National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Battelle Technical Information Bulletin - 5000

John Cardarelli II, PhD, CHP, CIH, PE

Research Health Physicist

Division of Compensation Analysis and Support

Procedures Subcommittee on Reviews

Virtual meeting

September 29, 2022
Overview

 Brief History of BTIB-5000

 SC&A Comments (January 2022)

 NIOSH Responses (July 2022)

 Next Steps

 References

09/29/2022 2
Brief History of BTIB-5000
History of BTIB-5000 

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas/pdfs/tibs/b-t5000-r0.pdf

• March 2007: Battelle-TIB-5000, Rev. 00 “Default Assumptions and Methods for 

Atomic Weapons Employer Dose Reconstructions”

• March 2021: Subcommittee for Procedure Review (SCPR) tasked SC&A to review 

BTIB-5000.

• January 2022: SC&A submits review to NIOSH

• 13 Observations & 0 Findings

• August 2022: NIOSH provides responses to SCPR

9/20/2022 4
SC&A Comments on BTIB-5000
SC&A Observation 1

Battelle-TIB-5000 makes extensive use of the computer program 

LOGNORM4, which is no longer publicly available. 

NIOSH Response:

NIOSH concurs that LOGNORM4 is no longer being used. Currently, 

NIOSH employs a variety of freeware statistical programs (e.g.,

R-code) or commercial Excel add-ins (e.g., Vose and @Risk) for dose 

reconstruction tools and to perform various statistical analysis of 

datasets. 

09/29/2022 6
SC&A Observation 2

There are more modern methods for treating censored data.

NIOSH Response:

NIOSH concurs that there are more modern methods for treating 

censored data. 

 Regression on order statistics is discussed in ORAUT-RPRT-0053, 

“Analysis of Stratified Coworker Datasets”,

 Multiple imputation is discussed in ORAUT-RPRT-0071, “External 

Dose Coworker Methodology”, and ORAUT-RPRT-0096, “Multiple 

Imputation Applied to Bioassay Co-Exposure Models”.

The methods, as described in Battelle-TIB-5000, Section 2.1.3, are 

not currently being used.

09/29/2022 7
SC&A Observation 3

The number of observations in the highest airborne uranium 

concentration group in 1949 is stated to be 64 by Battelle-TIB-5000, 

section 2.1.4.1. This value is inconsistent with the value of 61 shown 

in TIB-5000, table 2.4, and with the 119 total observations in 1949 

listed by TIB-5000.

NIOSH Response:

NIOSH agrees that 61 is most likely the correct number for the fourth 

data point, as noted in the SC&A review, this observation did not alter 

any conclusions in the TIB.

09/29/2022 8
SC&A Observation 4

The mirror image and preserved mean and variance methods are not 

supported by any technical background in statistical theory of which 

we are aware.

NIOSH Response:

NIOSH concurs that there are more modern methods for assessing 

data. A more modern method to handle the sum of normal noise and 

lognormal signal is the normal-lognormal mixture distribution. It is 

described in ORAUT-RPRT-0096, Multiple Imputation Applied to 

Bioassay Co-Exposure Models. The methods, as described in 

Battelle-TIB-5000, Section 2.3.1, are not currently being used.

09/29/2022 9
SC&A Observation 5

Battelle-TIB-5000 lacks a sound basis for asserting that the NCRP 

assessment of the reliability of the ICRP Publication 30 models can 

be applied to the currently used ICRP Publication 66 respiratory tract 

and biokinetic models. 

NIOSH Response:

NIOSH is currently addressing this observation. We will include it in a 

separate report.

09/29/2022 10
SC&A Observation 6

A GSD of 10, derived from redundant data across seven uranium 

refining plants, is excessive for a sitewide assessment of an individual 

worker. 

NIOSH Response:

NIOSH concurs that the use of a GSD of 10 for an entire site, plant, or 

factory might be excessive. A GSD of 10 as described in Battelle-TIB5000, Section 3.6, is not currently being used. As noted in the SC&A 

comments, NIOSH is using a GSD of 5 as the default value in DRs 

when no other uncertainty data are available. A minimum GSD of 3 is 

often used for biokinetic modelling. 

