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Description:

This analytic data file set consists of one file generated for a cohort mortality study by AP Polednak, et al., published in the Journal of Occupational Medicine in March 1981, of white males at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Facility in 1943-1947.

The study examined the mortality experience of white male workers employed at a uranium enrichment facility (Y-12) between June 1943 and May 1947. During this time, Y-12 was operated for the government by the Tennessee Eastman Corporation (TEC). In May 1947, Union Carbide Corporation Nuclear Division became the operating contractor. With this transition, significant changes were made to plant processes, and most of the Y-12 work force was replaced. These occurrences led epidemiologists to study the Y-12 workers employed by TEC (the TEC cohort) separately from those working at Y-12 after May 1947 (the Y-12 cohort). The TEC cohort was selected for this mortality study because (1) a long period of follow-up was available, (2) data were available showing that average levels of airborne uranium dust were high in certain departments, (3) the size of the sample was large, and (4) data were limited on the possible long-term health effects of uranium exposure in human populations.

Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for various causes of death in the entire cohort were generally less than 1.00; however, after correction for missing death certificates and unascertained deaths, the SMR for lung cancer was 1.22. Other causes of particular interest, including bone cancer, leukemia, and diseases of respiratory and genitourinary systems, did not exhibit high SMRs. The authors suggested that an increased number of lung cancer deaths occurred in chemical workers who were 45 or more years old when first hired.

The single analytic file (FROMEPOL) in this data file set contains 38,521 records, i.e., one record for each person who had a payroll record at the plant when TEC was the operating contractor. Application of the cohort selection criteria reduced the cohort under study to 18,869 white males. The records excluded from the analysis pertained to females (about 18,100), non-white males, individuals who worked less than 2 days at Y-12, and those lacking essential vital status and demographic data. Records for the study cohort can be determined by examining the published manuscript for all the criteria and checking certain variables in the file. The file contains demographic, work history, vital status, and some urinalysis data.

Vital status was ascertained for 97.6% of the cohort through December 31, 1973, the study end date. There were 5,394 deaths identified in this cohort, and death certificates were obtained for 5,133 (95.2%) of these deaths. The study had 494,742 person-years of follow-up.

The TEC cohort did not wear personal dosimeters (film badges); however, exposure to penetrating external (gamma) radiation was low due to the nature of plant operations. The primary radiological hazard for the TEC cohort was inhalation of uranium compounds. Some urinalysis for uranium was performed for individuals working in areas of airborne material, and these data were used in the analysis.

Number of data files: 1

Cohort Size: 18869

Providing Organization: Oak Ridge Associated Universities/CER

Creating Organization: Oak Ridge Associated Universities/CER

Originating Organization: Tennessee Eastman Corporation

Races: white
Sexes: males

Diseases: all causes

Earliest Exposure: 06/01/1943
Latest Exposure: 12/31/1947
Follow-Up: 12/31/1974

Exposure Type: internal radiation
Exposure Agent: uranium
Method: urinalysis

Sites: Oak Ridge Y-12

Notes: external exposures reconstructed since film badges were not worn by employees. TEC is the Y12 plant but only during the period when Tennessee Eastman

Derivation: Most data derived from original payroll records from facility and were computerized for processing and analysis. Included sex, date of birth, date

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

Frome, Edward L.
Co-Investigator
(423) 574-3138
Fax: 574-0680
Email: FromeEL@ornl.gov

Polednak
Co-Investigator

CITATION:   CEDR Library ID: 612 (for full bibliographic record)