Tab C-2

Chronology prepared by Duncan Holaday in 1964, attached
as an exhibit to Mr. Holaday's sworn deposition in Begay v.
United States taken on March 19, 1986


ORIGIN, HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE URANIUM STUDY

Prepared August 1964, from material in P.W. Jacoe's and Duncan A. 
Holaday's files by Duncan A. Holaday.
     Probably the first discussion of possible radiation hazards in 
uranium mines was held between Mr. Ralph Beatie, Safety Engineer for 
the AEC, Grand Junction Operations Office, and Mr. P.W. Jacoe of the 
Colorado State Health Department, early in 1949.  Sometime in 1947, 
the Health and Safety Laboratory of the New York Operations Office, 
AEC, had taken radon samples in several mines, and the results showed 
radon concentrations high enough to arouse Mr. Beatie's concern.  
Eventually, he informed Mr. Jacoe of the situation and Mr. Jacoe 
discussed the question with Mr. Henry Doyle, the DOH representative at 
the Denver Regional Office.  In March 1947, Mr. Duncan Holaday, who 
was visiting Denver, was asked to meet with Mr. Beatie at Grand 
Junction.  Mr. Jack Torrey, Colorado State Health Department, Mr. 
Beatie and Mr. Holaday reviewed the available data on atmospheric 
radon concentrations in mines, dust concentrations in mills, and 
control procedures in the industry.  This information was reported to 
Dr. Cleere, Executive Secretary of the Colorado State Board of Health, 
and to Mr. Doyle  They were advised that it was probable that severe 
internal radiation hazards existed in many operations and that studies 
should be undertaken to determine the extent of these hazards and to 
recommend corrective measures.
     In May 1949, Dr. Cleere held a conference in Denver to discuss 
conditions in the uranium mines and mills.  The Colorado Industrial 
Commission the Colorado State Bureau of Mines, and the Colorado

                                -2-

Health represented the state agencies and Mr. Doyle represented the 
U.S. Public Health Service.  This meeting decided that the State 
Health Department should survey the mill at Naturity, Colorado, and 
that the Industrial Commission and State Board of Health would utilize 
their powers to correct conditions in need of change.  This survey, 
which was done on June 21-23, showed that numerous health and safety 
hazards existed throughout the plant.  This report was published in 
the Denver Post, and created sufficient commotion to make it 
inadvisable to survey the other uranium mills at the time.
     After this episode, Dr. Cleere requested Dr. J.G. Townsend, Chief 
of Occupational Health, USPHS, for assistance in evaluating conditions 
in the uranium mines.  In response to this request Dr. Wilfred D. 
David conducted a reconnaissance survey during the period August 
15-25, 1949.  On August 15, a meeting was held with Dr. Cleere, Mr. 
Doyle, and an ad hoc advisory committee which had been appointed by 
Dr. Cleere.  The consensus of this meeting was that a study of the 
industry should be done, and that a second meeting would be held on 
August 25.  Dr. David and Mr. Torrey then spent the next ten days in 
visiting the mills, and some mines and in meetings with many different 
individuals.  A copy of Dr. David's report is included in the 
appendix.
     The second meeting of the ad hoc advisory committee which was 
held on August 25, was also attended by representatives of the 
operating companies.  Dr. David informed this group that a study of 
the health hazards in the uranium processing industry was justified 
and it was decided that the PHS would be asked to conduct such a 
study.  On August 30, 1949, a formal request 

