CHAIRMAN: 

Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D. 

 Lafayette, Indiana 

MEMBERS: 

Josie Beach 

 Richland, Washington 

Bradley P. Clawson 

 Rexburg, Idaho 

Michael H. Gibson 

 Franklin, Ohio 

Mark A. Griffon 

 Salem, New Hampshire 

James E. Lockey, M.D. 

 Cincinnati, Ohio 

James M. Melius, M.D., Ph.D. 

Albany, New York 

Wanda I. Munn

 Richland, Washington 

John W. Poston, Sr., Ph.D. 

 College Station, Texas 

Robert W. Presley

 Clinton, Tennessee 

Genevieve S. Roessler, Ph.D. 

 Elysian, Minnesota 

Phillip Schofield

 Bosque Farm, New Mexico 

STAFF:
 

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY:
 

Christine M. Branch, Ph.D 

 Washington, DC 

COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT : 

Zaida Burgos 

Atlanta, Georgia 

ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH
 

4676 Columbia Parkway, MS: C-46 

Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
 

(513) 533-6825 

July 12, 2008 

The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt 

Secretary of Health and Human Services 

Department of Health and Human Services 

200 Independence Avenue, S.W. 

Washington, DC 20201 

Dear Mr. Secretary: 

The Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health (The Board) has 

evaluated SEC Petition - 00089 under the statutory requirements 

established by EEOICPA and incorporated into 42 CFR Sec. 83.13 (c) 

(1) and 42 CFR Sec. 83.13 (c) (3). The Board respectfully 

recommends Special Exposure Cohort status be accorded to all Atomic 

Weapons Employer employees of the Spencer Chemical 

Company/Jayhawk Works from January 1, 1956 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 other classes of 

employees in the Special Exposure Cohort. This recommendation is 

based on the following factors: 

•	 Spencer Chemical Company/Jawhawk Works conducted 

chemical processes to produce uranium and thorium oxides and 

uranium carbides from other forms, including uranium 

hexafluoride. Physical forms of the material at the site 

included fused ceramic pellets and finely divided powder. 

•	 The facility processed several types of uranium bearing 

materials for use in the nuclear fuel cycle, including dissolution 

and purification of metal scrap to recover uranium oxide; and 

hydrolyzation and purification of scrap uranium hexafluoride 

to recover uranium oxide. NIOSH does not have information 

about the nature of the thorium operations at the plant. 

•	 Although documents from the period indicate the individuals 

were on a bioassay program, no individual bioassay records 

have been located. 

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The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt July 12, 2008 

•	 Although documents from the period indicate that workers wore dosimeters, no 

dosimetry records have been discovered other than a single record for one individual. 

The lack of external monitoring records prevents NIOSH from reconstructing total 

external dose, although doses from uranium can be reconstructed from project 

technical documents by means of the procedures set forth in NIOSH Technical 

Bulletin TBD-6000. 

•	 Although documents from the period indicate that air monitoring, radiation surveys, 

and contamination surveys were conducted, results from such surveys have not been 

located. 

•	 The lack of information on thorium operations prevents NIOSH from reconstructing 

doses from thorium. 

In its evaluation report, NIOSH has concluded that it is likely that radiation doses for this group 

of workers at Spencer Chemical Co. during this time period could have endangered the health of 

members of this class. The Board concurs. The Board also notes that NIOSH is able to 

reconstruct doses from medical x-rays by means of existing project technical documents. 

Based on these considerations, and on the discussions and deliberations at our June 24-26, 2008 

Board meeting, the Board recommends that this Special Exposure Cohort petition be granted. 

Enclosed is supporting documentation from the Advisory Board Meeting held June 24-26 2008 

in St. Louis, Missouri. This documentation includes transcripts of the deliberations, copies of the 

petition and the NIOSH review thereof, and related documents distributed by NIOSH. If any of 

these items are unavailable at this time, they will follow shortly. 

Sincerely, 

SIGNATURE ON FILE 

Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D. 

Chair 

Enc. 

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