Health Risks of Ionizing Radiation: - Clark University

Tawn et al. (2000, 2003) found positive, although not
significant, dose-response curves for chromosome
damage and for one type of mutation; the trends
suggested that chronic exposure was less effective
than acute exposure at inducing these forms of
damage.
Other UK facilities. McGeoghegan and Binks
(2000a, 200b, 2001) have analyzed the health data
for three UK facilities (Springfields, Capenhurst and
Chapelcross, respectively) in parallel reports. In all
cases SMRs were low, indicating a healthy worker
effect. Although results were largely inconclusive
in each case, there is general evidence of increased
risks of pleural cancer, bladder cancer, and cancer
of the blood and lymph when the three sites are
considered together. The three reports are described
briefly below.
The cohort of workers from Springfields,
a uranium processing plant, included 19,589
employees. Dose-response trends were significantly
positive for incidence of blood and lymph cancers,
lung cancer, pleural cancer, and all cancer. The ERR
estimate for solid cancer mortality in this cohort was
0.64/Sv (-0.95-2.67). Hodgkin’s disease and bladder
cancer mortality were also significantly related to
dose (McGeoghegan and Binks 2000a).
Capenhurst is a gaseous diffusion plant where
uranium is enriched. The dose-response for total
cancer incidence in this cohort of 12,540 workers was
not significant (ERR –0.9/Sv,