A Study of Mortality and Morbidity Among Persons Occupationally Exposed to ⩽50 mSv in a Year: Phase I, Mortality Through 1984

Abstract

Abstract A retrospective follow-up study is in progress of mortality and morbidity among persons who reportedly received greater than or equal to 5 rem [50 millisieverts (mSv)] of penetrating ionizing radiation in any calendar year of employment at all facilities operated for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) or its predecessor agencies. The purpose is to identify any adverse health outcomes and to determine if any such outcomes are related to prior occupational radiation exposure at these facilities. A population of 3145 present and former civilian employees at DOE facilities and at the U.S. Navy's Nuclear Reactor Propulsion Program (NRPP) who meet the radiation exposure criteria were identified from personnel radiation monitoring records maintained at the facilities for the years 1943 through 1978. Vital status through 1984 was determined for 86.6 percent of this population; 588 deaths (18.6%) were observed. The median career external radiation dose for individuals in the population through 1978 was 1...