Fatal Cancer Linked to Radiation Exposure of Nuke Workers

April 10, 2000
Increasing exposure to ionizing radiation boosts the risk of multiple myeloma, a fatal cancer of blood-forming tissues, according to a study of workers in four U.S. Department of Energy plants.

Increasing exposure to ionizing radiation boosts the risk of multiple myeloma, a rare but often fatal cancer of blood-forming tissues, especially among people exposed later in life, according to a study of workers in four U.S. Department of Energy plants.

The study, conducted by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) researchers, analyzed radiation exposures among plant employees and then compared them to health records.

Older workers with cumulative radiation doses of 5 rem or more were almost three-and-a-half times more likely to die from multiple myeloma than workers at the same plants whose cumulative exposure were less than 1 rem.

The current occupational limit for radiation workers is 5 rem per year. Average background radiation is between a tenth and a third of rem per year depending on what is being counted, such as radon.

A report on the findings appears in the April issue of Annals of Epidemiology.

"Workers exposed to ionizing radiation at older ages appeared to be more sensitive than younger workers," said Dr. Steve Wing.

"However, that does not mean that it is safe for young workers to be exposed to radiation. Exposures during the child-bearing ages might lead to genetic mutations that could affect children and future generations."

UNC-CH researchers identified 98 workers who died of multiple myeloma and 391 age-matched controls from a combined roster of 115,143 people hired before 1979 at the Hanford, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Savannah River nuclear facilities.

The study included workers who died through 1990 or, among Hanford employees, through 1986.

The scientists found that male workers and those hired before 1948 died of multiple myeloma at about twice the rate of women and workers hired after 1948.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requested and paid for the study because of previous reports suggesting a link between exposure to ionizing radiation and cases of the cancer at the Hanford site, Wing said.

"Our study, which was the largest ever done on this question in U.S. nuclear workers, was intended to include more cases of the disease, better evaluation of radiation does and measurement of other occupational exposures not available in the Hanford studies," said Wing.

Investigators also tried to determine whether workers exposed to solvents, metals, welding fumes, asbestos and other agents faced increased risks of multiple myeloma.

Records of such exposures, however, were inadequate to enable the scientists to calculate increased risks accurately.

Because exposures to ionizing radiation were almost entirely below what government regulations currently allow, the findings could affect federal occupational exposure standards, the scientists said.

"One important element of this work is that it comes at a time when the U.S. Department of Energy is expressing greater concern for workers' health and the history of radiation exposures in the nuclear weapons complex," said Wing.

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

Sponsored Recommendations

Fitting in Fast: Making a Safe Workplace for New Hires

Sept. 12, 2024
Over a third of nonfatal injuries happen to workers who have been with their current employer for less than a year.

Elevating Safety: Empowering Supervisors to Become Safety Advocates

Aug. 27, 2024
Explore the skills, knowledge and techniques that supervisors need to effectively manage the safety of their crew. This guide will examine the causes and symptoms of supervisory...

Top 10 Causes of Distracted Driving—and What They All Have in Common

Aug. 27, 2024
The results reveal the top ten causes of distracted driving, and make it clear that not all distractions are created equal.

Spotting Workplace Safety Heroes: A Guide to Identifying Your Champions

Aug. 27, 2024
No two workplace safety champions are identical. But almost every single one of them has at least one standout quality that helps them excel. Here are some of those qualities ...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!