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Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
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MORTALITY STUDY OF OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY ( O W )WORKERS 7 0 7 5 0 8 A study of the mortality in workers at ORNL was published in the March 20,1991, edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study was conducted by Dr.Steve Wing at the University of North Carolina in collaboration with researchers at the Center for Epidemiologic Research at Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) as part of the Health and Mortality Study of present and former Department of Energy @OE)/DOE contractor employees that is being conducted by ORAU under contract with DOE. The study focused on 83 18 white males who were first employed at ORNL between 1943 and 1972 and who were employed at least 30 days at the facility and at no other DOE facility. The group was followed through the end of 1984, at which time 1524 deaths had occurred The population displayed relatively low mortality compared to that in United States white men, and significantly fewer deaths due to: all causes, all cancers, cancer of the rectum, lung cancer, diseases of the circulatory system, non-malignant respiratory disease, and all external causes (such as suicide, homicide, automobile accidents, etc.) The one exception, was a significant increase in deaths from leukemia. When the workers with measured radiation exposures were compared to other workers who had no exposures, it was found that the increase in deaths from leukemia could not be attributed to their d a t i o n exposure at ORNL. However, when all cancers taken together were examined with regard to level of exposure, i t was observed that with a 20 year lag of the doses, all cancer death rates rose approximately five percent per 10 diseverts (1 rem) over the baseline rate of the unexposed workers. In the absence of information about other confounders such as smoking history and other chemical exposures, it is not possible to label this observed relationship as causative. Follow-up of this population should continue in order to collect more information on the potential confounders and more accurately evaluate potential risks.
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The follow-up of mortality data is continuing to the year 1989. Another phase of study would look at mortality compared with job titles (at least 12 different categories of jobs and related exposures to various chemicals and conditions). The monitoring of mortality data should continue beyond 1989 (maybe at five year The original sample of 8OOO workers should have a follow-up questionnaire concemhg personal life styles and off-work environments for possible health impacts (might be of interest to National Institute for Occupationd Safety and Health).