DOE Radiation Research Program is floundering - NAS
The Energy Department's radiation health effects research program is floundering in a morass of administrative confusion due to an ill-considered 1990 joint management agreement between DOE and the Health and Human Services Department, a National Academy of Sciences panel says. The NAS panel said the [open quotes]administrative difficulties[close quotes] created by the DOE-HHS agreement appear to be [open quotes]stifling creativity and efficiency within DOE's Epidemiology Research Program, delaying the completion and publication of research.[close quotes] The panel also expressed concern that DOE has failed to adequately fund or staff its health research office, and that the department had no master research plan to identify research needs or set forth uniform, scientifically rigorous data collection procedures. The panel said DOE's lack of commitment was particularly evident in its failure to set up an effective health surveillance program for its nuclear work force. In addition, the panel said DOE had fallen short on promises to create a comprehensive computer bank of health research data that would be continually updated with new information gleaned from an ongoing worker surveillance program. While recommending enhancements, the NAS panel emphasized that DOE's health research program would not be able to function effectively until the department revamped its joint management agreement with HHS.
- OSTI ID:
- 7080383
- Journal Information:
- Energy Daily; (United States), Vol. 22:74; ISSN 0364-5274
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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RESEARCH PROGRAMS
US DOE
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
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290300* - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
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560151 - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man
552000 - Public Health