Mortality among plutonium and other radiation workers at a plutonium weapons facility
Mortality among 5413 white males employed for at least two years at a plutonium weapons facility was investigated to measure risks from low levels of plutonium and external radiation. Compared with US death rates, fewer deaths than expected were found for all causes of death, all cancers, and lung cancer. No bone cancer was observed. Excess of brain tumors was found for the cohort in general. Elevated rate ratios for all causes of death and all lymphopoietic neoplasms were found when employees with plutonium body burdens greater than or equal to 2 nCi were compared with those with body burdens less than 2 nCi. Increased rate ratios were also found for esophageal, stomach, colon, and prostate cancers, and for lymphosarcomas and reticulum cell sarcomas. No elevated rate ratios were noted for bone and liver cancers. When employees with cumulative exposures greater than or equal to 1 rem were compared with those with exposures less than 1 rem, elevated rate ratios were found for myeloid leukemia, lymphosarcoma and reticulum cell sarcoma, liver neoplasms, and unspecified brain tumors. No overall dose-response relationships were found for plutonium or external radiation exposures. Standardized rate ratios increased, however, as plutonium body burden levels increased for all causes, all cancers, and digestive cancers at five years induction time. Standardized rate ratios also increased as external radiation exposure categories increased for all lymphopoietic cancers and unspecified brain tumors for a two-year induction period. With the exception of analyses of combined categories of death, and perhaps of lung cancer, confidence limits were wide, indicating limited precision. These findings suggest that increased risks for several types of cancers cannot be ruled out at this time for individuals with plutonium body burdens of greater than or equal to 2 nCi.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM
- OSTI ID:
- 6935449
- Journal Information:
- Am. J. Epidemiol.; (United States), Vol. 2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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NUCLEAR FACILITIES
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PERSONNEL
RISK ASSESSMENT
ACTINIDES
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HEMIC DISEASES
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560161* - Radionuclide Effects
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