Winchester Engineering 

and Analytical Center

Special Exposure Cohort 

Petition Evaluation Report

LaVon B. Rutherford, CHP

Special Exposure Cohort Health Physics Team Leader

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Division of Compensation Analysis and Support

June 2012

Santa Fe, NM
Petition Overview

 August 8, 2008: NIOSH determined that dose 

reconstruction would not be feasible for Winchester 

Engineering and Analytical Center (WEAC) claims

• No claims with a presumptive cancer existed at that time 

to pursue an 83.14 SEC petition

 November 2011: NIOSH receives a WEAC claim with 

a presumptive cancer

 March 5, 2012: NIOSH notified the claimant and 

provided a copy of Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) 

Petition Form A

 March 13, 2012: Petition (83.14) received 

 April 27, 2012: NIOSH Evaluation Report approved 
Background

 WEAC was also known as:

• U.S. Public Health Service; N.E. Radiological Laboratory

• Northeastern Radiological Health Laboratory

• National Lead Co

• AEC Raw Materials Development Laboratory

 Located in Winchester, Massachusetts

 Department of Energy site from 1951 through 1961

 Participated in the development of methods of 

extraction of uranium and thorium from ore and 

prepared metal grade uranium tetrachloride
Background—cont.

 Located on 5.8 acres approximately 15 miles 

from Boston

 Main facility was a single floor masonry building 

with a floor area of approximately 31,000 ft2

 Approximately 30 rooms with labs, work area, 

shops, and offices

 Also on site, a solvent storage building and small 

pilot plant housed in a corrugated metal building

 Workforce of approximately 70 – 100 workers
Background—cont.
Sources of Available Information

 ORAU Team Technical Information Bulletins 

(TIBs) and Procedures

 Interview with former WEAC employee

 Existing claimant files

 Documentation provided by petitioner

 NIOSH Site Research Database

 Data captures
Data Capture Efforts

 U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 

 DOE Legacy Management

 DOE Opennet (OSTI database)

 Internet search

 NRC (ADAMS)

 NARA Atlanta

 Various DOE locations
Data Capture Efforts—cont.

 NIOSH also contacted the National Lead 

Company, American Cyanamid, Wyeth General 

Insurance, the FDA in their capacity as former 

administrators of the facility 
Previous Dose Reconstructions

NIOSH OCAS Claims Tracking System 

Information available as of May 22, 2012

 WEAC claims submitted to NIOSH 3

 Claims with employment during the period 

 evaluated (1952-1961) 3

 Claims containing internal dosimetry 0

 Claims containing external dosimetry 0
Winchester Operations (1952-1961)

 Main operation focused on the research and 

development of technology for extracting 

uranium and thorium from ores from various 

mills 

 In 1957, WEAC extended its research to 

developing methods for reducing radiological 

hazards from mill operations

 In 1959, the facility transitioned from the 

development of production methods to testing 

uranium waste environmental analysis methods 

and performing laboratory testing and analysis
Potential Radiation Exposures 

During the Class Period

 Internal sources of exposure

• Uranium and uranium progeny (e.g., radium, thorium, 

and radon) from ore and raffinates

• Thorium and thorium progeny (e.g., radium, thorium, 

and thoron) from ore

 External sources of exposure

• Photon/beta exposure from uranium and thorium 

ores and raffinates

• Neutrons were not a significant source of external 

exposure to WEAC personnel
Personal and Area Monitoring Data

 Internal monitoring data

• Approximately 50 uranium urine samples for 1952-

1955

• Limited radon breath analysis for 1955

• Air sample data

—Seven breathing zone samples for 1953

—Twenty-five uranium dust samples for 1955

—Eight air samples for Radon in 1955

 External monitoring data

• No external monitoring data for the covered period

• Limited process information is available for exposure 

scenario development

• Limited source-term information is available
Source-Term and Process Description

 Minimal information on quantities of thorium 

and uranium maintained on site

 Reports do indicate a wide variety of forms of 

uranium bearing materials were used for 

research and pilot plant projects on site

• Ore, metal, pitchblende, and uranium oxide

 Very little information is available describing the 

pilot processes, testing, or laboratory work 

conducted at WEAC
Feasibility of Dose Reconstructions

 Available monitoring records, process 

descriptions, and source-term data are 

inadequate to complete dose reconstructions 

with sufficient accuracy for the evaluated class 

of employees during the period from January 1, 

1952 through December 31, 1961

 The findings from this SEC evaluation are 

consistent with the SEC determinations for 

facilities with similar radiological exposures:

• Mallinckrodt 

• Harshaw

• Linde 1942-1947
Feasibility Summary

Feasibility Findings for WEAC

Source of Exposure

Dose 

Reconstruction 

Feasible

Dose Reconstruction 

NOT Feasible

Internal

X

External

 - Beta-Gamma X

 - Neutron N/A

 - Occupational 

 Medical X-ray

X
Health Endangerment

 The evidence reviewed in this evaluation indicates 

that some workers in the class may have 

accumulated chronic radiation exposures through 

intakes of radionuclides and direct exposure to 

radioactive materials.

 Consequently, NIOSH is specifying that health may 

have been endangered for those workers covered by 

this evaluation who were employed for a number of 

work days aggregating at least 250 work days within 

the parameters established for this class or in 

combination with work days within the parameters 

established for one or more other classes of 

employees in the SEC .
Proposed Class

All employees of the Department of Energy, its 

predecessor agencies, and DOE contractors or 

subcontractors who worked at the Winchester 

Engineering and Analytical Center in Winchester, 

Massachusetts from January 1, 1952 through 

December 31, 1961, for a number of work days 

aggregating at least 250 work days, occurring either 

solely under this employment or in combination with 

work days within the parameters established for one 

or more other classes of employees in the Special 

Exposure Cohort.
Recommendation

 For the period January 1, 1952 – December 31, 

1961, NIOSH finds that radiation dose estimates 

cannot be reconstructed for compensation 

purposes

Class Feasibility Health Endangerment

January 1, 1952 –

December 31, 1961 No Yes