				-3-

to the Surgeon General was drawn up and signed by all interested 
parties except U.S. Vanadium.  However, this company agreed to the 
study at a later date.  On November 7, 1949, this request was sent to 
Dr. Townsend.
     Early in November 1949, Mr. Doyle and representatives of the U.S. 
Bureau of Mines surveyed a group of mines on the Navajo reservation.  
Atmosphere samples were taken for radon which were analyzed by the 
National Bureau of Standards.  When the results of these analyses were 
compared with those reported from European mines, it was evident that 
the concentrations of radon in some of the mines were alarmingly high, 
ILLEGIBLE ventilation and wet drilling were relied on for control 
ILLEGIBLE contaminants and the operators were unaware of the 
possibility ILLEGIBLE hazards.
     After the request for a study had been received, it was decided 
that the Division of Industrial Hygiene would assist Colorado to the 
greatest extent possible.  The division had two survey meters for 
measuring external radiation; no equipment or competence for making 
radon, uranium or radium measurements; a very limited staff, and no 
funds to conduct an extensive study.  In view of the limited resources 
available, it was decided that the study would be primarily 
environmental.  The division would assign one man to assist the 
Colorado State Health Department in surveying uranium mines and mills.  
Atmospheric radon concentrations would be determined, gamma radiation 
rates would be measured, and silica dust concentrations would be 
evaluated.  This information would be used to formulate 
recommendations for control procedures.
     During November and December 1949, the reported studies of German 

					-4-

and Czechoslovakian mines were reviewed.  Dr. Huper, Dr. Lorenz, and 
Dr. Howard Andrews of the National Institutes of Health were consulted 
on plans for the study.  Arrangements were made with Dr. Lauritson 
Taylor of the National Bureau of Standards for the analyses of radon 
samples and two survey meters and a laboratory scaler were borrowed 
from the AEC, Instrument Division.
     In December 1949, a meeting was held at the National Cancer 
Institute to discuss a study of the normal body burden of radium in 
humans in various geographical areas of the United States.  The 
subject of uranium mining was discussed informally at this gathering 
with several of the participants.  Following the conference, Mr. Jacoe 
and Mr. Holaday met with Dr. Huper who pointed out that it might be 
possible for the Colorado State Health Department to obtain a grant 
from the National Cancer Institute to conduct a more extensive study 
of uranium mines and mills.  A grant application was promptly prepared 
and submitted by Colorado, outlining plans for environmental studies 
of mines and mills, and for medical examinations of mill workers and 
those miners who could be contacted by the medical term.  Twenty-five 
thousand dollars was requested for the first year of this work.
     Following the grant applications the proposed study was discussed 
with many groups throughout the country.  Dr. Heimann visited the 
University of Rochester for information to assist in planning the 
medical study; Mr. Holaday made arrangements with the National Bureau 
of Standards to do radon analyses; with the Naval Radiological Defense 
Laboratory to analyze atmospheric samples for uranium and radium; with 
the Los Alamos Scientific 

    				-5-

Laboratory to analyze urine samples for uranium; and with the 
Occupational Health Field Station at Salt Lake City to analyze samples 
for vanadium.  The study was also discussed with the Division of 
Biology and Medicine of the AEC and with the U.S. Bureau of Mines.  
Mr. Doyle contacted the operating companies and the mine operators 
association.
     On April 3, 1950 Dr. Heimann, Dr. David, Mr. Jacoe, Dr. Cralley, 
and Mr. Holaday visited the Durango, Colorado mill of the Vanadium 
Corp. of America.  A reconnaissance survey was made of this mill, and 
arrangements were made to start the actual field work in July.  Visits 
were also made to the Naturity, Colorado mill of VCA and the Rifle, 
Colorado mill of the U.S. Vanadium Company.  A number of mines in 
Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico were visited and radon samples were 
taken.  The Utah work was done with the assistance of Mr. Pope 
Lawrence and Mr. Victor Pett.  The information obtained on this trip 
was used to develop the final plans for the study.
     Dr. Cralley was detailed to have over-all responsibility for the 
project; Dr. Heimann was responsible for the medical phase, and Dr. 
David was in charge of the medical team.  Mr. Holaday was responsible 
for the environmental work and scheduling the operation.  The salaries 
of the PHS personnel were to be paid by DOH, while the Colorado State 
Health Department would pay for travel expenses, equipment and 
supplies with funds from the N.C.I. grant.  Actual field work was 
started on July 10, 1950, at the Durango Mill of VCA,
     During 1950, workers were examined at mills located at Durango, 
Naturity, and Uravan, Colorado, and at Monticello, Utah. Such miners 


