Lung Cancer in Mayak Workers

A previous county mortality study of populations living near two nuclear materials processing and fabrication facilities in Westmoreland and Armstrong counties in Pennsylvania (1950-1995) was extended through 2004. Noncancer mortality (1996-2004) and cancer incidence (1990-2004) were also evaluated. Among the Westmoreland and Armstrong populations, 10,547 cancer deaths occurred during the period 1996 through 2004 and the relative risk (RR) based on comparisons with six demographically similar counties in western Pennsylvania was 0.97, that is, almost exactly as expected, and no different from our previously published analyses covering the years 1950-1995. The results based on cancer incidence data were very similar to those based on cancer mortality data. Over the years 1990 though 2004, 39,350 incident cancers were reported among residents of Armstrong and Westmoreland counties and the RR based on the six demographically similar counties was 0.99, that is, almost exactly as expected. The number of deaths from nonmalignant conditions was 36,565 and very close to the number expected (RR 1.01). Overall, no increases in cancer or nonmalignant diseases could be attributed to living in counties with nuclear materials processing and fabrication facilities.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

County Mortality and Cancer Incidence in Relation to Living near Two Former Nuclear Materials Processing Facilities in Pennsylvania—An Update

Boice¹,

Bigbee

Mumma³

et al. 2009

“…Data for female workers of the Mayak cohort are processed assuming male anatomical transfer rates and masses although approximately 25% of the early workers at the MPA were female (Koshurnikova et al 1999;Gilbert et al 2004). Uncertainty associated with such an application of the model is not currently being addressed; previous research has shown that risk assessments due to the dose from plutonium for the male populace in Mayak workers are significantly greater than those for their female counterparts (Gilbert et al 2004). This might be attributed to the fact that the female Mayak workers were also not monitored as much as their male coworkers .…”

Section: Analyses Specific To the Investigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous dosimetry models and methods have been used to estimate radiation health risks in the Mayak cohort and include chromosomal aberrations (Okladnikova et al 2005), genome effects (Hande et al 2003), lung cancers (Tokarskaya et al 1997;Kreisheimer et al 2000Kreisheimer et al , 2003, liver cancers , skeletal cancers Gilbert et al 2004), and other cancer risks . Additional ongoing research is being performed that looks into whether exposure to chronic, low-level radiation may actually reduce cancer risk, but has yet to be applied towards studies of atomic bomb survivors, Chernobyl evacuees, or the Mayak cohort (Chen et al 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uncertainties Analysis for the Plutonium Dosimetry Model, Doses-2005, Using Mayak Bioassay Data

Bess¹,

Krahenbuhl²,

Miller

et al. 2007

The Doses-2005 model is a combination of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) models modified using data from the Mayak Production Association cohort. Surrogate doses from inhaled plutonium can be assigned to approximately 29% of the Mayak workers using their urine bioassay measurements and other history records. The purpose of this study was to quantify and qualify the uncertainties in the estimates for radiation doses calculated with the Doses-2005 model by using Monte Carlo methods and perturbation theory. The average uncertainty in the yearly dose estimates for most organs was approximately 100% regardless of the transportability classification. The relative source of the uncertainties comes from three main sources: 45% from the urine bioassay measurements, 29% from the Doses-2005 model parameters, and 26% from the reference masses for the organs. The most significant reduction in the overall dose uncertainties would result from improved methods in bioassay measurement with additional improvements generated through further model refinement. Additional uncertainties were determined for dose estimates resulting from changes in the transportability classification and the smoking toggle. A comparison was performed to determine the effect of using the model with data from either urine bioassay or autopsy data; no direct correlation could be established. Analysis of the model using autopsy data and incorporation of results from other research efforts that have utilized plutonium ICRP models could improve the Doses-2005 model and reduce the overall uncertainty in the dose estimates.

“…The MPA registry includes data on occupational and worker histories, results of whole body counting, radiochemical analyses of tissues, bioassays, and air sampling, and estimated internal and external radiation exposures Koshurnikova et al 1999). The MPA worker cohort is a unique source of data on high exposures to plutonium in humans and has allowed direct quantification of the plutonium dose-response functions for lung, liver and bone cancer and the proportion of cancer risk attributable to internal plutonium alpha-particle exposure (Gilbert et al 2004;Koshurnikova et al 1999;Kreisheimer et al 2000;Sokolnikov et al 2008). Epidemiologic studies have shown the risk of cancer incidence and mortality among MPA workers to be significantly related to both external and internal dose (Gilbert et al 2000(Gilbert et al , 2004Koshurnikova et al 1996;Shilnikova et al 2003;Tokarskaya et al 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The MPA worker cohort is a unique source of data on high exposures to plutonium in humans and has allowed direct quantification of the plutonium dose-response functions for lung, liver and bone cancer and the proportion of cancer risk attributable to internal plutonium alpha-particle exposure (Gilbert et al 2004;Koshurnikova et al 1999;Kreisheimer et al 2000;Sokolnikov et al 2008). Epidemiologic studies have shown the risk of cancer incidence and mortality among MPA workers to be significantly related to both external and internal dose (Gilbert et al 2000(Gilbert et al , 2004Koshurnikova et al 1996;Shilnikova et al 2003;Tokarskaya et al 1995). Plutonium exposure has been associated with cancers of the lung, liver and bone, the sites of plutonium accumulation; further, increased cancer incidence and mortality were significantly associated with increased plutonium exposure (Gilbert et al 2000;Jacob et al 2007;Khokhryakov et al 2002;Kreisheimer et al 2000Kreisheimer et al , 2003Leggett et al 2005;Miller et al 2003;Sokolnikov et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lung, Liver and Bone Cancer Mortality After Plutonium Exposure in Beagle Dogs and Nuclear Workers

Wilson¹,

Mohr²,

Frey³

et al. 2010

The Mayak Production Association (MPA) worker registry has shown evidence of plutonium-induced health effects. Workers were potentially exposed to plutonium nitrate [(239)Pu(NO(3))(4)] and plutonium dioxide ((239)PuO(2)). Studies of plutonium-induced health effects in animal models can complement human studies by providing more specific data than is possible in human observational studies. Lung, liver, and bone cancer mortality rate ratios in the MPA worker cohort were compared to those seen in beagle dogs, and models of the excess relative risk of lung, liver, and bone cancer mortality from the MPA worker cohort were applied to data from life-span studies of beagle dogs. The lung cancer mortality rate ratios in beagle dogs are similar to those seen in the MPA worker cohort. At cumulative doses less than 3 Gy, the liver cancer mortality rate ratios in the MPA worker cohort are statistically similar to those in beagle dogs. Bone cancer mortality only occurred in MPA workers with doses over 10 Gy. In dogs given (239)Pu, the adjusted excess relative risk of lung cancer mortality per Gy was 1.32 (95% CI 0.56-3.22). The liver cancer mortality adjusted excess relative risk per Gy was 55.3 (95% CI 23.0-133.1). The adjusted excess relative risk of bone cancer mortality per Gy(2) was 1,482 (95% CI 566.0-5686). Models of lung cancer mortality based on MPA worker data with additional covariates adequately described the beagle dog data, while the liver and bone cancer models were less successful.