Leonidas D. Marinelli

Leonidas D. Marinelli (28 November 1906 – 13 September 1974) 

LEONIDAS D. MARINELLI was the American radiological physicist who founded the field of Human Radiobiology[1]    In 1942, Marinelli established the principles for dosage determination of internal radioisotopes in the human body[2] [3]  In 1946, he developed the systematic dosimetry to distribute radioactive iodine to treat all locations of the metastases of a patient's thyroid cancer[4]  In 1950, he invented the Whole Body Counter that directly detected radioactive elements emitted from individuals who were previously contaminated in factories using radium, in nuclear industries, or by nuclear fallout.[5]  In 1953 he improved and applied the "twin" scintillation low-level gamma-ray crystal spectrometry method to detect and locate elements that are naturally radioactive in the human body[6] These methods were quickly copied in laboratories throughout the world and yielded insights into the human metabolisms of many elements and their compounds.[7]   In 1956, he developed the twin scintilltor method for dosimetry and spectrometry of fast neutrons and its application to the measurement of cosmic-ray neutron background[8] [9]   Using this method, his investigations obtained the total content of natural potassium in the human body[10] [11]

Leonidas D. Marinelli
Born(1906-11-28)28 November 1906
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Died13 September 1974(1974-09-13) (aged 67)
Hinsdale, DuPage County, Illinois
Alma materColumbia University, Cooper Union
Known forHuman Radiobiology, Long-term effects of radium in humans, Whole-body counting, Marinelli beaker
Scientific career
FieldsCancer, Radiation Protection, Human Radiobiology, Spectrometry
InstitutionsMemorial Hospital
Known today as
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory
Doctoral advisorGioacchino Failla
Other academic advisorsGioacchino Failla

Life and Education

Marinelli was born of Italian parents in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on November 28, 1906, eldest son of 6 children of bank owner Vincenzo Marinelli and Amelia Sammartino Marinelli. He was age 11 when his father died of a heart attack and he returned with his widowed mother and her children to the family seat in Agnone, Italy, where the Marinelli family established their bell foundry in the 12th century. Leonidas graduated the Volta Institute of Naples, October, 1925, with highest honors and a gold Queen Victoria coin. Two months after his nineteenth birthday, he emigrated to New York City and supported himself as a meter tester while working his way through Cooper Union Night School of Electrical Engineering. In 1929 he was hired by Dr. Gioacchino Failla, former student of Marie Curie, to the biophysical laboratory at Memorial Cancer Hospital, New York City, known today as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center). Hardly a year later, Leonidas measured the gamma ray intensities of radium, previously unquantified, in electrostatic units which were convertible to the x-ray roentgen unit. This made possible the comparison of xrays and gamma rays, later useful to evaluations of cancer therapies. By 1933 he coauthored his first publication with Failla, Edith Quimby, and John E. Rose. In 1935 he became Assistant Physicist. In 1938 he completed all course requirements for the PhD at Columbia University and had published 5 papers in radiological journals.

Career and Profession

In the 1940s Marinelli became an independent scientist. In 1941 his papers dealt with post-irradiation blood studies and with early tracer work on cancer; in 1942 with the production of chromosomal breaks in plant cells and with the theory of time distribution of radiation treatments. In February, 1942, he published the theoretical basis for internal radiation dosimetry that provided the basis for nuclear medicine. In 1946, he published its systematic application to the radioactive treatment of functional cancer of the thyroid. This breakthrough was followed by autoradiography techniques and by a Review of Modern Physics report on beta rays. The explosive growth of radiation medicine enlarged his responsibilities as Head of Physics at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Institute. In 1948 he added to his publication of internal radiation dosimetry the supplementary biological considerations contributed by Edith Quimby.

In 1948 he moved to the Argonne National Laboratory, with a position on the University of Chicago faculty. Here, with John Rose, he provided early leadership and scientific direction of the Radiological Physics Division and concurrently the Biology and Medical Ressearch Division[12].

