proved any specific resolutions. But they did agree generally, among other things, that from now on each group would be represented at meetings of the other group, and that they will work together in areas of common interest such as manpower, legislation on science and technology, and the necessity of re-establishing some kind of White House science office. D
Atlantic Richfield quits on tar sands Atlantic Richfield is giving up on a big tar sands project. The firm's Canadian affiliate, Arcan, has told the Alberta and Canadian governments that it will withdraw from the Syncrude consortium, which has been under way since 1958 to develop hydrocarbon production from Athabasca tar sands. Arcan has a 30% interest in Syncrude, as do Imperial Oil Ltd. and Canada-Cities Service Ltd. The remaining 10% is owned by Gulf Oil Canada Ltd. Arcan cites inflationary pressures, which have increased projected capital outlay from $1.2 billion to more than $2 billion over the past year, as the reason for its decision. The partners in the Syncrude project now are building a 125,000 bbl-per-day plant, scheduled to go on stream in 1977. So far the partners have spent about $100 million on the plant. Arcan's share is $30 million, of which $20 million probably will be written off as a loss after taxes are paid. The remaining partners in the Syncrude project may elect to assume Arcan's share of the project and keep it a private venture. However, there is also a possibility that either the Alberta provincial government or the Canadian federal government may become a partner in Arcan's place. The remaining partners and the two governments began discussing the possibilities last Tuesday. No decision had been announced at press time. Despite the gloomy economic outlook for developing the Athabasca tar sands, other developers still voice confidence in a viable industry. One developer, Great Canadian Oil Sands Ltd., a subsidiary of Sun Oil, still considers development a "manageable" affair and is continuing its production operations. The Athabasca tar sand deposit is estimated to contain about 700 billion bbl of hydrocarbons, but only 10% is recoverable with present mining technology. D
U.S. may ratify ban on chemical weapons
and Dr. Stephen T. Quigley, of ACS's Department of Chemistry and Public Affairs. Among other things, Dr. Price pointed out that it is "difficult to draw sharp distinctions between lethal, incapacitating, and riot control agents. . . . Any exclusion of one or more types of chemical agents would thus tend to confuse and undermine the intent of the Geneva Protocol to ban the use of such weapons. ACS concludes that an international ban on chemical weapons, to be effective, needs to be simple and clear. It must include all chemical weapons." D
A near half-century of U.S. reluctance to ratify the 1925 Geneva Protocol prohibiting use of chemical and bacteriological agents in warfare may have edged significantly closer to an end last week. Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, after getting the details of the Ford Administration's position on use of chemical agents, and testimony from the American Chemical Society and others, met at press time and, in effect, recommended U.S. ratification. The Ford Administration's position, as outlined to the committee by Dr. Fred C. Ikle, director of the U.S. Arms Control & Disarmament Agency, urged ratification as had the Nixon Administration. It Conventional wisdom dictates that doesn't drop outright a Nixon un- one can have too much of a good derstanding that riot control agents thing. And this apparently includes and herbicides are not covered by at least one vitamin, vitamin D, acthe protocol, but offers a new in- cording to the National Research terpretation of what it means. Council's Food & Nutrition Board. In short, the Ford interpretation The NRC findings are the latest in renounces "first use" of herbicides an ongoing program within' the in war. And it renounces "first use" council to dispel popular misconof riot control agents in war except ceptions about nutrition and nutri"in defensive military modes to ents, lately a hot topic in the press. save lives" such as controlling NRC concludes that supplemenrioting prisoners of war. tal amounts of vitamin D in excess In contrast, the ACS position of the recommended daily allowsupports "ratification of the 1925 ance of 400 international units are Protocol without the understand- unnecessary for most individuals, ing that riot control agents and regardless of age. In fact, says herbicides are excluded from the NRC, daily intake above this level protocol." And ACS supports im- can be hazardous and result in hymediate passage of S. Res. 48 (which percalcemia, or too much calcium would have the Senate support a in the blood. Hypercalcemia probroad interpretation of the Geneva duces manifold symptoms and efProtocol). fects in humans, including calcifiThis ACS position, approved by cation of soft tissue (bad) and kidthe society board and council in ney damage (worse). 1973, was presented to the commitBut vitamin D is nonetheless tee by Dr. Charles C. Price, a pastessential to humans, particularly president of ACS, Dr. Robert W. Cairns, ACS executive director, infants, since infant foods and mother's milk, according to NRC, contain little of the vitamin. RickPrice: should be simple and clear ets, a disease once common in children, is produced by incomplete mineralization of bone tissue due to lack of vitamin D, and hence supplements are needed, usually in the form of fortified milk, to head off this condition. Vitamin D is an unusual nutrient, says NRC, because its major natural source is not food, but 7dehydrocholesterol found in the skin. Short wave-length ultraviolet light in sunlight converts the 7dehydrocholesterol to vitamin D, a related sterol. Thus, vitamin D deficiency, prior to the introduction of fortification, once was most prevalent in northern climates, where sunlight is comparatively sparse. D
Too much vitamin D hikes blood calcium
Dec. 16, 1974C&EN
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