 				-6-

as could be reached were brought in to the mills and examined.  The 
medical team consisted of Dr. W.M. David, Dr. Mitchel Zavon, and one 
laboratory technician.  Environmental surveys were made of the four 
mill and of all the mines that could be located.  Many different 
people worked on these surveys, including F.W. Jacoe and Jack Torrey, 
Colorado State Department of Health; G.W. Franz, Colorado State Bureau 
of Mines; Pope M. Lawrence and George Richards, Utah State Health 
Department; Victor Pett, Utah Industrial Commission; Dr. Lewis 
Cralley, Paul Woolrich, and Duncan Holaday, Division of Occupational 
Health; Harry Schulte, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.  Dr. Harold 
Hodge, University of Rochester and George Smith, Los Alamos Scientific 
Laboratory, conducted special studies at two of the mills.  This 
campaign is described in detail in the sections on medical and 
environmental studies.
     In December 1950, a conference was held with members of the 
Division of Biology and Medicine of the Atomic Energy Commission. The 
results of the field surveys were discussed and it was the consensus 
of the group that the exposures to radioactive dusts and gas in the 
mines and mills were high enough to be of concern. At this meeting Dr. 
William Bale pointed out that the immediate daughters of radon (RaA, 
RaB, and RaC) were more important sources of radiation to lung tissue 
that was radon itself.
     In March 1951, Dr. Cralley, Mr. Jacoe, and Mr. Holaday visited 
the principal mining companies and advised them of the results of the 
environmental surveys.  The need for additional mine ventilation was 
stressed, even though no biological effects had as yet been found.  
The industry was expanding rapidly and becoming a more stable and 
permanent operation.  These developments increased the number of 
exposed men and increased their total exposure.


  				-7-

     The medical survey for 1951 included examinations of men at two 
additional mills, but the primary effort was expended on miners.  The 
team was comprised of Dr. Zavan, Dr. Buhrow, and a technician.  Stands 
were made at mill locations and mining camps to facilitate contact 
with the men.  Environmental surveys were made of all operating mills 
and such mines as could be found.  Dr. William Bale conducted studies 
on lung retention of radon daughters and Dr. John Harley studied field 
methods of measuring radon.  Personnel of the Occupational Health 
Field Station assisted in this work.  After July 1, 1951, the Division 
of Occupational Health paid for the travel expenses of its personnel, 
while the Colorado participation was supported by a new grant from 
N.C.I.
     During the summer the Colorado State Health Department employed 
an additional man to work on locating ex-uranium miners (either alive 
or deceased) in an attempt to build up a group of men whose mortality 
experience might be studied.
     In August 1951, two conferences were held at the Occupational 
Health Field Station - one for members of official agencies and one 
for representatives of mining companies.  The purpose of these 
meetings was to discuss the health hazards connected with uranium 
mining and to instruct those present in methods of measuring radon 
daughters.  By this time a procedure for making these measures (based 
on the work of Dr. Harley) had been developed and HASL had loaned the 
Field Station equipment for making radon and radon daughter 
measurements.
     A further significant effort which was made during this year 
involved surveys of numerous non-uranium mines.  As an increased 
incidence of lung 

