Update of epidemiologic studies of plutonium-workers

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-198306001-00048· OSTI ID:5528938

Voelz, G L; Wilkinson, G S; Acquavella, J F; Tietjen, G L; Brackbill, R M; Reyes, M; Wiggs, L D

Retrospective and prospective epidemiologic studies are being conducted as part of a national survey of plutonium workers at four Department of Energy facilities (Los Alamos, NM; Rocky Flats, CO; Mound Laboratory, OH; and Savannah River, SC). A preliminary analysis of mortality was done for all white males who have worked at the Rocky Flats Plant during the period 1952 to 1979. The 452 observed deaths were significantly fewer than the 831 expected for all causes. The 107 deaths due to all malignant neoplasms were also significantly fewer than the 167 expected from these diseases. Expected deaths were derived from age and calendar-specific death rates for US white males. Deaths reported for benign and unspecified neoplasms numbered eight versus an expected two, a significant elevation. These tumors, all intracranial, are the subject of a case-control study to be reported later. Subdividing the cohort on the basis of plutonium exposures and external radiation exposures results in similar overall findings. The benign and unspecified neoplasms, however, were not significantly high in the plutonium-exposed group.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5528938
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-82-123; CONF-8110126-4; ON: DE82010414
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

054000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Health & Safety
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACTINIDES
ANIMALS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
EPIDEMIOLOGY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
MALES
MAMMALS
MAN
MATHEMATICS
MEN
METALS
MORTALITY
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEOPLASMS
NUMERICAL DATA
PERSONNEL
PLUTONIUM
PRIMATES
ROCKY FLATS PLANT
STATISTICS
TABLES
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES