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 Winc

Engineering and Analytical Center (WEAC) cla

• No claims with a presumptive cancer existed at tha

to pursue an 83.14 SEC petition

 November 2011: NIOSH receives a WEAC clai

a presumptive cancer

 March 5, 2012: NIOSH notified the claimant a

provided a copy of Special Exposure Cohort (SPetition Form A

 March 13, 2012: Petition (83.14) received

 April 27, 2012: NIOSH Evaluation Report appro
Background

 WEAC was also known as:

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

• Northeastern Radiological Health Laboratory• National Lead Co• AEC Raw Materials Development Laboratory

 Located in Winchester, Massachusetts Department of Energy site from 1951 through 

 Participated in the development of methods o

extraction of uranium and thorium from ore a

prepared metal grade uranium tetrachloride
Background—cont.

 Located on 5.8 acres approximately 15 mil

from Boston

 Main facility was a single floor masonry bu

with a floor area of approximately 31,000 

 Approximately 30 rooms with labs, work a

shops, and offices

 Also on site, a solvent storage building and 

pilot plant housed in a corrugated metal b

 Workforce of approximately 70 – 100 work
Background—cont.
Sources of Available Informat

 ORAU Team Technical Information Bulletin

(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 Gen

Insurance, the FDA in their capacity as formadministrators of the facility
Previous Dose Reconstructio

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 (1952‐1

 Main operation focused on the research an

development of technology for extractinguranium and thorium from ores from vario

mills

 In 1957, WEAC extended its research to

developing methods for reducing radiologi

hazards from mill operations

 In 1959, the facility transitioned from the

development of production methods to te

uranium waste environmental analysis meand performing laboratory testing and ana
Potential Radiation Exposure

During the Class Period

 Internal sources of exposure

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

and radon) from ore and raffinates

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

and thoron) from ore

 External sources of exposure

• Photon/beta exposure from uranium and thor

ores and raffinates

• Neutrons were not a significant source of exte

exposure to WEAC personnel
Personal and Area Monitoring 

 Internal monitoring data

• Approximately 50 uranium urine samples for 1

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 p

• Limited process information is available for ex

scenario development

• Limited source‐term information is available
Source‐Term and Process Descr

 Minimal information on quantities of thor

and uranium maintained on site

 Reports do indicate a wide variety of form

uranium bearing materials were used for

research and pilot plant projects on site

• Ore, metal, pitchblende, and uranium oxide

 Very little information is available describi

pilot processes, testing, or laboratory work

conducted at WEAC
Feasibility of Dose Reconstruct

 Available monitoring records, process

descriptions, and source‐term data are

inadequate to complete dose reconstructiowith sufficient accuracy for the evaluated c

of employees during the period from Janu

1952 through December 31, 1961

 The findings from this SEC evaluation are

consistent with the SEC determinations for

facilities with similar radiological exposure

• Mallinckrodt• Harshaw• Linde 1942‐1947
Feasibility Summary

Feasibility Findings for WEAC 

Source of Exposure 

Dose 

Reconstruction 

Feasible 

Dose Recon

NOT Fea

Internal 

X 

External 

- Beta-Gamma X 

- Neutron N/A - Occupational 

Medical X-ray X 
Health Endangerment

 The evidence reviewed in this evaluation indic

that some workers in the class may haveaccumulated chronic radiation exposures thro

intakes of radionuclides and direct exposure tradioactive materials.

 Consequently, NIOSH is specifying that health 

have been endangered for those workers covethis evaluation who were employed for a num

work days aggregating at least 250 work days 

the parameters established for this class or incombination with work days within the param

established for one or more other classes of

employees in the SEC .
Proposed Class

All employees of the Department of Energy, itspredecessor agencies, and DOE contractors orsubcontractors who worked at the Winchester

Engineering and Analytical Center in Wincheste

Massachusetts from January 1, 1952 through

December 31, 1961, for a number of work days

aggregating at least 250 work days, occurring esolely under this employment or in combinatio

work days within the parameters established fo

or more other classes of employees in the SpecExposure Cohort.
Recommendation

 For the period January 1, 1952

– December 

1961, NIOSH finds that radiation dose estim

cannot be reconstructed for compensation

purposes

Class Feasibility Health Endang

January 1, 1952

–

December 31, 1961 No Yes