				-8-

cancer had never been reported in mines in the intermountain states, 
it was of interest to determine what concentrations of radon and radon 
daughters were present in the air of mines which had been operated for 
many years.  Such data might permit some estimates to be made of TLV's 
for these elements.  The 1951 progress report (appendix) discusses 
these subjects in more detail.
     Early in 1952 a meeting was held in Cincinnati to discuss the 
study and to outline plans for future operations.  Representatives of 
the National Cancer Institute, the Division of Biology and Medicine of 
the Atomic Energy Commission, Argonne National Laboratory, and the 
University of Rochester were present.  The report of this meeting is 
included in the appendix. One main decision was to issue an interim 
report which would be distributed to interested groups.  The committee 
expressed concern over the situation.
     Following the advisory committee meeting, conferences were held 
with the state health offices and other state agencies in Arizona, 
Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah in which these groups were apprised of 
the situation, and urged to attempt to institute control measures.  It 
was the general opinion that the state legislatures would not support 
any additional efforts by the state agencies and the Division of 
Occupational Health still had been unable to obtain any funds with 
which to increase its support of the project.  At this point, Dr. 
Cleere, Executive Secretary of the Colorado State Department of 
Health, suggested that the AEC be asked for money with which to 
conduct detailed environmental studies of the mines.  Hopefully, 

				-9-

such data could be used to impress the mine operators and the 
enforcement agencies of the need for corrective action.  This 
suggestion was made to the Division of Biology and Medicine who agreed 
to supply $25,000 for this project.  Six men were hired and trained 
and during the summer surveyed 159 mines on the Colorado Plateau, 
under the supervision of the Occupational Health Field Station, and 
Colorado State Health Department staff. The findings of these surveys 
were reported to the mine operators, state health departments, and 
state bureaus of mines.
     In 1952, Dr. Tsivoglou was assigned to the Field Station and 
began his investigations of the conditions governing the equilibrium 
ratios between radon and its daughters.  This work developed methods 
for measuring the individual isotopes and laid the foundation for 
experimental mine ventilation studies and the field method for 
measuring atmospheric concentrations of radon daughter products.
     No medical examinations were done during the 1952 field season.  
During 1953 both medical examinations and environmental studies were 
conducted.  The medical examinations were primarily designed to 
examine miners as it was now apparent that the major problems were in 
this area.  Dr. Zavon and Buhrow were in charge of this work which was 
conducted entirely as a DOH project.
     The Colorado State Health Department was still receiving a grant 
from NCI.  The primary objective of their work in 195 was to measure 
radon and radon daughters in non-uranium mines in an attempt to locate 
groups of miners who had some exposure to radon at lower 
concentrations than existed in uranium mines.  In July 1953, Jr. James 
Egan was assigned to the Occupa-


				-10-

tional Health Field Station by the National Cancer Institute to 
develop a mortality study of non-uranium miners, which might give 
information that would assist in establishing a TLV for radon 
daughters.  The arrangements were that the OHFS staff would assist Dr. 
Egan in making contact with mining companies and would do any 
environmental work that was required.  The epidemiologic phase would 
be the responsibility of NCI.  The project was discussed with several 
large mining companies, but during 1953 it was impossible to make 
arrangements with any of them.  The environmental work which was done 
by DOH during 1953 consisted of a study of the effects of ventilation 
of mines on the atmospheric concentrations of radon and radon 
daughters.  This project was supported by a contract with the Division 
of Biology and Medicine, AEC and the objective was to obtain data from 
which recommendations for ventilation of uranium mines could be 
formulated.  Three men were engaged for three months in this activity.  
A definitive report was prepared and made available to all interested 
groups.
     The Utah State Health Department surveyed all the mines which 
were operating in the state during the summer and some measurements 
were made by the U.S. Bureau of Mines in mines on Indian land.  A 
conference was held at the Occupational Health Field Station in 
December 1953, to discuss the status of the survey.  This meeting was 
attended by representatives of the AEC, NCI, DOH, and the Colorado 
State Health Department.  At this meeting it became apparent that 
sufficient work had been done to define the nature and extent of the 
environmental problem and to suggest methods to control the radiation 
hazards.  However, the progress in control was quite unsatisfactory, 
and it appeared that this condition would continue until 


