SERVIce,
yo Se,

s , ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH
e 4676 Columbia Parkway, MS: C-46
i Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
6 (513) 533-0825
“ty,
July 5, 2006
CHAIRMAN:
Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D. The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt

Lafayette, Indiana

Secretary of Health and Human Services
Department of Health and Human Services
MEMBERS: 200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20201

Bradley P. Clawson
Rexburg, Idaho
Dear Mr. Secretary:
Roy L. DeHart, M.D., M.P.H.
Nashville, Tennessee

The Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health (The Board) has
Michael H. Gibson

Franklin, Ohio evaluated SEC Petition-00028 concerning workers at the Y-12 Plant under the
statutory requirements established by EEOICPA and incorporated into 42
Mee Nise vanagtite CFR Sec. 83.13 (c) (1) and 42 CFR Sec. 83.13 (c) (3). The Board
respectfully recommends a Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) be accorded to all
esnieg Ee olay: MD. employees of the DOE or DOE contractors or subcontractors who were

monitored or should have been monitored for:
James M. Melius, M.D., Ph.D.

Albany, New York . . . a
(1) thorium exposures while working in Building, 9201-3, 9202, 9204-1,

Wanda |. Munn C ark:
Richland, Washington 9204-3, 9206, or 9212 at Y-12 fora number of work days
aggregating at least 250 work days during the period from January
Hohn W. Poston: Sta) ub: 1948 through December 1957 or in combination with work days
College Station, Texas ie ¥ YS
within the parameters established for one or more other classes of
Maer ese employees in the SEC; or

Genevieve S. Roessler, Ph.D. (2)

Elysian, Minnesota radionuclide exposures associated with cyclotron operations in

Building 9201-2 at Y-12 for a number of work days aggregating at
least 250 work days during the period from January 1948 through

STAFF: December 1957 or in combination with work days within the
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY: parameters established for one or more other classes of employees in
the SEC.

Lewis V. Wade, Ph.D
Washington, DC a a . oo
This recommendation is based on the following factors:

COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT: e NIOSH found that there are insufficient bioassay or air sampling
data in the available Y-12 databases to allow for the reconstruction
of internal thorium exposures for employees who worked within
several buildings where thorium operations took place during the

LaShawn D. Shields
Atlanta, Georgia


The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt July 5, 2006

time period from January 1948 through December 1957. These buildings have been
identified by NIOSH as follows: 9201-3, 9202, 9204-1, 9204-3. 9206, and 9212. The
Board concurs with this finding.

NIOSH found that there are insufficient bioassay or air sampling data in the available Y-
12 databases to allow for the reconstruction of internal exposures to cyclotron workers
(employees who worked in Building 9201-2). NIOSH presented information indicating
that the cyclotron workers may have accumulated substantial chronic exposures through
episodic intakes of a variety of radionuclides that were produced during the operation
period. The Board concurs with this finding.

NIOSH determined that health was endangered for the workers at Y-12 exposed to
thorium in these operations and for the workers exposed in the cyclotron operation. The
Board concurs with this determination.

The NIOSH and Board review of the available data on operations and exposures at the Y-12 facility
during the time period January 1948 to December 1957 found that the data were sufficient to support
accurate dose reconstructions for a number of important exposures. These include but are not
necessarily limited to the following dose reconstruction scenarios:

e NIOSH demonstrated that sufficient bioassay data are available for reconstruction of

internal doses for workers with potential for exposure to uranium or recycled uranium
contaminants (plutoinium-238 (plutonium-239 in lesser quantities), neptunium-237, and
technetium-99) during the time from January 1948 to December 1957.

NIOSH demonstrated that sufficient data are available for reconstruction of internal doses
for workers involved in plutonium operations during the time period from January 1948
to December 1957 when plutonium was enriched with the calutrons.

Monitoring records are available for individual dose reconstruction for external doses for
workers at the Y-12 facility during the time from January 1948 to December 1957.

Enclosed is supporting documentation from the recent Advisory Board Meetings held in

Washington, DC on June 15 and 16, 2006 and Denver. Colorado on April 25 to 27. 2006 as well

as the several Advisory Board Workgroup Meetings where this special exposure cohort was
discussed. This documentation includes a report on the review of the NIOSH evaluation report
prepared by the Board's contractor (SC&A, Inc.). transcripts of public comments on the petition,
copies of the petition and the NIOSH review thereof, and related documents distributed by
NIOSH and the petitioners. If any of these items are unavailable at this time, they will follow
shortly.

Sincerely,

Paul L. Ziemiér, Ph.D.
Chairman