Email tbrooks@tricity.wsu.edu

EDUCATION

Dixie J.C., St. George, Utah Assoc. S 1958 Chemistry

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah B.S. 1961 Experimental Biology

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah M.S. 1963 Radiation Ecology

Cornell University, Ithaca, New York Ph.D. 1967 Physical Biology

CURRENT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Washington State University Tri-Cities DOE Technical and 1999-present

Environmental Science Department Science Advisor, DOE

Richland, Washington Low Dose Research Program

CURRENT MAJOR AREA OF WORK

I currently have a three-year grant to act as a communication specialist and chief scientist for the DOE Low-Dose Research program. This is a $20 Million dollar a year 10 year program which is directed toward providing a scientific base for radiation protection standards after very low exposures to ionizing radiation. As outlined above this grant provides me with $570,280 dollars over a three year period. This grant will provide most (70-80%) of my salary, travel money and a part time secretary. My role in this program is to:

1. Provide scientific and technical support for the DOE Low-Dose Research Program.
2. Facilitate the interactions between DOE, scientists, regulatory and scientific committees, and other government and regulatory agencies.
3. Provide a focal point for generation of educational materials and for communication of research results between the scientists, decision-makers and the public.

We will be working closely with the Office of Research (ER) in Washington D.C. on this project. The major contacts for the project Dr. Marvin Frazier Director of the Office of Biological and Environmental Science and Dr. David Thomassen program manager in the Office of Biological and Environmental Science.

DOE Low Dose Radiation Research Program.

The quote from Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico provides a good overview of the program. "In this year’s Energy and Water Appropriation Act, we initiated a ten year program (20 million/year) to understand how radiation affects genomes and cells so that we can really understand how radiation affects living organisms. For the first time, we will develop radiation protection standards that are based on actual risk." This program has issued requests for proposals, I was involved in the review of these proposals (over 100 proposals) and DOE has funded 32 projects todate. This International program will make it possible to apply modern molecular data, technology and biological techniques to the problems associated with radiation biology. Over the past few years, there has been a rapid explosion of information and technology associated with molecular biology. The prime objective of this program is to use these modern techniques to determine if there are adverse health effects induced by exposure to low-LET ionizing delivered at low doses and dose rates. To reach this objective the DOE program has five major areas of interest:

1. Similarities and differences, and health risks of endogenous oxidative damage vs. damage induced by low levels of ionizing radiation.
2. Biological response to radiation and endogenous damage.
3. Possible thresholds for damage from low dose radiation.
4. Genetic factors that affect individuals and populations susceptible to low dose radiation damage.
5. Communication of research results from this program to the stakeholders.

These are very broad categories and are being addressed by a number of different scientists. I have a short presentation on the program if there are scientists at WSU that interested in applying for money from this program. I would be happy to help WSU scientists on applications for this funding on the radiation biology side of the equation to help insure that their applications in line with the needs of the Department of Energy.

1. My research demonstrated that the "hot particle" hypothesis was not true. It showed that for either induction of liver cancer or chromosome aberrations there was no unique risk associated with alpha emitting radioactive particles (²³⁹PuO₂ ) using a wide range of different particle sizes. This research indicated that the highest risk was associated with a uniform distribution of the isotope and supported the use of the average dose to the organ for estimating risk.
2. I conducted some of the first research on RBE for cytogenetic effects of protracted low dose-rate radiation exposure. This research demonstrated that protracted exposures for up to one year from alpha particles was about 20 times as effective as protracted exposure to beta or gamma ray exposure.
3. My research on cytogenetic damage from ⁹⁰Sr-⁹⁰Y demonstrated that these daughters were no more effective that protracted gamma ray exposure in production of chromosome damage and bone cancer. This research was very effective in disproving the hypothesis that there were unique effects from ⁹⁰Sr in fallout.
4. I conduced extensive research on the genotoxicity of complex mixtures associated with environmental pollution which had a major impact on understanding the total health risk associated with Diesel Exhaust, coal combustion and other energy related pollutants.
5. My research on combined effects of radiation and chemicals demonstrated that the genotoxic damage produced by many of the chemicals associated with the nuclear waste in the Hanford Tank Farm did not interact with damage produced by radiation to change the risk from the radiation exposure.
6. Years of research on the induction of chromosome damage and liver cancer made it possible for me to demonstrate that the liver is not a radiation resistant organ and that this organ requires unique risk factors (NCRP).
7. My research conducted using cytogenetic markers made it possible to estimate the radiation dose to different regions of the respiratory tract following inhalation of radon and its progeny. This research was used to validate physical dosimetry models (BEIR VI) and to demonstrated that chromosome damage is a good bio-marker of past radiation exposure and dose but is not a good marker of radiation risk or disease.

(r) Rithidech, K., Thomassen, D.G., Kelly, G., Johnson, N.F., Brooks, A.L. (submitted) Karyotypic evolution during tumor progression in rat tracheal epithelial cells treated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, Submitted (Carcinogenesis

(r) Brooks, A.L. (1999) "Biomarkers of Exposure, Sensitivity and Disease," International Journal of Radiation Biology (In Press)

(r) Brooks, A.L. (1999) The use of cellular and molecular biology in risk assessment, Environment International, Topical Issue Honoring Merril Eisenbud, (In Press).

(r) Brooks, A.L., M.A. Khan, S. Bao, L.A. Braby, N.F. Johnson, F.T. Cross (1999) Radon induced micronulcei in Respiratory Tract Biodosimetry, In: Indoor Radon and its Health Consequences, Quest for the True Story of Environmental Radon and Lung Cancer, Edt. J. Inaba, H. Yonehara, M. Doi, Kodansha Scientific Ltd. pp 67-82.

(r) Brooks, A.L., (1999) Dosimetry at low Dose Rates: Biological and Molecular Approaches, Radiation Research 151, 109-110.

(b) Brooks A.L., (1998) Chromosome Aberrations, Encyclopedia of Toxicology, Vol 1, Editor in Chief Philip Wexler, Academic Press, pp. 136-138.

(g) Samet, J.M., D. Brenner, A.L. Brooks, W.H. Ellett, E.S. Gilbert, D.T. Goodhead, E.J. Hall, P.K. Hopke, D. Krewski, J.H. Lubin, R.O. McClellan, P.L. Ziemer (1998) Health Effects of Exposure to Radon (BEIR VI), Committee on Health Risks of Exposure to Radon, Board on Radiation Effects Research, Commision on Life Sciences, National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington D.C.

Brooks, A.L., "Use of Cell and Molecular Biology to understand Risk from Radiation", Interview with KVEW TV. February 23, 2000.

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