Summary Minutes December 11, 2006 

 NIOSH/CDC Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health 

 Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction Review

 1

 The Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction Review

 of the

 Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health 

 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

 _________________________________________________________________ 

 Summary Minutes of the Inaugural Meeting 

 December 11, 2006 

 _________________________________________________________________

The Inaugural Meeting of the Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction 

Review (the subcommittee) of the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker 

Health (ABRWH or the Board) was held at the Holiday Inn Select in 

Naperville, Illinois on December 11, 2006. The meeting was called to 

order by Dr. Lewis Wade, the Designated Federal Official, Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Institute for 

Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These summary minutes, as well 

as a verbatim transcript certified by a court reporter, are available 

on the internet on the web site of the NIOSH/Office of Compensation 

Analysis and Support (OCAS) located at www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas. Those 

present included the following: 

Subcommittee Members: Mr. Mark Griffon, Chair; Mr. Brad Clawson 

(Alternate), Mr. Michael Gibson, Ms. Wanda Munn, and Mr. Robert Presley 

(Alternate). 

Designated Federal Official: Dr. Lewis Wade, Executive Secretary 

Federal Agency Attendees:

Department of Health and Human Services: Mr. Stuart Hinnefeld, Ms. Liz 

Homoki-Titus (via telephone). 

Contractors:

Sanford Cohen & Associates: Dr. Hans Behling and Ms. Kathy Behling 

(via telephone), Dr. John Mauro. 

Public Attendees: See Registration 
 Summary Minutes December 11, 2006 

 NIOSH/CDC Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health 

 Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction Review

 2

 Opening Remarks 

Dr. Lewis Wade, 

NIOSH 

Dr. Wade called the meeting to order by announcing the first meeting of 

the Subcommittee For Dose Reconstruction, the group formed to replace 

the Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction and Site Profile Review. He 

introduced Mr. Mark Griffon as its Chair, with membership including Dr. 

John Poston (who was unable to attend today's meeting), Mr. Michael 

Gibson, and Ms. Wanda Munn. Mr. Brad Clawson was present as alternate 

for Dr. Poston, as well as Mr. Robert Presley, also an alternate. 

 * * * * *

 Selection of Cases for the 

 Seventh Set of Dose Reconstruction Reviews

Mr. Mark Griffon, Chair 

Mr. Griffon announced the task of selection of cases for the seventh 

set of reviews will be made from two lists provided by NIOSH for that 

purpose. The first list includes roughly 235 cases in which a full 

internal and external dose calculation was done. The second set of 200 

cases were simply selected at random. He noted the final column on the 

lists shows the date the draft DR for each case was approved. 

Explaining that there are factors to be considered in the selection of 

cases in order to obtain a representative distribution, Mr. Griffon

went on to note they may not all be apparent. A variety of Technical 

Information Bulletins are in use and it is important to see how they 

were applied. Some are site-specific, and their use should be 

examined. Mr. Griffon expressed a belief the goal is to select diverse 

cases to avoid covering the same ground, and suggested a discussion of 

case parameters before beginning the selection process. 

At Dr. Wade's request for information on when SC&A will require the 

lists for the seventh, eighth and ninth sets, Dr. John Mauro indicated 

they were in the midst of the sixth set and would be ready for the 

seventh in about six weeks. 

With no rush to make the selection, Mr. Griffon suggested the 

subcommittee discuss case parameters that would enhance the audit, and 

then discuss their criteria with the full Board. 

Ms. Munn questioned the practicality of establishing parameters and 
 Summary Minutes December 11, 2006 

 NIOSH/CDC Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health 

 Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction Review

 3

then asking NIOSH for a set of cases to fit those parameters. She 

suggested narrowing that search by selecting a limited number of cases 

and coordinating with NIOSH to ensure they fit the pattern of diversity 

sought by the subcommittee. In discussing a procedure for selecting 

cases to fit whatever parameters chosen, Ms. Munn and Mr. Griffon

agreed it would be impractical to ask NIOSH to review, for example, 230 

cases on a list to provide an adequately diverse set. 

In an effort to reach consensus on what might better inform the case 

selections, the following issues were raised and suggestions made: 

#A statistical review of prior case selections to understand the types 

of cancers, years and job categories already studied. 

#Work area locations and both internal and external methodology would 

be helpful. 

#Variations in calculation procedures occur even in best estimate cases 

at various sites. 

#Rather than accepting overestimating or underestimating techniques as 

a means of selecting a case, perhaps use of specific TIBs or 

methodology might be part of the selection criteria. 

