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R.L.M.C. INTERIOR MEMORANDUM
Date
RECEIVED JUN -121924
Subject
For Attention of
Answering Memo. of
Dr. Drinker' Report
UNITED STATES
Dear Mr. Roeder;-
RADIUM CORP.
I have studied Dr. Drinkers report thouroughly and
cannot feel that he has satisfactorily determined the cause
of the jaw necrosis found in some of our operators.
In fact the conclusions which he arrives at are
not based on his findings at the plant. There are numerous
points which I believe need further explanation and
which I question.
In taking up the question of exposure to radiations
which he mentions on taking up the radium phase on page
7 it would seem to me the most important point to consider
would be that of quantity. In the literature he refers to
I believe that it would be found to be true that the re-
sults from over exposure would be due to a very muchblargr
quantity of radiation that could possibly be present
to our operators at any time. If radium is to be considered
we must first of all come down to a comparison of quantities.
Dr Drinkers reference on page 9 to necrosis re-
sulting following treatment of cancer of the tongue by
radiation is not fair in that he only mentions 4 cases in
which this condition has resulted. This is not an uncommon
form of cancer and has been treated many times by radiatinn
without necrosis resulting. The question of quantity in-
volved would also again enter into a fair comparison.
Dr Drinkers conclusions as to the deposition of
radium as indicated on the bttom of page 9 would seem to in-
indicate that the use of ampoules is dangerous espedially
when we know that the quantity used in ampoules is many
times that to which our operators could possibly absorb.
It would appear to me that the opinion of a man like Dr.
Field who uses ampoules extensively would be especially
valuable on this point.
In reference to the dust existing in the plant
I question very much whetherhthis carrys radiaactivity
or not and his preliminary tests have been negative. We
know that the presence of radioactivity can be ver easily
determined and to the very minutest degree. If the dust
which was collected by Dr Dri ker and which aust has
laid a considerable length of time does not readily show
activity it seems to me that we can safely feel that the
dust which is inhaled cannot be the cause of our troubles
if this trauble is due to radium.
I believe that this dust still remains from the time
of our spraying. The tops of partitions pipes and the ceiling
and walls are still covered with this material. Dr Drinkers
R.L.M.C. INTERIOR MEMORANDUM
RECEIVED
Date
Subject
For Attention of
Answering Memo. of
tests show that this dust is exceptionably fine and will
not settle even in still air readily. If so how can it re-
UNITED RADIUM ST 0
main settled in this painting room where there are continu-
air currents due to open windows vibrations and the moving
of individuals about the room. Would it stay in suspension
and be caught in the clothes of individuals.
It woukd be very simple for us to rig up & little
apparatus which would enable us to sample the air and
gather the dust which could be subjected to radio active
determinations in our own laboratory. On page 12 near the
bottom Dr Drinker emphasizes that fact that so far the
results of the tests are negative because of the "extrem-
ly small quantities of radium combined with the zinc sulphide.
It does not seem to me that the fogging of dental
films is really indicative of over exposure. In view of
the quantity of radium handled about the plant and the
extreme sensitiveness of these films a film might become
foggeg when a small quantity of highly radboactive material
wase brought nearby the exposure to which an individual
might be subjected to in this shortvtime would be considered
harmless. We know that a piece of good ore placed upon a
film would cause that film to become fogged yet we would
hesitate to say that it would be harmful to carry the ore
even for a consider ble length of time.
Other application plants must have these same conditions
of dust and exposure why has not this trouble resulted els
where.
In the blood tests we see that the individuals who
are subjected to an exposure many times greater than any
operator really have a better existing condition than these
operators. In the crystallization department the exposure
is not only external but in pipetting solutions emanations
are bound to be inhaled and maybe even drops of very active
solutions. This would also bring up the question. of safety
of emanation water machines. Yet the mouth conditions are
good.
Mr. Bilstein who h S had varied experience with both
radium and zinc has recently had a tooth extracted and to
date has suffered no ill ef ects.