09/29/2022 11
SC&A Observation 7

Dividing the operation - “removing covers from drums” - that was 

observed to take 24 minutes per shift, into two 12-minute periods, 

characterized by low and high radon concentrations, respectively, is 

arbitrary and not claimant favorable. 

NIOSH Response:

NIOSH concurs that there are better statistical methods for 

consolidating data into a statistic to be used for dose reconstruction. 

NIOSH does not employ the results of the time-weighted average 

example in Battelle-TIB-5000, Section 3.8 for dose reconstructions at 

Lake Ontario Ordinance Works (LOOW).

09/29/2022 12
SC&A Observation 8

The procedure for assessing inadvertent ingestion for residual periods 

at AWE sites has been updated since the issuance of TIB-5000. 

NIOSH Response:

NIOSH concurs that the use of OCAS-TIB-009, Estimation of 

Ingestion Intakes, to assess inadvertent ingestion during an AWE 

site’s residual period is not appropriate. During an AWE site’s residual 

period, NIOSH is currently standardizing our approach to be 

consistent with NUREG/CR-6755 which is based upon NUREG/CR5512 (1992) Volume 1. Section 6.3.2 for guidance on inadvertent 

ingestion.

09/29/2022 13
SC&A Observation 9

The revised guidance on dose reconstruction from occupational 

medical x-ray procedures (ORAUT-OTIB-0006, revision 05) should be 

used for the assessments of external doses from such procedures. 

NIOSH Response:

NIOSH concurs and is using the current version of ORAUT-OTIB0006 when performing current the dose reconstructions.

09/29/2022 14
SC&A Observation 10

Missed doses should be assigned according to the current procedures: 

OCAS-IG-001, revision 3, and ORAUT-OTIB-0020, revision 03. Assigning 

a triangular distribution with minimum = 0, mode = 0.5 × LOD, and 

maximum = LOD is not consistent with current guidance. 

NIOSH Response:

NIOSH agrees that external missed dose should not be assigned using a 

triangular distribution. Guidance associated with assignment of external 

missed dose is covered in OCAS-IG-001, External Dose Reconstruction 

Implementation Guideline and ORAUT-OTIB-0020, Use of Coworker 

Dosimetry Data for External Dose Assignment. The method described in 

Battelle-TIB-5000, Section 3.14, is not currently being used.

09/29/2022 15
SC&A Observation 11

Ingestion should be added to the pathways of environmental doses.

NIOSH Response:

NIOSH agrees that ingestion is a possible pathway of environmental 

intakes and should be considered when developing an environmental 

exposure approach. ORAUT-PROC-0031, Site Profile and Technical 

Basis Document Development, Section 6.7.3., call for the ingestion 

pathway to be evaluated if it is applicable to the site.

09/29/2022 16
SC&A Observation 12

Using a lognormal distribution with a mean value of 0.02 to represent 

an equilibrium factor for thoron is questionable. A bounding, sitespecific equilibrium factor should be derived as needed, based on 

available data.

NIOSH Response:

The equilibrium factor, as described in Battelle-TIB-5000, Section 

3.17.3, is not currently being used. Guidance associated with the 

thoron equilibrium factor is provided in DCAS-TIB-011, Dose 

Conversion Factors for Radon WLM.

09/29/2022 17
SC&A Observation 13

Even if the true underlying distribution of concentrations were 

lognormal, there is no real reason to assume that the distribution of 

the uncertainty of the representativeness parameter is also lognormal.

NIOSH Response:

NIOSH concurs that there are more modern methods for dealing with 

uncertainty distribution. This method, as described in Battelle-TIB5000, Section 3.20, is not currently being used.

09/29/2022 18
Next Steps 

 NIOSH is developing a separate report to address the use 

of a Geometric Standard Deviation (GSD) of 3.0 for 

uncertainty in biokinetic modelling.

• It will be the response to Observation #5.

• The use of GSD of 3.0 may be the only part of BTIB-5000 

that is currently being used in dose reconstructions.