				-11-

evidence of injury to the miners could be developed.  It was also 
apparent that the medical examination program, as it had been 
conducted, would be unlikely to produce definitive data.
     Early in 1954, Dr. Sewart Miller, Chief, Division of Occupational 
Health, and Dr. Ray Keiser, Chief, FIDB, National Cancer Institute, 
agreed that the latter group would assume primary responsibility for 
organizing and conducting an epidemiologic study of uranium miners.  
Discussions of how best to assemble a study group were held at Grand 
Junction, Colorado between Mr. Sheldon Wimpfen, Chief, Grand Junction 
OO, AEC; Dr. Bernard Nabel, DBM, AEC; Dr. James Egan, and Mr. Pope 
Lawrence, NCI; and Mr. Duncan A. Holaday, DOH.  Mr. Wimpfen pointed 
out that the only way to find out who was mining uranium was to get 
into the field and contact the men.  He also stated that the miners 
would be much more interested in participating in the study if they 
were offered a medical examination.
     He also offered the assistance of the GJOO.  This suggestion was 
eventually adopted and an operating plan was developed.  Two 
examination teams were assembled and started field work on June 15.  A 
minimum of 14 men were in the field at any one time and additional 
persons were used occasionally.  The Division of Occupational Health 
supplied two laboratory technicians, two contact men, and most of the 
medical equipment and supplies, Colorado supplied two contact men and 
the GJOO supplied trailers, generators, water tanks, camp equipment, 
motive power, and two camp tenders.  The TB Division supplied two 
X-ray trucks and made available the services of two X-ray technicians.  
NCI supplied all other personnel and operated the project.  Mr. 
Lawrence acted as coordinator of the expedition and as liaison officer 



				-12-

with the AEC.
     Environmental mine surveys were carried out in Colorado, Utah, 
Arizona, and New Mexico.  The Utah State Health Department was again 
responsible for the work in that state.  In the others, the work was 
done by state agencies, the U.S. Bureau of Mines, the GJOO, and 
occasionally by the Occupational Health Field Station.  The Division 
of Biology and Medicine, AEC, supported studies of adsorption and 
filtration methods of control of radon and radon daughters which was 
done by the OHFS.
     An important development in the efforts to control radiation 
hazards in mines occurred in January 1955.  The governor of Utah, Mr. 
J. Bracken Lee, invited representatives of official and industrial 
groups to discuss these problems.  The proceedings of this meeting are 
given in the appendix but the most significant result was agreement on 
the standard for atmospheric concentrations of radon daughters.  
Shortly after this meeting, Utah issued regulations covering radiation 
exposures in mines, and New Mexico and Colorado soon followed suit.  
Most of the responsibility for environmental sampling was placed on 
the mine operators, either by regulation, or by default.  The staff of 
the Field Station conducted many training courses to instruct mining 
company personnel in the methods for measuring radon daughters and the 
principles of control procedures.  Instruments were calibrated for the 
companies and ventilation demonstrations were carried out.  Work was 
also continued on measures to supplement ventilation in controlling 
radon.
     The epidemiologic study was continued under the direction of Dr. 
Egan.  Procedures for following the members of the study group were 
established
 

	                              -13-

of which the most important was a census of all uranium miners.  Four 
men were employed to conduct this census; National Cancer Institute 
paid for two men, DOH paid two, and the Grand Junction Operations 
Office supplied cars and equipment.
     A bulletin on radon and radon daughters was completed during 
1955.  This publication appears in the appendix.  It proved to be a 
useful document to both domestic and foreign producers of uranium 
ores.
     The activities in 1956 were essentially the same as those 
conducted in 1955.  The work on supplemental control methods was 
completed and published (see appendix).  The census was repeated and 
the epidemiology group continued the follow-up of members of the study 
group.  Assistance in surveying mines was given to several states, but 
except for New Mexico, the coverage was limited.  As the Bureau of the 
Budget had stated that they did not approve of funds being spent on 
the uranium study, the work done was limited to assisting state 
agencies on request.  A summary report of mine air samples was 
prepared and distributed to interested groups.
     Uranium mines in South Africa and Katanga were visited in 
conjunction with a project of the Division of Biology and Medicine of 
the AEC.  The objective of the trip was to ascertain if a study could 
be made of a group of men who had been exposed to relatively low 
levels of radon.  The report of this trip appears in the appendix.
     A second extensive medical study was conducted in 1957.  Again, 
Mr. Pope Lawrence had over-all direction of the project and was 
responsible for most of the planning.  Dr. Victor E. Archer, who had 
replaced Dr. Egan, was in charge of the field work.  The participation 
of the various groups 



