| This data file set consists of one analytic file generated for a cohort mortality study of men who were employed at the Mound Plant by Laurie Wiggs, et al., published in Health Physics in 1991. |
| 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 to 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 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, MDPOLA03_d1, in this data file 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 (mrem) 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 mrem). 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. Causes of death were coded to ICDA8. Other variables include sex, race, and
education level. |
| 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. Records pertaining to Mound's external dosimetry monitoring program, first using film badges and later switching to thermoluminescent dosimeters, began in 1947. Mound began urine bioassays for polonium in 1944. The last time a worker entered the polonium bioassay program was in 1972. |
