Epidemiologic Studies

Rala, Iodine-131 & Cesium-137

Fission Product Development Laboratory Logbooks, 1958-1964

Location:

Active:
Inactive: ORNL, Building 4500N, Rm. A208

Originating Office: Operations Division, Radioisotopes

Finding Aids: Records Center "BLUREC" Database

Disposition AuthorityUnscheduled

Series Description: This record series consists of hardcover notebooks recording daily activities at the Fission Products Development Laboratory from June 1958 through November 1964. Each book is labeled on the outside with its number and date span. Inside the cover of each log is its title, number, and dates of use. There are three types of logs in this series: Operational Logs #1-25, dated June 19, 1958-February 4, 1964, and #29 September 9, 1964-November 23, 1964; Panel Board #3 Logs #1-4, dated June 5, 1962-November 7, 1962; and six Cell Logs for various cells within the plant for 1961-1964. All three types of logs contain the same information, but the Operational Logs and Panel Board Logs deal with multiple cells while Cell Logs deal with individual cells. Each logbook contains a shift by shift account of the daily operation of the plant. The logs include entries for filtering, jetting, adding materials, sampling, crystallization of materials, forming pellets, furnace use, clean-up and decontamination, measurement of radiation levels (primarily of waste products), equipment tests, production procedures, equipment maintenance and repairs, and the signature or initials of the operator. Two logbooks, Cell 13 for May 1961-May 1962 and Cell 14 dated November 1962-May 1963, are marked as pertaining to cesium-137 on the cover; their contents indicate the use and/or production of several cesium compounds. The Panel Board Logs contain many references to carbon isotopes.

Data Elements: 8, 31, 88-89, 114