Attachment 2

Excerpt from March 12, 1952 Memorandum: Review of Conference,
"The Medical Aspects of Nuclear-Powered Aircraft,"
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio (March 6, 1952).

7. Colonel John Talbot, ARDC: A review of the original projects
of aero-medical nature which were proposed in association with
the ANP project:

a. Human experimentation. This was not carried out, although
desirable.

b. Analytical calculation of the distribution and absorption of
energies in materials resembling the human body. Actual
experimentation of special nature was not done since phantom
studies of various types are already being pursued.

c. Compilation of the literature pertinent to possible ANP
exposures. One report on this has been published as a NEPA
report, but this should now be brought up to date.

d. Determination of the differences of susceptibility of
personnel to radiation. Work of this kind has not been done.

e. Study of methods of counteracting the biological effects of
radiation. Studies of this type on microorganisms and small
mammals are under way in several installations, but practical
usage has not seemed possible up to the present.

f. Study of the effects of radiation upon physical fitness. NRDL
is doing some work of this kind on animals. Some of the work in
progress involves studies of learned skills. The School of
Aviation Medicine at Randolph Field is doing this with rats, and
the primate laboratory at Austin, Texas, with monkeys. The M. D.
Anderson Hospital at Houston, Texas, is making a study on human
patients who have been exposed to various amounts of
x-irradiation. The tests on humans involve coordination and
psychomotor responses before and after irradiation.

g. What is the biological additivity of radiations of several
specific ionizations, and are these effects really additive? It
is believed some work on this problem is in progress or is
contemplated.

h. Evaluation of acute and long-term effects of exposures. Not
enough study has been done on this problem.

i. Evaluation of psychological problems of personnel engaged in
the flight of nuclear aircraft. This has not been done because
other factors of potential disturbance seemed more important than
worry over possible radiation exposure.