				-14-

(NCI, DOH, and GJOO) was similar to that in the 1954 study, except 
that DOH supplied two physicians in addition to the technicians.  The 
census was combined with the medical study with the census takers 
acting as appointment makers.  Follow-up work was continued on the 
group.
     Again the only environmental work consisted of the states in mine 
surveys.  Records of these surveys and those reported by mining 
companies were added to the central files and a summary report was 
prepared and distributed.
     Operations in 1958 consisted of the census, follow-up work, and a 
limited number of mine surveys.  The follow-up of the study group 
disclosed that four miners had died of lung cancer since the group was 
established.  A total of sixteen deaths had occurred in miners who had 
worked for a comparable time.  These data had no particular 
statistical significance, but in view of the European experience they 
were sufficient to arouse concern.  In addition, the environmental 
conditions in the mines were not satisfactory.  While much control 
work had been done many mines still had exceedingly high atmospheric 
concentrations of radon daughters.  None of the state mine inspectors 
had felt that they could require effective control measures to be 
installed on the basis of the available data.  Therefore, their 
efforts were limited to what could be accomplished by education and 
exhortation.  Eventually, a letter describing the situation was sent 
to the Chief of the Division of Biology and Medicine of the AEC by the 
Surgeon General.  This letter expressed the concern and alarm of the 
Public Health Service over the continuing high concentrations of radon 
daughters in mine atmospheres.  The New Mexico State Health Department 
and the state mine inspector decided 


				-15-

that the data justified on enforcement program and instituted action 
to require that control measures be used.  This resulted in 
considerable improvement in the mines in that state.
     In 1959, the Colorado State Health Department employed two men to 
conduct mine surveys and report results to the mine inspector.  A 
survey of all Utah mines was done by he Utah State Department of 
Health with assistance of personnel from the OHFS and DRH.  The census 
and follow-up of the study group was continued.  In testimony at 
hearings on workman's compensation and radiation held by the Joint 
Committee on Atomic Energy, the concern of the Public Health Service 
was again expressed over conditions in the uranium mines.  This 
testimony is given in the appendix.  During the year, seminars were 
held to instruct mine and mill personnel in the methods and techniques 
of hazard evaluation and control.  A meeting of the Uranium Study 
Advisory Committee was held in July 1959, at which time all the 
available environmental and biological data was discussed.  It was 
generally agreed that the lung cancer deaths were probably the first 
indication of what could be expected and that further cases would 
occur.
     A meeting of Federal agencies was held in Washington in 1959, at 
which the findings were discussed.  A summary of this conference also 
appears in the appendix.
     The third general medical study was conducted in 1960 again under 
the direction of Mr. Lawrence and Dr. Archer.  The Grants, New Mexico 
Mining district was omitted from the program because of the large 
number (ca 2000) or relatively short-term miners who were employed in 
that area.  However, a census was conducted there as well as in all 
other mining districts.  Mr. Wagoner and Mr. Carrol of the NCI 
prepared a life-table analysis of the mortality experience of the 
study group from 1950 through December 31, 


