PREFACE
Wright's intense interest in plutonium con-
This report of the health of war-time Los
Alamos plutonium workers was inspired by Wright H.
tinued until his untimely death.
Langham and is dedicated to his memory.
draft of this manuscript and a number of now de-
Wright's
In fact, an early
keen interest in plutonium is known to everyone and,
classified war-time reports on plutonium experiences
as one of the if not the world's authority on pluto-
were with him at the time of the fatal plane crash.
nium biochemistry and toxicity, he was the first to
Although Wright died before he could write his
be called upon by our government as well as those
interpretation of the present data, he contributed
of other countries whenever plutonium problems
enormously to the report in the course of dis-
arose.
cussions of the subject during the winter of 1971-
His ultimate concern, of course, was the
toxicity of plutonium in man and, in this connec-
1972.
tion, he organized the UPPU Club composed of the
suffers greatly by not having Wright's direct par-
subjects of this study.
ticipation, the authors have tried to write a
He kept in close touch with
Although we are well aware that the study
the Club members by periodic circulation of friendly
report of which he would have been proud.
UPPU Newsletters.
effort to make the report into a personal living
It was undoubtedly the humor and
In an
enthusiasm expressed in these Newsletters that has
story, which it was to Wright, we have included
been responsible for the excellent cooperation of
many of the anecedotes that Wright Loved to tell.
the UPPU Club members in this study.
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