ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH

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& 4676 Columbia Parkway, MS: C-46
i Cincinnati, Ohio 45226

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May 23, 2007

The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Eau & omer, En.b: Department of Health and Human Services
oes 200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20201

CHAIRMAN:

MEMBERS:

Josie Beach
Richland, Washington

Dear Mr. Secretary:

The Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health (The Board) has
Bradley P. Clawson

Rexburg, Idaho evaluated SEC Petition-0082 concerning workers at the W. R. Grace
Whack Shen facility in Erwin, Tennessee under the statutory requirements established
Franklin, Ohio by EEOICPA and incorporated into 42 CFR Sec. 83.13 and 42 CFR Sec.
Mark A. Griffon 83.14. The Board respectfully recommends Special Exposure Cohort
‘Salem, New Hampshire (SEC) status be accorded to all AWE employ who were monitored or
‘Jair Eben, MD, should have been monitored for potential exposure to thorium while
Cincinnati, Ohio working in any of the 100 series buildings or Buildings 220, 230, 233,
ssareasa-ta, wisstise WD: PRD: 234, 301, or 310 at the W.R.Grace site at Erwin, Tennessee fora number
Albany, New York of work days aggregating at least 250 work days during the period from
Wesaa'. eas January 1, 1958 through December 31, 1970, or in combination with
Richland, Washington work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes
Fehin Wi Potion, SPR, of employees in the SEC. The Board notes that although NIOSH found
College Station, Texas that they were unable to completely reconstruct radiation doses for these
Robert W. Presley employees, they believe that they are able to reconstruct components of
Clinton, Tennessee the internal dose including uranium and plutonium isotopes , external
exposures from all radionuclides, and occupational medical doses for this

Genevieve S. Roessler, Ph.D. yecgm xe " .
Elysian, Minnesota class of workers, and therefore individuals with non-presumptive cancers

may be considered for partial dose reconstructions.
Phillip Schofield
Bosque Farm, New Mexico

This recommendation is based on the following factors:

STAFF: e People working at the W. R. Grace site in Ervin, Tennessee were
involved in various industrial operations involving uranium,

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY: : *
thorium, and plutonium.

Lewis V. Wade, Ph.D

Weshington, 8S e The NIOSH review of the available monitoring data found that
no thorium bioassay data was available until the late 1980’s and
COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT : that information was not adequate to determine an appropriate
LaShawn D. Shields source term for thorium. Therefore, NIOSH concluded that

Atlanta, Georgia individual dose reconstructions are not feasible for people


The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt May 23, 2007

working in this facility during the time period in question. The Board concurs with
this conclusion.

e NIOSH determined that health may have been endangered for workers at the W. R.
Grace site during the time period in question. The Board concurs with this
determination.

Enclosed is supporting documentation from the recent Advisory Board Meeting held in
Denver, Colorado where this special exposure cohort class was discussed. If any of these
items are unavailable at this time, they will follow shortly.

Sincerely,

Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D.
Chairman

Ene.

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