				-16-

1959.  This study, which is reported in the appendix, showed that five 
of the men who had three or more years of uranium mining experience by 
1957, had died of lung cancer.  Though the number of deaths was small, 
the increase over those expected was significant.  Environmental work 
by the OHFS staff during the year was extremely limited.  Colorado 
continued surveys of mines, but little control work was done.  New 
Mexico continued an active control program, using the provisions of 
the American Standard for Uranium Mines and Mills as a guide.  In 
other states a limited number of mine surveys were made.
     Secretary Felming called a meeting of the governors of the 
uranium producing states in December of 1960 to discuss health 
standards in uranium mines.  A copy of the report of this conference 
is included in the appendix.  Only one mining company was represented 
at the meeting which was held primarily for official agencies.
     In 1961, as a result of the Governors' Conference, Colorado 
obtained sufficient funds to employ five additional mine inspectors 
(DOH supplied about $10,000 worth of equipment) and initiated a 
control program in June, 1961.  None of the legislatures in other 
states provided funds for additional men so different actions were 
taken in each case.  In Utah, the U.S. Bureau of Mines assisted the 
state mine inspector in surveying uranium operations and a control 
program was instituted.  The Division of Occupational Health entered 
into a contract with the New Mexico State Health Department which, 
among other items, provided funds with which to employ an engineer to 
assist the state mine inspector in his control program.


				-17-

The control program in Wyoming was added to the regular duties of the 
mine inspectors.  IN Arizona, the mine inspector could not obtain 
authority to regulate exposure to radon and its daughters, and had to 
continue with education work only.  The U.S. Bureau of Mines, however, 
was able to institute a control program in those mines which were on 
Indian lands.
     Several meetings were held with mine operators and official 
groups during 1961.  At a general meeting which was held in Salt Lake 
City in June to discuss the finding of the mortality study, many 
company representatives expressed disbelief in the existence of a 
problem.  In July, the Wyoming Mine Operators' Association were even 
more outspoken during a meeting.  This group was dissuaded from 
sending caustic letters to their Congressmen by one of their 
consultants who told them that the U.S. Public Health Service rarely 
found it necessary to retract statements.  The meeting with the Utah 
Mine Operators' Association, by comparison, was uneventful, even 
though the reality of the problem was questioned.  It is probable that 
a large part of the resentment of the operators was caused by their 
feeling that they should have been informed of the data presented at 
the Governors' Conference before it appeared in the newspapers.  In 
any case, the large companies initiated control programs and 
cooperated with the mine inspectors in reducing the exposures of their 
miners.  By the end of the year these efforts had resulted in a great 
improvement in environmental conditions in the mines.  To achieve this 
improvement it had been necessary to close (temporarily or 
permanently) many areas in mines and some entire mines.  A report 
summarizing the work by the various 


				-18-

groups was prepared in December 1961 and submitted to the Division 
Chief.
     In January 1961 the future course and management of the study 
were considered by a committee appointed at the request of Dr. 
Anderson, Chief, Bureau of State Services.  This committee reviewed 
the progress that had been made, defined the future objectives of the 
study, and listed the resources which would be needed to accomplish 
these aims.  The committee recommend that the direction and primary 
responsibility for the study remain with the Division of Occupational 
Health.  The complete report of this committee appears in the 
appendix.  In accordance with one of the recommendations of the Study 
Committee a Technical Advisory Committee was appointed which reviewed 
the objectives of the project and a recommended a priority list for 
the various items.  The report of this meeting is also contained in 
the appendix.  Additional funds were requested for fiscal year 1962 to 
start work on the program and $50,000 were approved by Congress.  As 
this amount was not sufficient to conduct even the epidemiologic work 
it was necessary to use other divisional funds to continue the 
project.
     As additional lung cancer cases were appearing, it was decided 
that an annual sputum cytology program should be instituted to attempt 
to detect tumors in an early stage.  This program was operated in 
conjunction with the annual census.  The samples were collected and 
slides were prepared in the field and then sent to Grand Junction for 
examination.  A sputum cytology program was also conducted in the 
Grants district as part of the contract with the New Mexico State 
Health Department.  In both 


