Enc. 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN 

James M. Melius, M.D., Dr. PH. 

Albany, New York 

MEMBERS 

Henry Anderson, M.D.

 Madison, Wisconsin 

Josie Beach

 Kennewick, Washington 

Bradley P. Clawson

 Rexburg, Idaho 

R. William Field, Ph.D. 

 Iowa City, Iowa 

Michael H. Gibson

 Franklin, Ohio 

Mark A. Griffon 

 Salem, New Hampshire 

Richard Lemen, Ph.D.

 Canton, Georgia 

James E. Lockey, M.D.

 Cincinnati, Ohio 

Wanda I. Munn

 Richland, Washington 

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

 College Station, Texas 

David B. Richardson, Ph.D.

 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 

Genevieve S. Roessler, Ph.D.

 Elysian, Minnesota 

Phillip Schofield

 Bosque Farm, New Mexico 

Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D.

 Lafayette, Indiana 

STAFF 

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY 

Theodore M. Katz, MPA 

Atlanta, Georgia 

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 

December 29, 2011 

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 00154 concerning workers at the Linde 

Ceramics Plant in Tonawanda, New York, under the statutory requirements 

established by the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation 

Program Act of 2000 (EEOICPA) and incorporated into 42 CFR Sec. 83.13. 

The Board respectfully recommends that SEC status be accorded to: 

“All Atomic Weapons Employees who worked in any area at 

the Linde Ceramics Plant in Tonawanda, New York, from 

November 1, 1947 through December 31, 1953, 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: 

• Individuals employed at the Linde facility during the time period in 

question worked on the production of materials for nuclear weapons 

and/or in the decontamination of buildings where these materials had 

previously been produced. 

• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 

review of available monitoring data, as well as available process and 

source term information for this facility found that NIOSH lacked the 

sufficient information necessary to complete individual dose 

reconstructions with sufficient accuracy for internal radiological 

exposures due to uranium and uranium progeny (with the exception of 

radon) during the time period in question. The Board concurs with this 

determination. 

• NIOSH determined that health may have been endangered for these 

Linde Ceramics Plant employees during the time period in question. The 

Board also concurs with this determination. 

Based on these considerations and the discussion at the December 7 to 8, 

2011 Board meeting held in Tampa, Florida, the Board recommends that this 

class be added to the SEC. 
The Secretary December 29, 2011 

Enclosed is the documentation from the Board meeting(s) where this SEC class was 

discussed. The documentation includes 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] 

James M. Melius, M.D., Dr. PH 

 Chairman, ABRWH 

Enclosure