MND Analytic File, 1991 Health Physics
- Dataset i.d.
- mdpola03
- Summary
- MND Analytic File, 1991 Health Physics
- Alternate Name
-
- Sites
- Mound Plant
- Description
- This data set consists of one analytic file generated
for a cohort mortality study, published in Health
Physics in 1991, of 6,884 men and women who were
exposed to polonium-210 while employed at the Mound
Plant.
This cohort mortality study of Mound workers was
conducted to test the association between mortality and
exposure to polonium-210. The published analyses
focused on 4,402 white and presumed white males
employed during 1944-1972, the period during which
Mound conducted operations using polonium-210. Of the
4,402 white males, there were 2,181 who were monitored
for exposure to polonium. A healthy worker effect was
noted among the cohort of 4,402 white males [all causes
of death standardized mortality ratio ( SMR) = 93, 90%
CI = 89-99; all cancer SMR = 100, 90% CI = 89-113].
The SMR for lung cancer was elevated to a level of
statistical significance only for workers employed
between 1944 and 1945. The SMR for deaths due to all
causes for workers exposed to polonium was less than
100 (SMR = 92, 90% CI = 85-98). Although the SMR for
lung cancer was elevated (SMR = 113), the 90%
confidence limits included 100 (87-117). Dose response
analyses using the MOX program were performed using
kidney dose as the exposure metric. No statistically
significant trends in mortality were observed.
The single analytic file (ANFILE) in this data set
contains data for 6,884 workers who were initially
hired between 1943 through 1979, inclusive. Exposure
data in the file include the estimated first date of
monitoring, cumulative whole-body dose through the end
of 1979, and dates on which the whole-body dose reached
10, 50, or 100 mSv. Polonium exposure data include the
date and volume of the sample, the results of the
radiochemical analysis, and any comments specific to
the sample or the radiochemical analysis of the sample.
An electronic file containing these data was used by
Mound staff to calculate kidney and spleen doses due to
polonium-210 (in millirems). These organ doses appear
in this analytic file.
Vital status was ascertained for 95.6% of the 4,402
white males through January 1, 1984. There were 987
deaths identified in this group, and death certificates
were obtained for 97.4% (961) of these deaths. Vital
status was ascertained for 96.6% (2,106) of the 2,181
polonium workers, and death certificates were obtained
for 98.6% (558) of them.
Major operations conducted at Mound include the
separation, chemistry, and metallurgy of polonium-210
and processing of plutonium-238 for heat sources.
Later, small research projects involved other isotopes,
including radium and thorium. Mound began its external
dosimetry monitoring program in 1947, first using film
badges and later switching to thermoluminescent
dosimeters (TLDs). Mound began urine bioassays for
polonium in 1944. The last time a worker entered the
polonium bioassay program was in 1972.
- Citations
- WIGGS91B , L. D. Wiggs, C. A. Cox-DeVore, G. L. Voelz,
"Mortality Among a Cohort of Workers Monitored for Po-
210 Exposure: 1944-1972," Health Physics 61 (1991),
71-76.
- Notes
- VER_DATE Data provided to CEDR (Comprehensive
Epidemiologic Data Resource) 07/21/92 (analytic file
was frozen at time of original analysis).
END_STDY 01/01/1984
ENDPOINT Mortality
- Earliest exposure
-
- Latest exposure
-
- Latest Followup
-
- Cohort Size
- 6884
- Races
- All
- Sexes
- All
- Diseases
- All causes of death
- Exposure Types
- whole-body doses $
kidney dose $
spleen dose
- Exposure Agents
- External ionizing radiation $
Polonium
- Methods
- film badges $
thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) $
urine bioassay $
mathematical model
- Contacts
- Wiggs , Laurie , 505 667-8234 , 505 665-5643 $
Galke , Warren , 505 667-6488 , 505 665-5643