Contents
Radiobiology Laboratory at the University of Utah
Years: 1950 – 1987
Radionuclides: 224Ra, 226Ra, 228Ra (msTh), 228Th (RdTh), 233U, 244Cm, 239Pu, 241Am, 249Cf, 252Cf, 253Es, and 90Sr
Delivery: Injection
Animal subjects: Canines, Beagles (adult, immature, and aged populations)
The laboratory directors: John Z. Bowers (1950-1952), Tomas F. Dougherty (1952-1974), W.”Web” S.S. Jee(1974-1979) McDonald E. Wrenn (1979-1987), and Scott C. Miller (1987-1995). Other investigators associated with the Utah studies were (in alphabetic order): J.S. Arnold, D.R. Atherton, D.L. Berliner, F.W. Bruenger, J.H. Dougherty, R.D Lloyd, C.W. Mays, C.E. Rehfeld, M. Shifrine, N.P. Singh, W. Stevens, B.J. Stover, G.N. Taylor, and, M.A. Van Dilla.
HISTORY
The Radiobiology Laboratory at the University of Utah conducted experiments on a variety of radionuclides starting in 1950. The origins of the Utah program were described by T. Dougherty et.al. in “Studies of the biological effects of 226Ra, 239Pu, 228Ra (msTh), 228Th (RdTh) and 90Sr in adult beagles” Radiation Research 17:625-681. and B.J. Stover and C.N. Stover Jr, “The laboratory for Radiobiology at the University of Utah”, in Radiobiology of Plutonium, JW Press, Salt Lake City, 1972 pp. 29-46. The Department of Energy support of the laboratory was phased out by 1995; remaining life-span animals were transferred to ITRI in 1990.
The Beagle studies at Utah were initiated by the Atomic Energy Commission to predict the risk from 239Pu in people, based on the observed effects in the U.S. radium dial painters and the relative toxicity of 239Pu vs. 226Ra, to be established in young adult beagles. For simplicity and reproducibility, most of the dogs received a single intravenous injection of radionuclide, usually in citrate solution, at about 17 months of age when their skeletal maturity corresponded to that of an 18-year-old radium dial painter or plutonium worker. Additional radionuclides were also studied in young adult beagles. Some dogs were injected with 239Pu or 226Ra at either 3 months of age (to represent children) or 5 years of age (to represent middle-aged people).
Drs. Austin Brues, Robley Evans and Wright Langham provided the impetus and guiding direction for Utah studies.
On Sept 15, 1987, all remaining living beagles in the studies [157] were transferred to the ITRI colony for continued study and care for the remainder of their lives.
Read “A Guide To the Beagle Studies at the University of Utah” Annual Report with all studies and years documented.
For more information about the radium and plutonium studies done at the Radiobiology Lab at Utah, read the following review:
Lloyd, R. D. , Taylor, G. N. , Miller, S. C. , Bruenger, F. W. & Jee, W. S.(2001).Review Of 239Pu And 226Ra Effects In Beagles. Health Physics,81(6),691-697
Annual Reports
Consult the technical annual reports for understanding the data and methodologies of the experiments.
Data Visualization App
The data visualization application allows you to discover the data from a manipulated user interface.
Radiobiology Lab Records
DATA
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DogPathology_Utah.zip |
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Utah Injection Tables.pdf |
Data Studies
References
Dagle GE, Sanders CL. Radionuclide injury to the lung. Environ Health Perspect. 1984;55:129-137. doi:10.1289/ehp.8455129
Goldman, M, & Bustad, L K. (1972) BIOMEDICAL IMPLICATIONS OF RADIOSTRONTIUM EXPOSURE. Proceedings of a Symposium held at Davis, California, February 22–24, 1971. AEC Symposium Series 25. U.S.Atomic Energy Commission. Print.
Gerber, G B, Watson, C R, Sugahara, T, & Okada, S. International radiobiology archives of long-term animal studies. I. Descriptions of participating institutions and studies. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/376402 Access pdf of “grey book”
Mays, C. W. & Dougherty, T. F. (1972). Progress in the Beagle Studies at the University of Utah. Health Physics, 22 (6), 793-801.
Thompson, R. C., & Pacific Northwest Laboratory. (1989). Life-span effects of ionizing radiation in the Beagle dog: A summary account of four decades of research funded by the U.S. Department of Engery and its predecessor agencies. Richland, Wash.: Pacific Northwest Laboratory. Access pdf of “red book”.
Boecker, B B, Muggenburg, B A, Miller, S C, & Bradley, P L. Long-term dose-response studies of inhaled or injected radionuclides. Biennial report, 1 October 1991–30 September 1993. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/10158878