Skip to main content

A Review of the Radiological Assessments Corporation's Fernald Dose Reconstruction Report (1997) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

HEALTH EFFECTS
Pages 19-25

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 19...
... Radiation-related effects The primary result of the Fernald Dose Reconstruction Project is an estimate of the probability that the radiation dose received by members of the public during the operation of FMPC might result in cancer, particularly lung cancer. Before the dose-reconstruction project, most scientists believed that the radiation dose to members of the public at Fernald was smaller than that from other sources of radiation exposure (such as radon in homes)
Read the entire page →
From page 20...
... On the basis of studies of occupationally exposed uranium workers, it is unlikely that even the most highly exposed members of the public living near Fernald suffered important renal damage from their exposure to chronic or acute releases of uranium.
Read the entire page →
From page 21...
... indicates a factor of 0.7-0.S on the basis of differences in breathing rates, fraction unattached to particles, and other conditions. · RAC incorporated a radon age 0-19 risk factor of 2, whereas a Research Council BEIR IV report (NRC 1988)
Read the entire page →
From page 22...
... is incomplete, although the final result appears reasonable. Notably lacking was any discussion of uncertainties in radon risk estimates associated with smoking and with other lung-cancer cofactors (such as silica, arsenic, and diesel exhaust)
Read the entire page →
From page 23...
... If RAC wished to maintain the same overall risk coefficient as that used by TCRP or BEIR {V, while maintaining an age factor, it should have made the juvenile factor somewhat larger than ~ but the adult factor somewhat less than I Instead, by virtue of the age adjustment, it has arbitrarily projected larger risks than have the studies that used the major data sets.
Read the entire page →
From page 24...
... Box plots might be a more appropriate method for comparing central tendencies, spreads, and tails in a simple and consistent manner. Side-byside bar graphs similar to figure 46 would also illustrate the comparison that is intended and would eliminate much of the confusion.
Read the entire page →
From page 25...
... A comparison with indoor radon levels on page S-31would be useful as a way to provide a context for these risks. In addition, the lower bound of the EPA action level of indoor radon is 4 pCi/T, which yields a lifetime lung dose of 5.2-10.4 Sv.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • radiation dose
  • lung cancer
  • risk estimates
  • radon risk
  • radiation exposure

  • risk coefficient
  • relative risks
  • chemical toxicity
  • background radon
  • uranium released

  • dose reconstruction
  • age adjustment
  • rac incorporated
  • fernald dose
  • factor somewhat

  • overall risk
  • radon dose
  • rac report
  • cause cancer
  • lung dose

  • produces risk
  • female breast
  • risk associated
  • context allows
  • uranium workers

  • result appears
  • report assumes
  • numeric details
  • estimates associated
  • central tendencies


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.