MONTHLY STATUS AND PROGRESS REPORT Division of Biology and Medicine MONTH OF NOVEMBER, 1953 | ects m affectine <> peu Lays eeting © “is mnio ind Research Activities Sabet 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 motown) LELAY? 2/4 RE ve bf, , fe, He LA NAMIE. oem f DATE: LPL 5/42 Dene 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. HIVES