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Description:

This data file set consists of three analytic files for the cohort mortality study by Harvey Checkoway, et al., published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 1988, of white males employed at the Y-12 Facility in 1947-1974.

This study examines the mortality of a cohort of 6,781 white males who worked at the Y-12 Facility for at least 30 days between May 4, 1947 and December 31, 1974. This cohort included workers who were known to have worked only at Y-12. Individuals who worked at Y-12 when Tennessee Eastman Corporation (TEC) operated the facility (which was before May 4, 1947) or who worked at any other DOE-owned or operated facility were excluded. Workers in this cohort were exposed to low levels of alpha and gamma radiation while working with uranium compounds at an enriched nuclear materials fabrication plant. Relative to U.S. white males, the cohort experienced mortality deficits from all causes of death combined, from cardiovascular diseases, and from most site-specific cancers. When compared with national and state rates, excess mortality due to cancer of the lungs, brain, and central nervous system were seen. Dose-response trends, which diminished in magnitude when a 10-year latency assumption was applied, were detected for lung cancer mortality with respect to cumulative alpha and gamma radiation. The most pronounced trend associated with gamma doses was among workers who received doses equal to or greater than 5 rems of alpha radiation. There were 22 workers who received greater than or equal to 10 rems of external radiation, including 8 workers involved in a criticality accident at the facility in 1958.

There are three analytic files in this data file set. The first file (LDBEST01) contains annual and cumulative lung doses for each person for the years 1947 through 1979. Estimates of doses delivered to the lungs were based on results of urinalysis measurements and in vivo counting of internally deposited uranium. The second file (Y1ANGE14) contains demographic, work history, and vital status data for the cohort. The third file (Y1ANFB03) contains annual and cumulative penetrating doses that were compiled from external personnel monitoring information. Periods in which a worker was not in the monitoring program were assigned doses of zero, under the assumption that only workers with a reasonable likelihood of exposure had been monitored.

Vital status was ascertained for 6,477 workers (95.5% of the cohort) through December 31, 1979, the study end date. There were 862 deaths identified (12.7%), and death certificates were obtained for 846 (98.1%) of these deaths. Eighty-five percent of the cohort was followed for at least 10 years. The median duration of follow-up was 20.6 years, and the cohort contributed 133,535 person-years of observation.

Workers at Y-12 were exposed to radiation resulting from external sources (primarily gamma radiation from the uranium decay series) and from internal deposition of uranium (primarily alpha particles). Personal monitoring for external exposure began in 1948 with the use of film dosimeters. They were used for personnel monitoring until the late 1970s, when they were replaced with thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). Monitoring for internal exposure to uranium began in 1950, but was not in full effect until 1953. By 1961, the internal monitoring program included in vivo measurements, such as lung counting. Metabolic models were used to convert urinalysis and in vivo measurements to lung doses for each worker.

Number of data files: 3

Cohort Size: 6781

Providing Organization: Oak Ridge Associated Universities/CER

Creating Organization: ORAU/CER$UNC-Chapel Hill

Originating Organization: Union Carbide Corporation/Nuclear Division

Races: white
Sexes: males

Diseases: all cancers

Earliest Exposure: 06/04/1947
Latest Exposure: 12/31/1974
Follow-Up: 12/31/1974

Exposure Type: internal radiation$external radiation
Exposure Agent: uranium
Method: film badge$urinalysis$whole body counting

Sites: Oak Ridge Y-12

Notes: There are 3 analysis files used in this study

Derivation: Derived from ORAU/CER Data Model using demographic, work history, and exposure data. Dose assessment was performed at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Contact Information:

Cragle, Dr. Donna
(423) 576-2866
Fax: 423 576-9557
Email: cragled@orau.gov

Dupree, Dr. Betsy
(423) 576-3528
Fax: 423 576-9557
Email: ellisb@orau.gov

Checkoway
Principal Investigator

CITATION:   CEDR Library ID: 590 (for full bibliographic record)