August 28, 2009 

The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius

Secretary 

Department of Health and Human Services 

200 Independence Avenue, S.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20201 

 Dear Madam Secretary: 

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

evaluated Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Petition 0148 concerning workers 

at the Norton Company in Worcester, Massachusetts, under the statutory 

requirements established by the Energy Employees Occupational Illness 

Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) and incorporated into 42 CFR Sec. 

83.14. The Board respectfully recommends SEC status be accorded to all 

Atomic Weapons Employer (AWE) employees who worked at the Norton 

Company in Worcester, Massachusetts, from January 1, 1945 through 

December 31, 1957, 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 included in the SEC. 

This recommendation is based on the following factors: 

 The Norton Company is an AWE covered facility from January 1, 

1945 to December 31, 1957 and performed research and 

manufactured several products under contract with the Atomic Energy 

Commission. 

 NIOSH found that there were insufficient data from January 1, 1945 to 

December 31, 1957 from which to draw conclusions regarding 

potential magnitude of internal doses from exposure to uranium, 

thorium, or their progeny radionuclides. NIOSH also determined that 

there were insufficient data from which to draw conclusions regarding 

potential magnitude of external exposures from uranium and thorium 

work. The Board concurs with these conclusions. 

ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH

4676 Columbia Parkway, MS: C-46 

Cincinnati, Ohio 45226

(513) 533-6825

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 

 Seymour, Tennessee 

Genevieve S. Roessler, Ph.D. 

 Elysian, Minnesota 

Phillip Schofield 

 Bosque Farm, New Mexico 

STAFF:

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY:

Theodore M. Katz, MPA 

 Atlanta, Georgia 

COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT :

Zaida Burgos 

 Atlanta, Georgia 
The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius August 28, 2009 

 NIOSH determined that health may have been endangered for the workers 

exposed to radiation during the time period in question. The Board concurs with 

this determination. 

Based on these considerations and the discussions held at the July 29, 2009, Board 

meeting in West Chester, Ohio, the Board recommends SEC status be granted. The Board 

notes that NIOSH will use individual external and internal monitoring data that are available 

to complete dose reconstructions for non-presumptive cancer claims and for those who do 

not qualify for the SEC. For these individuals, NIOSH will also reconstruct medical doses 

using the complex-wide Technical Information Bulletin Dose Reconstruction from 

Occupationally Related Diagnostic X-ray Procedures. 

Enclosed is the documentation from the Board meeting(s) where this special exposure 

cohort class was discussed. The documentation includes transcripts of the deliberations, 

copies of the petition, the NIOSH review thereof, and related materials. If any of these items 

are unavailable at this time, they will follow shortly. 

 Sincerely, 

 

 [Signature on file.] 

 Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D. 

 Chair 

Enclosures 

 

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