ML20029D342

Follows Up 940203 Memo Informing of Review Efforts to Determine Which Licensees May Have Conducted Medical or Scientific Radiation Effects Research on Human Beings Before AEC Was Dissolved in 1975

ML20029D342
Person / Time
Site:	07000734, 07000938
Issue date:	04/29/1994
From:	Pierson R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	Burnett R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
References
NUDOCS 9405050167
Download: ML20029D342 (2)

Text

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. UNITED STATES j

g.W) j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

,' f WASHINGTON, D,C. 20666-0001

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f, APR 2 91994 MEMORANDUM FOR:

Robert R. Burnett, Director Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS FROM:

Robert C. Pierson, Chief Licensing Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS

SUBJECT:

RADIATION TESTING ON HUMANS This memorandum is a follow-up to my February 3,1994, memorandum that

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informed you of my staff's review efforts to determine which licensees may have conducted medical or scientific radiation effects research on human beings before the Atomic Energy Commission was dissolved in 1975.

Staff could not find any indication of radiation testing on humans with the exception of the following.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

MIT has performed and continues to perform medical research on humans that involves the use of radioactive materials.

It should be noted that the pre-1975 work identified below is related to "using" radiation to study metabolism and not to study the effects of radiation.

The current work does involve studying the effects of radiation on tissue.

J Pre-1975 MIT operated a cyclotron starting in 1939, and used it for research in the 1940's.

One experiment involved an unknown mix of Fe-55 and Fe-59 (unknown because it was cyclotron-activated iron) used to study iron metabolism in children.

Subjects were dosed, and measured with G-M counters.

1 Current Currently MIT is developing a method to treat brain tumors using Boron Neutron Capture Therapy under a DOE-funded research contract.

This involves dosing a patient with bcron, then activating the boron with neutions.

Frank Mass 6, the MIT RPO, is calculating dosimetry for the Rantham

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School study of I-131 in retarded children, but MIT is not p

involved in the research project (Harvard is, with Civil Defense funding).

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Robert R. Burnett 2

General Atomics General Atomics did neutron radiation testing on deceased people or limbs of the deceased in the 1960's.

OR!G!NALSIGNEDBY Charles W.Emeigh Robert C. Pierson, Chief Licensing Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS 1

Distribution Docket 70-938 PDR NRC File Center FCSS R/F 70-734 FCLB R/F FCLS2 R/F NMSS R/F OFC

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4/].3/94 4/2M/94 4/J9/94 C = COVER E =C0VER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY

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