| This analytic data file set consists of one file generated for a cohort mortality study of white males employed at RFP during 1951 to 1979 by Gregg Wilkinson, et al., published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. |
| A cohort mortality study of RFP workers was conducted to test for an association between mortality and exposure to plutonium. The analysis described in the publication focused on 5,413 white male workers employed for 2 or more years between 1951 and 1979. Fewer deaths than expected were found for all causes of death, all cancers, and lung cancer. No bone cancer was observed. An excess of brain tumors was found. Elevated rate ratios for all causes of death and all lymphopoietic neoplasms were found when workers with plutonium body burdens greater than or equal to 2 nCi were compared with those with body burdens less than 2 nCi. No elevated rate ratios were noted for bone and liver cancers. |
| The single analytic file, RFPLUA01_d1, in this data file set contains demographic and exposure data for 7,616 white males initially employed by RFP between 1951 (construction phase) and the end of 1979. Females, non-white males, and workers with missing sex or race were not included in the analytic file. White males with less than 2 years of employment were dropped from the study but included in the analysis. Data pertaining to each worker’s exposure to external ionizing radiation include: monitoring status and the date it was determined, date of first monitoring, and dates of achieving 1 rem, 5 rem, and 10 rem cumulative external whole-body doses through 1978. Cumulative external radiation exposure is reported in millirem. Dates of exposure to plutonium-239 cover years 1952 (partial year) through 1977 and include monitoring status, date of first urine bioassay sample, dates of first achieving body burdens of 2 nCi and 5 nCi, and the fraction of maximum permissible body burdens of plutonium acquired as of December 1977. |
| Vital status was ascertained for 98.9% of the 5,413 white males employed for 2 or more years through December 31, 1979, the study end date. There were 409 deaths identified in this group. Causes of death were coded to ICDA8. |
| RFP had been a weapons production facility since 1952. Sources of occupational exposure included external radiation, both gamma and neutron, and potential for internal deposition of plutonium-239. Film dosimeters and thermoluminescent dosimeters were used to monitor for external radiation. Formal bioassay programs to monitor for internal exposures were begun in 1952. Results of both types of monitoring programs reflect technological improvements and changes in concepts and models during these years. |
