Bommarito thinks may be worth looking at. Others are the effects of long-term exposure to toluene diisocyanate fumes and the relationship of such exposure to loss of lung capacity; cancer of salivary glands; gall bladder problems; dangerous chemical combinations (where no single component is dangerous by itself); and, in general, the effects of long-term exposure to gases, fumes, and chemicals. Another potential problem Mr. Bommarito mentions might be worth investigating is the occurrence of heart palpitations among workers who drink beer after exposure to carbon disulfide. The expenses incurred by the Harvard study group will be paid by BFG to a maximum equal to 0.5 cent per man-hour for the 11,000 workers covered under the plan. The tab will run about $100,000 per year, according to BFG's Mr. Reynolds. For all the rubber companies involved, Mr. Bommarito says that more than $1.5 million is now available for health studies. As yet, BFG is the only company to have selected an academic partner. Mr. Bommarito observes that the rubber industry health pact "may well serve to set the pattern for similar programs for the millions of industrial workers" in the U.S. APOLLO 15:
Scientific sophistication As the Apollo program to explore the moon enters its last few missions, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is increasing its emphasis on scientific sophistication. For instance, on the Apollo 15 mission, scheduled for launching July 26, astronauts David R. Scott, James B. Irwin, and Alfred M. Worden have trained in various aspects of geology and other sciences. The astronauts will also have available new equipment as aids, most spectacular of which is the lunar roving vehicle. The lunar module crew are to land in an area called the HadleyApennine site, selected so that samples may be collected of what NASA scientists expect to be basaltic material from deeper parts of the moon's crust. The astronauts are to land a few kilometers from the Hadley Rille, a topographic feature somewhat comparable in depth and width to parts of the Grand Canyon. Thus, the crew should also be able
to get samples and data of materials I gaseous diffusion enriching procinvolved in rille formation and of esses. AEC would next pick about materials from nearby Apennine 10 firms from the group and allow them to conduct enrichment R&D mountains. Most of the scientific experiments at their own expense. When AEC banned private inof earlier Apollo missions on the moon will be repeated, though of- dustry R&D on gas centrifuge techten in more complex forms. The nology in March 1967, four commajor new experiment will be to panies were conducting R&D on the measure heat flows under the enrichment process: Allied Chemmoon's crust. (This experiment ical jointly with General Electric, was to have been done on the Apollo and W. R. Grace jointly with Elec13 mission, but the craft never tro-Nucleonics. An Allied Chemical landed.) A specially designed drill, spokesman, noting the company's weighing 29 earth pounds, or about interests in nuclear technology, 5 pounds on the moon, operating on which includes a partnership with a rotary percussion principle to Gulf Oil in a $90 million nuclear produce minimum heat, will be fuel reprocessing plant, says the used by astronaut Scott to drill two company is interested in AEC's holes 10 feet deep during the first proposals but wants to see them of three periods of moon explora- before making any comments. A tion. Probes inserted in the holes spokesman for W. R. Grace says and connected to a central data flatly that the company isn't intertransmitter will indicate subsur- ested, and notes that in 1969 Grace face temperature changes. Results divested itself of its nuclear fuel refrom these probes could go a long processing facility. The Government's three gaseous way to resolve the conflict of opinion on whether the moon's interior diffusion uranium enriching plants are operated under contract with is hot or cold. AEC. Union Carbide operates the Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Paducah, URANIUM ENRICHMENT: Ky., plants, and Goodyear runs the AEC files available Portsmouth, Ohio, plant. A Union While part of the Government was Carbide spokesman tells C&EN's going to court to keep classified Washington bureau head, Fred papers out of the public press last Zerkel, that "if and when we are week, another part, the Atomic En- selected, as we feel fairly sure we ergy Commission, quietly ended a will be, we will be interested in ban on industry access to classified talking to them." A Goodyear AEC files on uranium enrichment spokesman, meanwhile, says that technology to be used in independ- the company will consider the proent R&D work. AEC's action, posal, but it's too early to say what aimed at spurring private industry the company will decide. interest in uranium enrichment, AEC notes that West Germany will still keep "sensitive" informa- and the Netherlands, for instance, tion classified, including any tech- have private industrial firms worknology developed by participating ing on uranium enrichment. Morefirms, except to participants. over, additional U.S. enriching caUnder the new program, AEC pacity may be needed by 1980, plans to give security clearances to AEC says. By allowing U.S. indusa few officials of about 25 "selected" try to become familiar with enrichcompanies. Those selected would ing technology, AEC's action could get access to AEC's files on enrich- lead to industry investment in new ment technology so that each could enriching facilities, a private uradraw up formal proposals to con- nium enriching capacity, or facilduct R&D on the gas centrifuge and I ities to make enriching equipment. One of AEC's gaseous diffu ion uranium enriching plants
