BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE UNCLASSIFIED=— stafe of knowledge of blast biology, determined the priorities of needs for data, and was to make recommendations as to the field and laboratory experiments required to obtain these data. A similar meeting of the Thermal Biology Task Unit was held in Washington, D. C., in September under the chairmanship of Dr. Herman Pearseof the University of Rochester, Radiation Monitoring Instruments ' Plans were made for the evaluation of two prototype instruments combining a portable transistor radio and a radiation dose rate meter that have been developed for civilian use. Twenty-five instruments of each type will be distributed to AEC laboratories and selected field personnel for test and comment. EXPANSION OF RESEARCH A comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the biology and medicine research program was completed during the quarter. This review was conducted in accordance with recommen- dations made during the 1957 hearings of the Joint Committee on “The Nature of Radioactive Fallout and Its Effects on Man” that the AEC’s biomedical program be examined as to possible need for increased researcheffort in order to accelerate resolution of the problems of the biological hazards of radiation and radioactive fallout. The testimony at the hearings brought out that there was a well balanced AEC-supported research program in biology and medicine and that any proposed increase in research should not be at the expense of long-term basic research by a diversion of effort to a multitudeof short-lived programmatic research projects. As a result of this review the Commission approved, for planning purposes, a 5-year plan for continued expansion of research in biology and medicine, emphasizing particularly the biological hazards of radiation associated with peaceful and military uses of atomic energy. 7 88 o BERYLLIUM SURVEYS Because of the health hazards associated with beryllium handling, the Health and Safety Laboratory of the New York Operations Office (HASL) is continually studying beryllium operations and hazards in connection with AEC contractor activities in this field, as a part ofits environmental health services and studies. Surveys of occupational exposure to beryllium dust at the new Beryllium Corporation plant at Hazelion, Pennsylvania, were conducted in January and May 1958. The May survey showed that all production employees were receiving five or more times the maximum acceptable con~ centration. Ik was decided to shut down the refinery until major changes in equipment and operetions could be made. - al il- A similar survey of the new Brush Beryllium Company refinery at Elmore, Ohio, conducted Caring the plant shakedown period, showed a large number of the 108 persons studied were being exposed to excessive concentrations of beryllium. HASL made recommendations for improving dust control. It. was decided that air concentrations were not sufficiently haz~ arcous to rarrant closing the plant, but that extensive plant modifications were needed to ensure satisfactory operations. ROE ARCHIVES In July representatives of HASL and the Chicago Operations Office reviewed cecontamina- ticn of the AEC beryllium production plant at Luckey, Ohio. Good progress had been made in decontamination since the plant closed down in December 1957, but cleanup probably will not be completed before May 1959. HASL will continue to advise the contractor on decontamination procedures and will help perform periodic tests of certain equipment and buildings which have - -been decontaminated. Denartment of Ens Histerierts ergSN UNCLASSIFIED - SS aa re Nea eee LT ete Py ¥ 31 +