He authored review articles on dosimetry in the Annual Review of Nuclear Science, in Radiation Biology, and in the Handbook of Medical Radiology. His studies of physics dealt now with electron diffusion from point sources in air, and with the cosmic ray background. In radiology he pioneered the detection of minimal burdens of radioactivity in humans, studying their distribution and variation in tissues and the epidemiology of chronic low levels of radiation[13] The Center for Human Radiobiology, which now has the responsibility for all AEC-supported research on the effects of internally deposited radioisotopes, grew out of his effort.[14]

Inventions and Patents

In 1950, Marinelli pioneered the Whole Body Counter, a low-level gamma-ray detector, and applied it to study the long-term effects of radium in people injected with radium in the 1920s and 1930s.[15] The WBC used thallium-activated sodium iodide crystals.[16] In radiology, he detected radium distribution and variation in tissues, and the epidemiology of chronic low levels of radiation[17]

US Patent 2,795,703A - Isadore B. Berlman and Leonidas D. Marinelli, "Apparatus for counting fast neutrons in the presence of gamma rays", issued 1957, applied for 1954. Under military supervision, this patent was assigned to the Atomic Energy Commission.[18]

Marinelli devised and applied the “twin” scintillator method for the dosimetry and spectrometry of fast neutrons to the measurement of cosmic neutron background. In 1955, he developed sensitivity of the method to measure the body’s total natural potassium (K-40) content. His spectrometric method was copied in many laboratories throughout the world and has yielded insights into the human metabolisms of many elements and their compounds.[19]

Marinelli beaker

In 1943, Marinelli devised a beaker to analyze the radioactive liquids in the systematic dosimetry of radioactive iodine for metastasized thyroid cancer.[20] The original version of the Marinelli beaker, consisted of a pyrex/glass laboratory beaker with a central hollow tube projecting from the bottom. A detector, usually a glass GM tube designed for gamma counting, was positioned in the central tube while the beaker was filled with the sample. Since the sample effectively surrounded the detector, the counting efficiency was greater than would be the case if the sample were in any other type of container.[21]

The following footnote regarding the Marinelli beaker is found in a report by R.F. Hill, G.J. Hine and L.D. Marinelli (1950) of the Sloan-Kettering Institute in New York: "This equipment first designed by one of the present authors (L.D.M.) and in use in this laboratory since 1943, can now be obtained from Technical Associates, Inc. Glendale, California."[22]

Awards and honors
  • Marinelli Road in Rockville, Maryland is named in his honor and the site for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission headquarters office.

Selected publications

1930s
  • Quimby, E. H., & Marinelli, L. D. (1933). The Influence of Filtration on Surface and Depth Intensities of 200 KV X-rays 1. Radiology, 21(1), 21-29.
  • Quimby, E. H., & Marinelli, L. D. (1936). A study of cones or other collimating devices used in roentgen therapy. Radiology, 26(1), 16-26.
  • Failla, G., & Marinelli, L. D. (1937). The measurement of the ionization produced in air by gamma rays. American Journal of Roentgenology and radium therapy, 38, 312-343.
  • Quimby, E. H., Marinelli, L. D., & Farrow, J. H. (1938). A Study of Back-scatter. American Journal of Roentgenology and radium therapy, 39, 799.
  • Marinelli, L. D., Blady, J. V., & Quimby, E. (1939). Secondary filters in radium therapy. American Journal of Roentgenology and radium therapy, 41, 804-816.