				-19-

areas arrangements were made with local clinics to examine workers 
from whom suspicious sputum samples were obtained.  All of these 
projects were done with DOH funds.
     Essentially the same medical program was continued during 1962 as 
was carried on in 1961.  As the Congress did not provide funds which 
would have permitted work on the other recommendations of the 
Technical Advisory Committee, contribution of the Field Station to the 
environmental work was limited to assisting Utah in mine surveys. 
Laboratory investigations were carried out to test materials which 
could e used to line mine drifts to seal in radon.  Some promising 
substances were found, but no field tests could be done.
     A beginning was made on the task of assembling work and exposure 
records of all the members of the study group, as it was probable that 
there would be no future additions to the group.  These records would 
be used to attempt to determine the relationships between total 
exposure to radon daughters and lung cancer, induction period, and 
other biological effects.
     Again, in 1963, the medical and environmental field work was very 
similar to that done in 1961 and 1962.  The medical phases of the New 
Mexico contract were terminated on June 30, 1963.  The medical 
examination program had not produced the results that had been 
anticipated and a very limited number of suspicious sputum samples had 
been found.  As the miners in the Grants district had relatively low 
radon exposures, the funds were very limited it was decided to 
concentrate efforts on the higher risk group.


				-20-

A second life-table mortality analysis was completed covering the 
experience of the study group from 1950-1962.  The paper together with 
one discussing the non-fatal effects of uranium mining an four papers 
dealing with the environmental phase of the study were presented at 
the Symposium on Radiologic Health and Safety in Uranium Mining and 
Milling which was held in Vienna, Austria in August 1963.  A report on 
the status of control work in uranium mines was prepared and 
distributed.
     In 1964, census-sputum cytology program was continued.  An 
important development was a study of lung cancer cell types in uranium 
mines as compared to non-mining control groups which showed that in 
the mining group there was a striking increase in the percent of 
small-cell undifferentiated tumors.  This study, and a report on a 
further investigation of the non-fatal effects of uranium mining, were 
presented at the Hanford Conference in May 1964.  Work was also begun 
on a new mortality analysis, as the number of lung cancer cases were 
increasing rapidly.
     As the environmental data showed that it would be difficult to 
achieve further significant decreases in the exposure of miners to 
radon daughters by ventilation alone, a study of easy-to-wear 
respirators was initiated.  This work was still in progress on June 
30, 1964.  Several promising respirators were found which might remove 
from 50-75% of the radon daughters.  Support of the environmental work 
in New Mexico was continued on a contract basis, and assistance was 
given to the Utah Mine Inspector.
     It is now 14 years since the uranium study was started.  At 
times, the project has been quite active; for other periods it has 
been quiescent.  The study was undertaken with the belief that all 
that was required was 


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the evaluation of environmental conditions in the industry and 
comparison of the results of these studies with the data on human 
experience which was available in the literature.  Measures to control 
the exposures of the workers to toxic materials could then be 
recommended.  This belief was a delusion.  It required 10 years and 
the accumulation of a number of deaths to convince the authorities 
that real hazards existed in the uranium mines.  The contrast between 
this neglect of the miners and the protection given to workers in 
other parts of the nuclear energy field is amazing.  At no time has it 
been possible for the Division to secure enough support to conduct 
more than a fraction of the basic work that needed to be done.  The 
items that required study were outlined in 1951, and much of this list 
is still awaiting attention.
     Some positive results have been obtained.  Control procedures are 
now being used in most of the mines and these will have beneficial 
effect on the situation.  The work in this country alerted other 
nations to the radiation hazards associated with uranium mining and 
many countries instituted control measures some years before general 
action was taken in the Unites States.  A study group has been 
assembled composed of miners who have been exposed to concentrations 
of radon daughters varying over a wide range.  The majority of the 
workers in the United States who have received biologically 
significant amounts of radiation are in this group and continued 
observation of these men will eventually yield data that could not be 
obtained otherwise.  These positive accomplishments, in some measures, 
offset the many deficiencies in the study.