=> DATA FILE SET-LEVEL: ORMULA05
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Description:
This analytic data file set consists of six files generated for a retrospective cohort mortality study Ed Frome, et al., of all workers employed at the K-25, X-10, or Y-12 facilities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, who were hired before January 1, 1983 and employed for at least 30 days.
Results of this study have been published in Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene and Radiation Research in 1997.
This study, an update of a previous study by Frome (data file set ORMULA02), is based on deaths through 1984 for 106,020 workers of both genders. There were 2,810,000 person-years of follow-up with 65% from white males, 30% from white females, 3% from nonwhite males, and 2% from nonwhite females. The study involved three stages of analysis. First, standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated for each of the four race/gender groups for a series of causes of death. Next, a comparison of mortality among the facilities for selected causes of death was conducted by race/gender group. Finally, a dose-response analysis for cumulative external dose was carried out for white male employees from Y-12 after mid-1947 and X-10.
A previous study (Frome, et al, Radiation Research 123, 1990;138- 152) of 28,008 white males employed between 1943 and 1947 at these three sites evaluated the influence of the ever/never radiation exposure status along with duration of employment, facility, socioeconomic status, birth year, and period of follow-up, on cause-specific mortality. Based on deaths through 1980 there was an elevated SMR of 1.11 for all causes of death with a significant upward trend of 0.74% per year. The excess mortality was due primarily to lung cancer and diseases of the respiratory system. However, the increase was found to be related to socioeconomic status rather than radiation exposure status.
The analytic file (DEMGR) contains a record for each of the 118,588 workers hired by one of the Oak Ridge facilities before January 1, 1983. For the study cohort 12,568 were eliminated from this group, including 11,002 who were employed for fewer than 30 days and the remainder who had "critical errors" in their data. This file contains demographic, work history, and vital status information as of December 31, 1984. Of the 27,982 deaths, 22,724 were white males. There are three exposure files (X10EXP, Y12EXP, and K25EXP) that contain, for the designated facility, annual unadjusted external radiation doses, annual indicator variables for internal radiation exposure, and annual flags that specify employment in that facility during the year. White males received 93% of the annual recorded doses, which totaled 405.5 sieverts (Sv). There are two additional exposure files. Annual adjusted doses for X-10 are contained in X10ADJ, along with data used to compute these values, including annual values for days worked, department, and type of adjustment. Doses through 1956 were adjusted upward to compensate for potential bias in recorded doses due to monitoring policies and practices at X-10 during early years of plant operation. Early Y-12 doses were adjusted because of the large number of nonmonitored person-years at Y-12 through 1960. The adjusted dose file for Y-12 (Y12ADJ) contains annual adjusted doses as well as flags to specify type of adjustment.
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) began operation at X-10 early in 1943 as a research and development facility. Potential exposures to X-10 employees included external radiation, a variety of radionuclides, lead, beryllium, and chemicals associated with a research and development laboratory. From 1943 through mid-1947, Y-12 produced enriched uranium by the electromagnetic separation process and was operated by Tennessee Eastman Corporation (TEC). Potential exposures at Y-12 included uranium dust, some external radiation, and variety of chemicals including solvents and lubricants. After mid-1947 Y-12 was managed by Union Carbide Corporation Nuclear Division and changed operations to nuclear materials fabrication. At that time, potential exposures expanded to include metals and asbestos. K-25 began in 1945 to produce enriched uranium using a gaseous diffusion process. Uranium dust was a potential exposure at K-25 along with some external radiation exposure, uranium compounds, metals, solvents, and chemicals.
Number of data files: 6
Cohort Size: 118588
Providing Organization: Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education/CER
Creating Organization: Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education/CER
Races: white, nonwhite
Sexes: male, female
Latest Exposure: 12/31/1984
Follow-Up: 12/31/1984
Exposure Type: external radiation,
Exposure Agent: a variety of radionuclides, lead, beryllium, chemicals, solvents, uranium dust, metals, asbestos
Sites: Oak Ridge Y-12
Sites: Oak Ridge X-10
Sites: Oak Ridge K-25
Contact Information:
Wallace, Phil
Data Provider
ORISE
Email: wallacep@orau.gov
Frome, Edward L.
(423) 574-3138
Fax: 574-0680
Email: FromeEL@ornl.gov
Cragle, Donna L.
(423) 576-2866
Fax: 576-9557
Email: cragled@orau.gov