#Caution must be taken that as information on work locations, years 

worked, sites, et cetera becomes more specific, the cases do not 

become so identifiable they ultimately require closed sessions. 

#Neutron dosimetry and the means by which it is handled is a recurring 

issue and perhaps should be one of the parameters for case 

selection. 

#A cross section of work areas is important to a proper audit. 

#While that can be done, it will require a lot of work by NIOSH and 

having a manageable number of cases to look at will be important. 

#Perhaps job descriptions of people with a high probability of exposure 

would be helpful, but that would entail subjective judgment about 

who would be more exposed. 

#Determination of dose reconstruction methodology is available in every 

case, but determination of work area would require opening each 

case file. 

#Dissemination of the information will also have to be in compliance 

with the Privacy Act, so NIOSH would have to send the resulting 

list to OGC before it could be made publicly available. 

 * * * 

Mr. Griffon suggested the seventh set of cases be selected with the 

discussed parameters in mind, and that the full Board be informed of 

the subcommittee's action. NIOSH could screen the cases following 
 Summary Minutes December 11, 2006 

 NIOSH/CDC Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health 

 Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction Review

 4

those criteria. 

Dr. Hans Behling suggested that when selecting for neutron exposures, 

it would be helpful to select cases prior to 1972, when the NTA film 

and neutron problems came into play. 

After discussion it was determined Dr. Mauro's suggestion of doing 30 

cases per set, with fewer sets per year, would put a greater burden on 

NIOSH. It was agreed the new screening process would be considered a 

trial and the sets should remain at 20 cases. Recognizing the need for 

NIOSH to review perhaps 30 or so cases to arrive at 20 which meet the 

new criteria, Mr. Hinnefeld was unable to assure the subcommittee that 

such could be accomplished by the next meeting. 

 * * *

The following cases were selected for proposal to the Board: 

From the full internal and external list: 

No. 302, Respiratory, Huntington Pilot Plant 

No. 306, Lung, Mound 

No. 314, Thyroid, Hanford 

No. 322, Stomach, Kansas City Plant 

No. 327, Non-melanoma skin - Basal cell, Downey facility 

No. 335, Urinary organs, Mound 

No. 337, Lung, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 

No. 351, Oral cavity and pharynx, Bridgeport Brass, Havens Lab 

No. 354, Lung, Aliquippa Forge 

No. 375, Non-melanoma skin - Basal cell, Squamous cell, Pinellas 

No. 445, Other respiratory, Bethlehem Steel 

No. 455, Other respiratory, Savannah River Site 

No. 480, All male genitalia, Birdsboro Steel & Foundry 

No. 490, Lymphoma and multiple myeloma, American Bearing Corp. 

No. 509, Oral cavity and pharynx, Argonne West, Idaho Nat'l. Lab 

From the random selections list: 

No. 013, Pancreas, Brookhaven National Laboratory 

No. 017, Lung, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 

No. 028, All male genitalia, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (X-10) 

No. 054, Bone, Bridgeport Brass, Adrian 

No. 056, All male genitalia, Los Alamos National Laboratory 

No. 063, Liver, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (X-10) 

No. 076, Lung, Esophagus, Pinellas 

No. 079, Nervous system, Los Alamos National Laboratory 
 Summary Minutes December 11, 2006 

 NIOSH/CDC Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health 

 Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction Review

 5

No. 081, Bladder, non-melanoma skin - squamous cell, Idaho 

No. 099, All male genitalia, Project Gnome Nuclear explosion site 

No. 102, Breast, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (X-10) 

No. 104, Connective Tissue, Nevada Test Site 

No. 126, Pancreas, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (X-10) 

No. 132, Lymphoma and multiple melanoma, Idaho National Laboratory 

No. 141, All male genitalia, Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant 

No. 154, Pancreas, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 

No. 166, Eye, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (K-25) 

 * * *

With 32 cases selected to present to the Board, it was agreed NIOSH 

would open those case files. Their goal will be to identify 20 cases 

meeting the suggested parameters for Board review as the seventh set of 

individual dose reconstructions to be audited. 

 * * * * *

With no further business to come before the Subcommittee, the 

meeting was adjourned at 12:25 p.m. 

 End of Summary Minutes 

Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë

I hereby confirm these Summary Minutes are 

accurate, to the best of my knowledge. 

_______________________________________ 

Mark Griffon, Chair 

_______________________________________ 

Date