Applications of radioisotopes in the preparation of labeled drugs are reviewed. Among the applications described are the preparation of carbon-14- labeled cardiac glycosides, and the biosyinthesis of carbon-14-labeled digitoxin, morphine, colchicine, atropine, podophyllotoxin, and nicotine. The fate and metabolism of many of these drugs were traced. Radiochemical procedures were developed for the synthesis of pure compounds of pharmacological interest labeled with carbon-14, sulfur-35, and tritium. Investigations were made on the phenomena of drug penetration into the central nervous system. Publications during the period are listed. (C.H.)

References to 193 publications of staff members of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission during 1947 through 1959 are listed in both English and Japanese. Author and subject indexes are included.

Previous investigations that the pancreas is a radioresistant organ. Ivy in 1924 noted the presence of a fibrotic atrophic pancreas in a dog which had received one erythema dose to the epigastrium. Fisher in 1923 reported that four to five erythema doses delivered in a single application caused complete disappearance of the irradiated pancreatic remnant in about two months. These dogs died because of uncontrolled diabetes. One dog that received four erythema doses (possibly 200 r) was sacrificed after five months. At autopsy the irradiated pancreas had disappeared, but 275 mgm of regenerated pancreas were found at the base of the main duct and 100 mgm at the base of the accessory duct. Leven in 1933 implanted radon seeds into the pancreas. Dosages varied from 528 to 1584 millicurie hours. At postmorten the pancreas surrounding the seeds demonstrated fibrous atropy and foci of necrosis. The islets appeared normal but were relatively larger in size. Rauch in 1952 reported that dogs given 200 r in air over the pancreas on alternate days until a total of 1600 r was received failed to show any histological changes after two months. Lushbaugh and Spalding and Lushbaugh reported that over 1500 r of whole-body …

"This bibliography lists selected articles on beryllium which have appeared in journals received in the library of the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, Livermore, California and articles, reports, and books which have appeared in the following abstracting services between January, 1958 and August 1959."

A report about investigations of several binary alloy systems of thorium. Some of these alloys containing lead, molybdenum and tin have been prepared in the tungsten arc furnace.

Surface contamination with beryllium becomes a hazard to health only when the potential exists for resuspension in air in enough quantity and for enough time to exceed the prescribed standards for airborne exposures. There are several factors governing the rate and nature of resuspension phenomena. These factors include: the quantity and properties of the particular beryllium compound causing the contamination, the nature of the surface, activities in the vicinity, ventilation in the area which might affect the dilution of resuspended particles, and the presence of other control measures such as respiratory protection and use of wet methods. Generally, it has been found that the problem is minimal and can be easily controlled by exercising good judgement based upon consideration of pertinent factors governing resuspension, and a knowledge of the nature of beryllium toxicity.

The first national Technical Conference on Air Pollution (1) held in this city in 1950 included eight papers on meteorology; the present session contains one. On this basis, one night conclude that recent progress in meteorology has been virtually nonexistent or that the importance of meteorological factors has been diminishing, Neither could be further from the truth, as the number and quality of papers relating to air pollution meteorology in recent scientific and technical sessions will attest. It is particularly appropriate to review the status of meteorological "know-how" at this time, because of the many situations in which the ultimate capability of the atmosphere to absorb pollution is in question. Both in connection with highly toxic materials on the one hand and the "megalopolis" on the other, estimates of the "atmospheric sewer capacity" are becoming increasingly necessary to industrial and municipal planning.

The Redox process uses or produces only a very few materials that are hazardous for reasons other than radioactivity. The conditions under which these materials become hazardous were carefully taken into consideration in the development of the process and design of the equipment. A considerable about of information on the hazardous properties of the process materials was obtained so that the pertinent material could be incorporated into the process specifications. Providing the equipment is operating properly and the process is being carried out within specification limits, no hazardous conditions can be created by the process. The purpose of this report is to assemble in a single, readily available document all of the information on the normal concentration limits and safe handling procedures needed to adequately control the use and storage of these materials. This report should be helpful in preparing safety bulletins and provide guidance in case of unusual incidents, malfunctioning of equipment, or contemplated changes in either the process or equipment. It is important to remember that a maximum allowable concentration (MAC) is only a limit on the concentration of a toxic material which cannot be exceeded in the air to which workers are constantly exposed to every working …

Report of progress on the metabolic properties of various materials, biological studies of radiation effects, health chemistry and physics.

