preliminary estimates of 239 py

in the three "wash fluids' were 31, 9 and 4 nanocuries, respectively.

In

addition, Mr. Olveda also received DIPA daily during August 30-September 9,
On September 6 at Lovelace he had a lung burden of 7,2 nanocuries of 24]am
which provided an estimate of 285 nanocuries of 239pu,
The uncertainty of
the assumed Pu-Am ratio was introduced by measurements taken at LASL on
Sgptember 7 which gave 7.8 nanocuries of
Am but only 160 nanocuries of
239Pu by direct measurement.
Despite these measurement discrepancies, which may be significantly
modilied by subsequent measurements of Mr. Olveda and Mr. Smith at the three
aforementioned institutions, it appears that the lavage was to the distinct
advantage of the patient especially when the risk of the procedure in a
healthy individual is considered to be no more than that of the general
anesthetic.
Further, this incident will be covered in such detail that it
may contribute significantly to an accepted treatment guidance that would
include improved appraisal of such accident situations and promulgation of
good and common medical practices.
A review of current practices is planned
for September 30 at Hanford.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT HEARINGS.

Dr. W. R. Bibb,

Medical Branch, DBM, informed the ACBM of the scope of the participation by
DBM staff in hearings on nuclear power plants.
Specifically, staff participation in the hearings on the Palisades, Davis-Besse, and Shoreham plants
was discussed as well as the nature of the testimony offered in opposition
to these plants.
The ACBM was also briefed on DBM staff participation in
hearings conducted before various state legislative bodies and citizens'
groups.
Finally, anticipated DBM participation in the pending legal action
to prevent further testing on the Nevada Test Site was reviewed.
A short
discussion by members of the ACBM on the nature of the public's concern about
the environmental effects of radioactivity followed.

OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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