the primary responsibility of the health division at the los alamos national laboratory is to provide effective programs in health, safety, waste processing, and environmental protection for the laboratory. during 1981, evaluations of respiratory protective equipment included 3 special doe contractor supplied-air suits or hoods and 10 commercial supplied-air devices. preliminary results of chemical permeation tests of different protective garment materials are reported. industrial hygiene field studies of oil shale work were conducted at the geokinetics true in situ facility and the rio blanco modified in situ facility. an occupational medical survey of workers at the geokinetics, inc., facility was completed. research on the generation and characterization of aerosols was continued for inhalation studies of man-made mineral fibers and oil shale aerosols the distribution of exp 241 am in a whole body was determined by tissue analyses. preliminary results of mortality in workers formerly employed at the rocky flats plant were reported. a simplified method for the analysis of plutonium in urine has been developed instrumentation development resulted in a portable computer system for field data analysis and a small, computerized, wristwatch-style radiation dosimeter. environmental surveillance at los alamos during 1981 showed the highest estimated radiation dose due to laboratory operations is about 4 of the dose due to the natural radioactivity here. a study was completed on alternative strategies for long-term management of los alamos transuranic wastes. a successful 10-day