 NIOSH is currently assessing the role Battelle-TIB-5000 may 

have on other programmatic documents that provide 

guidance on dose reconstructions. Once complete, NIOSH 

will consider cancelling this document.

09/29/2022 19
References
References (1 of 4)

NIOSH [2004]. Estimation of Ingestion Intakes. OCAS-TIB-09 Rev. 0. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. April 13. [SRDB Ref ID: 22397]. 

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas/pdfs/tibs/oc-t9-ro.pdf

NIOSH [2007]. External Dose Reconstruction Implementation Guideline. OCAS-IG-001 

Rev. 03. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 

November 21. [SRDB Ref ID: 88929].

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas/pdfs/dr/oc-ig-001-r3.pdf

NIOSH [2011]. Site Profiles for Atomic Weapons Employers that Worked Uranium Metals. 

Battelle-TBD-6000 Rev. 1. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational 

Safety and Health. June 17. [SRDB Ref ID: 101251]. 

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas/pdfs/tbd/bat-6000-r1.pdf

09/29/2022 21
References (2 of 4)

NIOSH [2018]. Dose Conversion Factors for Radon WLM. DCAS-TIB-011 Rev. 05. 

Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. June 28. 

[SRDB Ref ID: 175105]. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas/pdfs/tibs/dc-t11-r5-508.pdf

NUREG/CR-5512 [1992]. Residual Radioactive Contamination From Decommissioning: 

Technical Basis for Translating Contamination Levels to Annual Total Effective Dose 

Equivalent, Final Report and Volume 1; NUREG/CR-5512, PNL-7994; October 1992. 

[SRDB Ref ID: 23558]. 

https://documents.deq.utah.gov/legacy/businesses/e/energysolutions/depleteduranium/performance-assessment/compliancereport/docs/2014/07Jul/supinfo/appreferences/Kennedy_Strenge1992.pdf

09/29/2022 22
References (3 of 4)

NUREG/CR-6755 [2002]. Technical Basis for Calculating Radiation Doses for the Building 

Occupancy Scenario Using the Probabilistic RESRAD-BUILD 3.0 Code. NUREG/CR-6755, 

ANL/EAD/TM/02-1. [SRDB Ref ID: 91669]. 

https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0205/ML020590035.pdf

ORAUT [2011]. Use of Coworker Dosimetry Data for External Dose Assignment. ORAUT0TIB-0020. Rev. 03. Oak Ridge, TN: Oak Ridge Associated Universities Team. November 

14. [SRDB Ref ID: 104029] https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas/pdfs/tibs/or-t20-r3.pdf

ORAUT [2012b]. Site Profile and Technical Basis Document Development, ORAUT-PROC0031 Rev. 04. Oak Ridge, TN: Oak Ridge Associated Universities Team. November 5. 

[SRDB Ref ID: 166849].

09/29/2022 23
References (4 of 4)

ORAUT [2014]. Analysis of Stratified Coworker Datasets, ORAUT-RPRT-0053 Rev. 02. Oak 

Ridge, TN: Oak Ridge Associated Universities Team. October 8. [SRDB Ref ID: 136245]. 

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas/pdfs/orau/oraurpts/or-rprt-53-r2.pdf

ORAUT [2018]. Dose Reconstruction from Occupational Medical X-Ray Procedures, 

ORAUT-OTIB-0006 Rev. 05. Oak Ridge, TN: Oak Ridge Associated Universities Team. 

August 13. [SRDB Ref ID: 178310]. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas/pdfs/tibs/or-t6-r5- 508.pdf

ORAUT [2015]. External Dose Coworker Methodology. ORAUT-RPRT-71 Rev. 00. Oak 

Ridge, TN: Oak Ridge Associated Universities Team. July 2. [SRDB Ref ID: 145135] 

ORAUT [2021]. Multiple Imputation Applied to Bioassay Co-Exposure Models. ORAUT- RPRT-0096 Rev. 01. Oak Ridge, TN: Oak Ridge Associated Universities Team. June 11. 

[SRDB Ref ID: 175396]. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas/pdfs/orau/oraurpts/or-rprt-96-

r1-508.pdf

09/29/2022 24
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The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the 

official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Questions?