MONTHLY STATUS AND PROGRESS REPORT
Division of Biology and Medicine
MONTH OF NOVEMBER, 1953
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Research Activities
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Use of Thorium X for Skin Cancers. (UNCLASSIFIED)
Investigators
at New York University are experimenting with thorium X (disintegration
‘product of thorium) which has been used for many years inthe [treatment
of certain skin conditions. In certain concentrations, applidqation of
this radioactive material to the skin of man causes erythema ahd pigmentation, The relative biological effectiveness of the beta and gamma
cornponents of thorium X is many times less than that of the alpha components, and it now appears that the observed effects are due fo the
alpha particle components. Selection of a suitable material if which
thorium X can be incorporated for application might make it pofsible to
permit penetration into the skin, thus depositing the radioactive material below the surface. The effects from alpha bombardment at]the
surface might be avoided in this way.
Further explorations will
made to determine suitable application methods.
Measure of Radium inFood andWater. (UNCLASSIFIED)
be
A Unjversity
of Rochester research group has made studies of the radium con§ent in a
Limited number of common foods, and in water sources from which
city
tap water is used.
It is a well-known fact that radiumoccurs fin
amounts in water and certain foods.
small
Since it is know that radium
accumulates in the skeletal tissues of the body, these studies fare
important in determining if ingestions of small amounts of radifam from
food and water constitute a health hazard.
Radium content was measured in water sources of l1 cities En the
United States. The testsshow that in general ground water fron deep
wells have.the highest concentrations of radium, although the MissisSippi, Missouri, and Allegheny rivers, three important water sohrces, .
aiso have relatively high radium levels. Of all the water sourkes
measured, only four showed concentrations more than 5 x 1071
ries
of radium per milliliter. Measurements of the tap water corresponding
to the four sources revealed a value of 0 - 1.7 x 10715 curies $f radium
per milliliter, with the exception of water at Joliet, Illinois] which
measured 58 x 10-16 curies of radium per milliliter.
The: radiuf con-
tent of foods (i.e., powdered milk, fish, peas, barley, and beef) fell
in the range from 0.7 to 6.5 x 10-15 curies of radium per gram fof
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DETERMINATION (CIRCLE NUMBER/S)]
1, CLASSHICAIION RETAINED
2. CLASSIFICATION CHANG[D TO:
2. CONTANS NO DOE CLASSIFHED IKFO
SCOORDIRATE WITH:
TLASSINCATION CANCELLED
WELASSIHED Hit BRACKETED
d no measurable amounts of radium.
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