What Happens When You Taste Plutonium? The Astonishing Story of Donald Mastick
The Man Who Survived Tasting Plutonium
Donald Mastick was a brilliant young scientist working on the Manhattan Project when he accidentally ingested a small amount of plutonium, an incredibly toxic and radioactive substance. Though he didn’t show any immediate symptoms, the effects of the exposure would be felt by Mastick for years to come. Despite the inherent danger of his work with radioactive materials, Mastick continued to make groundbreaking contributions to the field of nuclear chemistry throughout his career. In this article, we’ll explore the remarkable life of Donald Mastick, his experiences with plutonium, and the ongoing legacy of his work.
Early life
Donald Francis Mastick hailed from St. Helena, California, where he was raised in the picturesque Napa Valley by his parents, Spencer Mastick and Frankie (née Hite). He pursued his academic career at the University of California, Berkeley, where he excelled in chemistry and was recognized for his outstanding performance by both Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi honor societies. In 1942, Mastick successfully completed his Bachelor of Science degree and embarked on a journey that would take him to the forefront of the nascent field of nuclear research.
The Manhattan Project
Mastick began his work on the Manhattan Project in 1943, shortly after completing his degree at UC Berkeley. He was recruited by the project’s scientific director, J. Robert Oppenheimer, who was impressed by Mastick’s aptitude for nuclear chemistry. Mastick joined the project’s Los Alamos laboratory in New Mexico, where he worked alongside some of the greatest scientific minds of the era to help develop the world’s first atomic bomb. Mastick was initially involved in the purification of plutonium, a key component of the bomb, and later focused on the chemical analysis of uranium and plutonium samples. His contributions to the project earned him the admiration and respect of his colleagues and helped lay the foundation for the development of nuclear technology.
Why was he tasting plutonium?
On August 1, 1944, Donald Mastick and his laboratory partner, Arthur Wahl, were handling a vial containing 10 milligrams of plutonium chloride dissolved in an acid solution. However, the vial unexpectedly exploded, causing Mastick to inhale and ingest some of the plutonium. As a result, he knew he had been exposed to one of the most toxic and radioactive substances known to man. Mastick quickly put the vial back in its wooden container and sought the help of Dr. Louis Hempelmann, the Director of the Health Group at Los Alamos. Hempelmann immediately contacted Colonel Stafford L. Warren, the Manhattan Project’s medical director at the Clinton Engineer Works in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to discuss the situation and plan for Mastick’s medical treatment.
Mastick’s face was rigorously cleansed, yet his skin remained contaminated with a mere microgram of plutonium, a hazardous and radioactive element that can cause severe damage to the human body. In an attempt to rid Mastick of the plutonium, Dr. Louis Hempelmann provided him with a special mouthwash solution of trisodium citrate and sodium bicarbonate. Although this concoction managed to remove most of the plutonium, Mastick’s breath still emitted radioactive particles, setting off an ionization chamber even from a distance of 6 feet away. Hempelmann had to use a stomach pump to retrieve the remaining plutonium, recovering about 60 nanograms of the element. Urine tests indicated that less than 1 microgram was left in Mastick’s system. However, traces of plutonium were still detectable in his body three decades later, serving as a constant reminder of the danger he had faced.
Donald Mastick’s career trajectory took a sharp turn after the accident. Unable to continue working in the Chemistry Division due to his exposure to plutonium, he suggested to Oppenheimer that he assist Commander Frederick Ashworth instead. Initially serving as an administrative assistant, Mastick soon found himself involved in top-secret projects such as drop-testing pumpkin bombs and modifying the Boeing B-29 Superfortress to carry nuclear weapons. He also investigated the accidental dropping of Little Boy due to a faulty electrical circuit.
Mastick was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy Reserve in June 1945, and shortly thereafter, he headed to Tinian as part of Project Alberta. He played a role in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. After the war ended, he participated in the Operation Crossroads nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll. He eventually left the Navy with the rank of lieutenant (junior grade), having had a remarkable career that began with a harrowing incident involving the most dangerous substance on the planet.
Aftermath
After his experience with plutonium, Mastick continued to work on the Manhattan Project until the end of World War II. He then returned to the University of California, Berkeley, where he obtained his PhD in physical chemistry in 1950. He remained at Berkeley for the rest of his career, becoming a professor of chemistry and eventually chairman of the department.
Despite his exposure to plutonium, Mastick lived a long and productive life. He died in 2000 at the age of 80 from complications related to Parkinson’s disease. Although he did not suffer any immediate ill effects from his exposure to plutonium, his case remains an important reminder of the dangers of working with radioactive materials, and the need for strict safety protocols in such work.
For more, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Mastick.