Dr Drinkers a mparis ns are made with normal indidual
and i believe this should be made on a basis of the average
industrial worker. Possibly this is why the Life Extension
Instutedid not comment on this finding because this con-
dition is common amongst industrial women workers. They
might be able to furnish us with data on this point, in view
the fact that they carry on numerous examinations for
industrial concerns and insurance companies,
It is quite possible that living conditions of indiduals
R.L.M.C. INTERIOR MEMORANDUM
Date
RECEIVED
Subject
For Attention of
Answering Memo. of
play a very important part in the make up of their blood
condition. Lack of fresh air , proper food, exercise and home
conditions I believe would be considered a big factor.
UNITED STAT
Taken as a whole I am very much dissappointed in
Dr Drinkers findings. I note that a good many O. his refer-
RADIUM CO
ences date back a number of years to a time when little
was really known of the action or handling of radium. I
believe that as many references could be found which are
contradictory of thos mentioned by Dr Drinker.
I do not see how we can stop with Dr Drinkers
report, but that we should consult fürther authorities
and posiibly submit his report to them for comment following
which it should be discussed further with him or Df possibe
get him to sit in discussion with other authorities on the
various points. There surely are some of experience at
the Memorial or even Dr Field who could readily comment
on Dr Drinkers findings.
We must have some definite mmatter to present to our
employees and also to the State Department of Labor who
are following this matter very closely. In fact to of this
department called me on the phone to day and ex ect to
visit the plant again to morrow to discuss this matter.
They may even communicate with Dr Drinker with
re. erence to his findings in assmuch as we have told them
what we are having him conduct the investigation.
We shall endeavor to put into effect a number of
his recommendations.
The real solution will no doubt be found when
we have Dr Drinkers final report following the tests
on the animals, but as he has expressed himself in this
report as believing that employment in our plant has
brought about certain difficulties we must either
consider them so or refute them as I am quite sure
his findings will go further than ourselves.
Very truly yours
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"ocrText": "R.L.M.C. INTERIOR MEMORANDUM\nDate\nRECEIVED JUN -121924\nSubject\nFor Attention of\nAnswering Memo. of\nDr. Drinker' Report\nUNITED STATES\nDear Mr. Roeder;-\nRADIUM CORP.\nI have studied Dr. Drinkers report thouroughly and\ncannot feel that he has satisfactorily determined the cause\nof the jaw necrosis found in some of our operators.\nIn fact the conclusions which he arrives at are\nnot based on his findings at the plant. There are numerous\npoints which I believe need further explanation and\nwhich I question.\nIn taking up the question of exposure to radiations\nwhich he mentions on taking up the radium phase on page\n7 it would seem to me the most important point to consider\nwould be that of quantity. In the literature he refers to\nI believe that it would be found to be true that the re-\nsults from over exposure would be due to a very muchblargr\nquantity of radiation that could possibly be present\nto our operators at any time. If radium is to be considered\nwe must first of all come down to a comparison of quantities.\nDr Drinkers reference on page 9 to necrosis re-\nsulting following treatment of cancer of the tongue by\nradiation is not fair in that he only mentions 4 cases in\nwhich this condition has resulted. This is not an uncommon\nform of cancer and has been treated many times by radiatinn\nwithout necrosis resulting. The question of quantity in-\nvolved would also again enter into a fair comparison.\nDr Drinkers conclusions as to the deposition of\nradium as indicated on the bttom of page 9 would seem to in-\nindicate that the use of ampoules is dangerous espedially\nwhen we know that the quantity used in ampoules is many\ntimes that to which our operators could possibly absorb.\nIt would appear to me that the opinion of a man like Dr.\nField who uses ampoules extensively would be especially\nvaluable on this point.\nIn reference to the dust existing in the plant\nI question very much whetherhthis carrys radiaactivity\nor not and his preliminary tests have been negative. We\nknow that the presence of radioactivity can be ver easily\ndetermined and to the very minutest degree. If the dust\nwhich was collected by Dr Dri ker and which aust has\nlaid a considerable length of time does not readily show\nactivity it seems to me that we can safely feel that the\ndust which is inhaled cannot be the cause of our troubles\nif this trauble is due to radium.