1940s
  • White, T. N., Marinelli, L. D., & Failla, G. (1940). A measurement of gamma radiation in roentgens. American Journal of Roentgenology and radium therapy, 44, 889-903.
  • Kenney, J. M., Marinelli, L. D., & Woodard, H. Q. (1941). Tracer Studies with Radioactive Phosphorus in Malignant Neoplastic Disease 1. Radiology, 37(6), 683-690.
  • Marinelli, L. D. (1942). Dosage Determination with Radioactive Isotopes, American Journal of Roentgenology and radium therapy, 47 (2), 210-216.
  • Marinelli, L. D., & Goldschmidt, B. (1942). The Concentration of P32 in Some Superficial Tissues of Living Patients 1. Radiology, 39(4), 454-463.
  • Seidlin, S. M., Marinelli, L. D., & Oshry, E. (1946). Radioactive iodine therapy: effect on functioning metastases of adenocarcinoma of the thyroid. Journal of the American Medical Association, 132(14), 838-847.
  • Leiter, L., Seidlin, S. M., Marinelli, L. D., & Baumann, E. J. (1946). Adenocarcinoma of the Thyroid with Hyperthyroidism and Functional Metastases: I. Studies with Thiouracil and Radio-Iodine 123. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 6(3), 247-261.
  • Marinelli, L. D., & Foote, F. W. (1947). Retention of radioactive iodine in thyroid carcinomas; histopathologic and radio-autographic studies. The American Journal of Roentgenology and radium therapy, 58(1), 17.
  • Marinelli, L. D., Brinckerhoff, R. F., & Hine, G. J. (1947). Average energy of beta-rays emitted by radioactive isotopes. Reviews of Modern Physics, 19(1), 25.
  • Marinelli, L. D., Quimby, E. H., & Hine, G. J. (1948). Dosage determination with radioactive isotopes; practical considerations in therapy and protection. The American Journal of Roentgenology and radium therapy, 59(2), 260-281.
  • Rawson, R. W., Marinelli, L. D., Skanse, B. N., Trunnell, J., & Fluharty, R. G. (1948). The Effect of Total Thyroidectomy on the Function of Metastatic Thyroid Cancer. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 8(10), 826-841.
  • Marinelli, L. D. (1949). Dosage determination in the use of radioactive isotopes. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 28(6 Pt 1), 1271.
  • Marinelli, L. D., Quimby, E. H., & Hine, G. (1949). [Dosimetry of radioactive isotopes; biological observations and practical applications.]. Strahlentherapie, 81(4), 587-594.
  • Rawson, R. W., Skanse, B. N., Marinelli, L. D., & Fluharty, R. G. (1949). Radioactive iodine. Its use in studying certain functions of normal and neoplastic thyroid tissues. Cancer, 2(2), 279-292.
  • Trunnell, J. B., Marinelli, L. D., Duffy Jr, B. J., Hill, R., Peacock, W., & Rawson, R. W. (1949). The Treatment of Metastatic Thyroid Cancer with Radioactive Iodine: Credits and Debits. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 9(11), 1138-1152.

1950s
  • Hill, R. F., Hine, G. J., and Marinelli, L. D. (1950), The quantitative determination of gamma radiation in biological research. Am. J. Roentgenol. & Radium Therap., 63: 160.
  • Marinelli, L. D. (1953). Radiation dosimetry and protection. Annual Review of Nuclear Science, 3(1), 249-270.
  • Marinelli, L. D., Norris, W. P., Gustafson, P. F., & Speckman, T. W. (1953). Transport of Radium Sulfate from the Lung and Its Elimination from the Human Body Following Single Accidental Exposures 1. Radiology, 61(6), 903-915.
  • Marinelli, L. D., & Taylor, L. S. (1954). The measurement of ionizing radiations for biological purposes. Radiation Biology (A. Hollaender, ed.), 1, 145-190.
  • Clark, R. K., Brar, S. S., & Marinelli, L. D. (1955). Ionization of air by beta rays from point sources. Radiology, 64(1), 94.
  • Marinelli, L. D., Miller, C. E., Gustafson, P. F., & Rowland, R. E. (1955). The quantitative determination of gamma-ray emitting elements in living persons. American Journal of Roentgenology and radium therapy Nuclear Medicine., 73.
  • Hasterlik, R. J., & Marinelli, L. D. (1955, August). Physical dosimetry and clinical observations on four human beings involved in an accidental critical assembly excursion. In Proceedings of the International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy (Vol. 11, pp. 25–34).
  • Marinelli, L. D., Miller, C. E., Rowland, R. E., & Rose, J. E. (1955). Measurement in vivo of radium gamma-ray activities lower than K40 levels existing in the human body. Radiology, 64(1), 116.
  • Marinelli, L. D. (1956). The Use of NaI-Tl Crystal Spectrometers in the Study of Gamma-Ray Activity in Vivo: A Summary of Developments at the Argonne National Laboratory. British Journal of Radiology. Suppl., 7.
  • Miller, C. E., & Marinelli, L. D. (1956). Gamma-ray activity of contemporary man. Science, 124(3212), 122-123.
  • Miller, C. E., Marinelli, L. D., Rowland, R. E., & Rose, J. E. (1956). Reduction of NaI Background. Nucleonics (US) , 14.
  • Miller, C. E., Marinelli, L. D., Rowland, R. E., & Rose, J. E. (1956). An analysis of the background radiation detected by Nal crystals. IRE Transactions on Nuclear Science, , 3(4), 90-96.
  • Marinelli, L. D. (1957). U.S. Patent No. 2,795,703. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Marinelli, Leonidas D. "Apparatus for Counting Fast Neutrons." U.S. Patent No. 2,795,703. 11 June 1957.
  • Marinelli, L. D. (1958). Radioactivity and the human skeleton. Janeway lecture, 1958. American Journal of Roentgenology and radium therapy Nuclear Medicine., 80.
  • Gustafson, P. F., Marinelli, L. D., & Brar, S. S. (1958). Natural and fission-produced gamma-ray emitting radioactivity in soil. Science, 127(3308), 1240-1242.