Boron-10 has a high thermal neutron capture cross section (3880 barns). Following neutron capture, the subsequent nuclear disintegration produces an alpha particle and a lithium-7 nucleus with the release of an average of 2.34 MeV for the particle irradiation, and in 93% of the reactions there is also the emission of an 0.48 MeV gamma ray: [equation not transcribed]. The kinetic energy is divided between the lithium-7 nucleus and the alpha particle giving the equal and opposite momentums with a range in tissue of about 8-14μ or approximately 1 cell diameter (1). This fact and the reported favorable partition of boron between tumor and the normal brain suggested a possible therapeutic usefulness which has been investigated clinically. The object of our study is to document the biological effects of the B10 (n,α) Li7 reaction on the brain of dogs injected with boron-10 30 minutes prior to irradiation with thermal neutrons. For this, we felt it desirable to estimate a dose for the boron-10 reaction which if exceeded, produces destruction of normal tissue. This dose could then be a reference dose to be utilized as a maximal limit for the irradiation of normal tissue. We have assured that the largest fluence …

Irradiation of a living animal with X-rays induces alternation in the proteins of cells in which ionization events occur. Systematic end-products such as the proteins of plasma would, by changes in quality and quantity divulge modification of their synthetic pathways, or compensatory responses of the hematopoietic systems to stresses caused by irradiation in other organs. Serological identification of proteins, a sensitive means of biochemical characterizations was chosen to reveal variations in the proteins of the plasmas of chickens that had been exposed to large, but sub-lethal, doses of X-ray irradiation. Turbidimetric comparisons were made of precipitation tests involving reactions between antisera produced in rabbits against the sera of normal chickens, and pre-irradiation and post-irradiation samples of plasma from 15 chickens.

"Dust and gas masks and respirators have been an effective method under certain environmental conditions to reduce the inhalation of toxic aerosols. Under many conditions, however, their efficacy has been seriously questioned. It is the purpose of this study to evaluation over-all respirator performance on fine aerosols and to develop equipment whereby a greater degree of respiratory protection may be assured with reliability for highly toxic atmospheres."

The following quarterly report covers a period between October, November, December of 1953 to April of 1954. The document provides reports on medical and health physics, particularly on the biological studies of radiation effects, the metabolic properties of various materials, radiation chemistry, health chemistry, and health physics.

Quarterly progress report for the Chemistry Division of the University of California Radiation Laboratory: nuclear chemistry, bio-organic chemistry, metals and high temperature thermodynamics, basic chemistry, and chemical engineering.

Work was completed on the high-temperature, high efficiency air filter. Technical assistance was given at a large-scale, privately financed run of an all-glass medium. Full-size filers have been produced in quantity and are offered by manufacturers; it is considered that commercial manufacture has been established. A survey was made of air sampling practices at 37 laboratories. Analysis of the survey results indicated that 22 different kinds of air-sampling filer media were in use among the laboratories questioned. We have recommended that air-assay practice be simplified by use of fewer media. A group of five media has been proposed as adequate for meeting all requirements. Laboratory work was done on the development of a high-efficiency, low-ash, all-purpose, air-assay paper. Two methods of approach were tried. In one an effort was made to produce cellulose fibrils in sufficient quantity and quality to act as the fine-fiber component of a filter. Only moderate success was attained. Better promise was shown by combining synthetic organic microfibers with cellulose fibers in a wet-formed sheet. No plant work was undertaken on this item.

Quarterly report of the Chemistry Division at the University of California Radiation Laboratory providing updates for each department about current findings and ongoing research.

Abstract: Progress is reported on research and development tasks under the Program Plan for Engineering Support and Development of Army Pressurized Water Reactor Power Plants, Contract AT(30-1)-2639, during the six months' period October 1, 1061 to March 31, 1962.

Technical report on the activities of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Biology Division for the report period including a list of 346 publication and lectures and 205 short articles by members of the division on their research and activities.