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HEALTH EFFECTS OF CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO LOW DOSE IONIZING RADIATION ON WORKERS OF THE SPANISH NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE

Obiettivo

The objectives are to compare the mortality of JEN workers with the national rates, and if there were any evidence suggesting that the mortality at JEN is greater than that in Spain, to establish whether this difference is related to radiation exposure.
A retrospective study was conducted on a cohort of 5303 Spanish Nuclear Council (JEN) workers. Information was obtained from the JEN dosimetry service records. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) for the principal causes of death for the period 1954 to 1986 were used to compare the mortality of the JEN cohort with the mortality of the Spanish population. The results suggest that the mortablity among JEN workers is generally lower than the national rates due to the healthy worker effect. However, a significant increase in the mortality from cancer among the study cohort was observed. This increase has not shown a radiation dose effect relationship.

A program of epidemiological surveillance to identify cases of illness, injury and/or exposure to risk factors present in JEN, is being carried out. The secondary collection of information from existing data sources such as:
mortality statisics;
national statistics of work injuries and occupational illnesses;
worer compensation files;
hospital discharge records;
the population based cancer registry
is under way. A structural standard questionnaire to be used as part of periodic medical examinations of JEN workers is being developed and tested. A detailed assessment of the radiation exposure of all workers since 1954 has been conducted and a program of surveillance of other hazards specific to JEN is being prepared.
The study design corresponds to a retrospective cohort study on 5303 JEN workers from 1954 to 1986. This cohort constitutes 85% of the JEN labour force. Data collection for each worker comprises:
administrative and clinical data;
exposure information (dosimetry); and
cause specific mortality data.

The statistical analysis has been carried out in two steps:
external comparison of the JEN mortality with the mortality of the Spanish population, through standardized mortality ratios;
internal comparison of the cohort mortality by radiation exposure, through log-linear models.

So far the results suggested that the mortality among JEN workers is generally lower than the national rates (healthy worker effect). However, a significant increase in the cancer mortality among the study cohort has been observed. This increase has not shown a radiation dose-effect relationship.

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Meccanismo di finanziamento

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinatore

CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIONES ENERGETICAS MEDIOAMBIENTALES Y TEC NOLOGICAS
Contributo UE
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Indirizzo
MEDIOAMB.Y TECNOLOG.(CIEMAT) AVDA COMPLUTENSE, 22
28040
Spagna

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Costo totale
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