1960s
  • Marinelli, L. D., Miller, C. E., May, H. A., & Rose, J. E. (1961). The use of low level gamma scintillation spectrometry in the measurements of activity in human beings. Radioactivity it, 16-30.
  • Marinelli, L. D., Miller, C. E., May, H. A., & Rose, J. E. (1962). Low level gamma-ray scintillation spectrometry: experimental requirements and biomedical applications. Advances in Biological and Medical Physics 8.
  • Marinelli, L. D., Miller, C. E., May, H. A., & Rose, J. E. (1962). Advances in Biological and Medical Physics. CA Tobias and JH Lawrence, Ed, 81-160.
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References
  1. Rossi, Harald H., letter to Mrs. Marinelli (April 25, 1975)
  2. John Rundo, HEALTH PHYSICS, Volume 35, July, 1978, Pp 5-6
  3. L.D. Marinelli, Dosage determination with radioactive isotopes-I: Fundamental dosage formulae. American Journal of Roentgenology and Radium Therapy 47/2 (Feb. 1942):210-216
  4. Fano, U., Leonidas D. Marinelli (1906–1974). Radiation Research (March 1975)61/3:538-539
  5. L. D. Marinelli British Journal of Radiology Suppl.(Nov 1956)7:38-43
  6. L. D. Marinelli, British Journal of Radiology Suppl.(Nov 1956)7:38-43
  7. Rossi, Harald H., Letter, April 15, 1975
  8. (Patent # 2-795-703, June 11, 1957)
  9. Berlman, I.B. and L.D. Marinelli. June 25, 1956. Twin scintillation fast neutron detector. Review of Scientific Instruments, 27/110:858-859
  10. L.D. Marinelli (Supplement by H.A. May),1961. Use of low-level gamma-ray scintillation spectrometry in the measurements of activity in human beings. Radioactivity in Man. Ed. H. Meneely, C. C. Thomas, Springfield, IL:16-30.
  11. Miller, C.E., and L.D. Marinelli.The gamma-ray activity of contemporary man. Science, 124 (3212) (July 20, 1956):122-123
  12. Argonne National Laboratory Report-4488, Report 4571
  13. RADIATION RESEARCH, Vol 61, No 3, Mar., 1975, Pp 538-539. "Obituary: Leonidas D. Marinelli 1906 - 1974, by Ugo Fano www.jstor.org/stable/3574129
  14. HEALTH PHYSICS, Volume 35 (July 1978): 5-6. " In Memoriam. Leonidas D. Marinelli, 28 November 1906 - 13 September 1974 " by John Rundo, Argonne National laboratory and the University of Chicago. This issue and the proceedings of the Society are dedicated to Leonidas D. Marinelli. Pergamon Press Ltd, 1978, printed in Great Britain © Health Physics Society
  15. Marinelli, L.D. 1956.The use of Na-T1 crystal spectrometers in the study of gamma-ray activity in vivo: A summary of developments at the Argonne national laboratory. Brit. Journ. of Radiol. Supplement 7 (Nov.): 38-43. (London Brit. Inst. Of Radiology)
  16. May, H.A. and L.D. Marinelli. 1962. Sodium Iodide Systems: Optimum crystal dimensions and origin of background.Proceedings of the Symposium on Whole Body Counting, IAEA, Vienna (June 12-16): 15-36.
  17. RADIATION RESEARCH, Vol 61, No 3, Mar., 1975, Pp 538-539. "Obituary: Leonidas D. Marinelli 1906 - 1974 by Ugo Fano www.jstor.org/stable/3574129
  18. Berlman, Isadore B., Marinelli, Leonidas D. (16 March 1954). Apparatus for counting fast neutrons in the presence of gamma rays. Patent #2,795,703A. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. Rossi, Harald. H. , April, 25, 1975. Essay: Leonidas D. Marinelli.
  20. A Comparison of Iodine-131 Counting Methods|journal=Nucleonics|date=October 1952|page=57
  21. Bruner, H.D.; Perkinson, J.D. (October 1952). "A Comparison of Iodine-131 Counting Methods". Nucleonics: 57.
  22. Hill, R.F., Hine, G.J. and Marinelli, L.D. (February 1950). "The Quantitative Determination of Gamma Radiation in Biological Research". American Journal of Roentgenology and Radium Therapy: 160.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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