Cancer mortality (1956-1985) among male employees of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited with respect to occupational exposure to external low-linear-energy-transfer ionizing radiation.
The mortality experience between 1956 and 1985 of 8977 males employed by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited is reported. A total of 4260 men, 47% of the cohort, were exposed to low doses of external ionizing radiation at low dose rates, with a mean cumulative equivalent dose of 52.1 mSv. For cancers as a whole the excess relative risk, based on 227 deaths, was 0.36% per 10 mSv (90% confidence bounds -0.46, 2.45). This is quite comparable to the corresponding estimate based on the atomic bomb survivors study. There was a positive association between radiation dose and death from leukemia (excluding chronic lymphatic leukemia) P = 0.058. However, this was based on only four deaths and hence cannot sensibly be compared to estimates based on high-dose studies. The present results suggest that, for cancer as a whole, risk estimates based on high-dose studies are unlikely to underestimate risks substantially for low-dose and low-dose-rate exposures.
Gribbin
M A
MA
National Cancer Institute of Canada Epidemiology Unit, University of Toronto, Ontario.
Weeks
J L
JL
Howe
G R
GR
D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D004735:Energy Transfer; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D009678:Nuclear Energy; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk