Neutron Dose Reconstruction at Rocky Flats
Improvements in technology and new examinations of thousands of pieces of neutron film mean that more than 5,300 plutonium workers from the Department of Energy's Rocky Flats Plant in Colorado have a more accurate record of their exposures to neutrons.
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) researchers used state-of-the-art microscopes to re-read more than 87,000 neutron films that had been collected from the dosimeters of these employees who worked at the plant from the 1950's until 1970.
This information can be used in future epidemiology studies, evaluations for potential compensation programs, and to ensure workers that they now have a complete and accurate neutron dose of record.
Following an address search, ORISE sent out 4,970 certified mail notification letters to inform the energy employees that the project had been completed and how much, if any, neutron dose might have been added to their lifetime dose of record. The letters also offered the workers the opportunity to ask any additional questions regarding their individual dose summary reports.