\nI believe that this dust still remains from the time\nof our spraying. The tops of partitions pipes and the ceiling\nand walls are still covered with this material. Dr Drinkers\nR.L.M.C. INTERIOR MEMORANDUM\nRECEIVED\nDate\nSubject\nFor Attention of\nAnswering Memo. of\ntests show that this dust is exceptionably fine and will\nnot settle even in still air readily. If so how can it re-\nUNITED RADIUM ST 0\nmain settled in this painting room where there are continu-\nair currents due to open windows vibrations and the moving\nof individuals about the room. Would it stay in suspension\nand be caught in the clothes of individuals.\nIt woukd be very simple for us to rig up & little\napparatus which would enable us to sample the air and\ngather the dust which could be subjected to radio active\ndeterminations in our own laboratory. On page 12 near the\nbottom Dr Drinker emphasizes that fact that so far the\nresults of the tests are negative because of the \"extrem-\nly small quantities of radium combined with the zinc sulphide.\nIt does not seem to me that the fogging of dental\nfilms is really indicative of over exposure. In view of\nthe quantity of radium handled about the plant and the\nextreme sensitiveness of these films a film might become\nfoggeg when a small quantity of highly radboactive material\nwase brought nearby the exposure to which an individual\nmight be subjected to in this shortvtime would be considered\nharmless. We know that a piece of good ore placed upon a\nfilm would cause that film to become fogged yet we would\nhesitate to say that it would be harmful to carry the ore\neven for a consider ble length of time.\nOther application plants must have these same conditions\nof dust and exposure why has not this trouble resulted els\nwhere.\nIn the blood tests we see that the individuals who\nare subjected to an exposure many times greater than any\noperator really have a better existing condition than these\noperators. In the crystallization department the exposure\nis not only external but in pipetting solutions emanations\nare bound to be inhaled and maybe even drops of very active\nsolutions. This would also bring up the question. of safety\nof emanation water machines. Yet the mouth conditions are\ngood.\nMr. Bilstein who h S had varied experience with both\nradium and zinc has recently had a tooth extracted and to\ndate has suffered no ill ef ects.\nDr Drinkers a mparis ns are made with normal indidual\nand i believe this should be made on a basis of the average\nindustrial worker. Possibly this is why the Life Extension\nInstutedid not comment on this finding because this con-\ndition is common amongst industrial women workers. They\nmight be able to furnish us with data on this point, in view\nthe fact that they carry on numerous examinations for\nindustrial concerns and insurance companies,\nIt is quite possible that living conditions of indiduals\nR.L.M.C. INTERIOR MEMORANDUM\nDate\nRECEIVED\nSubject\nFor Attention of\nAnswering Memo. of\nplay a very important part in the make up of their blood\ncondition. Lack of fresh air , proper food, exercise and home\nconditions I believe would be considered a big factor.\nUNITED STAT\nTaken as a whole I am very much dissappointed in\nDr Drinkers findings. I note that a good many O. his refer-\nRADIUM CO\nences date back a number of years to a time when little\nwas really known of the action or handling of radium. I\nbelieve that as many references could be found which are\ncontradictory of thos mentioned by Dr Drinker.\nI do not see how we can stop with Dr Drinkers\nreport, but that we should consult fürther authorities\nand posiibly submit his report to them for comment following\nwhich it should be discussed further with him or Df possibe\nget him to sit in discussion with other authorities on the\nvarious points. There surely are some of experience at\nthe Memorial or even Dr Field who could readily comment\non Dr Drinkers findings.\nWe must have some definite mmatter to present to our\nemployees and also to the State Department of Labor who\nare following this matter very closely. In fact to of this\ndepartment called me on the phone to day and ex ect to\nvisit the plant again to morrow to discuss this matter.\nThey may even communicate with Dr Drinker with\nre. erence to his findings in assmuch as we have told them\nwhat we are having him conduct the investigation.\nWe shall endeavor to put into effect a number of\nhis recommendations.\nThe real solution will no doubt be found when\nwe have Dr Drinkers final report following the tests\non the animals, but as he has expressed himself in this\nreport as believing that employment in our plant has\nbrought about certain difficulties we must either\nconsider them so or refute them as I am quite sure\nhis findings will go further than ourselves.\nVery truly yours"
}