Occupational exposure to ionising radiation and mortality among workers of the former Spanish Nuclear Energy Board.

Abstract

Objectives-Firstly, to ascertain whether mortality among workers of the former Spanish Nuclear Energy Board (Junta de Energia Nuclear-JEN) was higher than that for the Spanish population overall; and secondly, if this were so, to ascertain whether this difference was associated with exposure to ionising radiation. Methods-A retrospective follow up of a cohort of 5657 workers was carried out for the period 1954-92. Cohort mortality was compared with that for the Spanish population overall, with standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) adjusted for sex, age, and calendar period. Also, Poisson models were used to analyse mortality from lung cancer in the cohort by level of exposure to ionising radiation. Results-Workers' median and mean cumulative exposures were 4 04 and 11 42 mSv, respectively. Mean annual exposure was 133 mSv. Excess mortality due to bone tumours was found for the cohort as a whole (six deaths observed; SMR 2.95; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1-08 to 6.43). Among miners, excess mortality was found for non-malignant respiratory diseases (SMR 2-94; 95% CI 2*27 to 3-75), and for lung cancer bordering on statistical significance (SMR 1 50; 95% CI 0-96 to 2*23; P = 0.055). Relative risks of dying of lung cancer from ionising radiation in the dose quartiles 2, 3, and 4 versus the lowest dose quartile, were 1*00, 164, and 0*94, respectively. Conclusions-Excess mortality from lung cancer was found among JEN miners. Nevertheless, no clear relation was found between mortality from lung cancer and level of exposure to ionising radiation in the JEN cohort. Continued follow up of the cohort is required to confirm excess mortality from bone tumours.

Mortality of workers exposed to ionizing radiation at the French National Electricity Company

“…., have not been taken into account [Guenel et al, 2002]. The HWE is often observed in occupational cohorts, including studies of workers in the nuclear sector [Wilkinson et al, 1987;Beral et al, 1988;Wing et al, 1991;Fraser et al, 1993;Gilbert et al, 1993b;Gribbin et al, 1993;Wiggs et al, 1994;Artalejo et al, 1997;Ashmore et al, 1998;Muirhead et al, 1999;Ritz et al, 1999;Binks, 2000a,b, 2001;Iwasaki et al, 2003], other studies of EDF workers [Marshall et al, 1999;Marchand et al, 2003], and study of French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) workers [Telle-Lamberton et al, 2004]. However, our study shows a specially important HWE.…”

“…Countries having published cohort studies of mortality related to radiation exposure among their nuclear workers are Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Spain, Japan, and Finland [Rinsky et al, 1981;Wilkinson et al, 1987;Beral et al, 1988;Wiggs et al, 1991;Fraser et al, 1993;Gilbert et al, 1993b;Gribbin et al, 1993;Wiggs et al, 1994;Artalejo et al, 1997;Frome et al, 1997;Ashmore et al, 1998;Muirhead et al, 1999;Omar et al, 1999;Ritz et al, 1999;Dupree-Ellis et al, 2000;Binks, 2000a,b, 2001;Iwasaki et al, 2003]. France derives 80% of its electricity from nuclear power.…”

Solid-tumor mortality in the vicinity of uranium cycle facilities and nuclear power plants in Spain.

“…Underlying the findings for areas near NFF are two phenomena: One concerns the lung-cancer-related deaths observed in men, which could be occupational in origin; this problem has been well documented (26) thanks to cohort studies covering miners in the uranium industry (27) and (underground)…”

Occupational cancer in Spain.

“…The other retrospective cohort study (30) was conducted among 5,657 workers of the former Spanish Nuclear Energy Board to assess the effect of ionizing radiation exposure. Compared with that for the Spanish population, an excess mortality due to bone tumors was found for the cohort (SMR=3.0; 95% CL = 1.1-6.4).…”