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Milder CM, Borrego D, Preston DL, Villoing D, Kwon TE, Miller DL, Alexander BH, Linet MS, Lee C, Kitahara CM. Occupational Radiation Dose Trends in U.S. Radiologic Technologists Assisting with Fluoroscopically Guided Interventional Procedures, 1980-2020. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2024; 35:1057-1065.e4. [PMID: 38599279 PMCID: PMC11194154 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvir.2024.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To summarize dose trends from 1980 to 2020 for 19,651 U.S. Radiologic Technologists who reported assisting with fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures (FGIPs), overall and by work history characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 762,310 annual personal dose equivalents at a 10-mm reference depth (doses) during 1980-2020 for 43,823 participants of the U.S. Radiologic Technologists (USRT) cohort who responded to work history questionnaires administered during 2012-2014 were summarized. This population included 19,651 technologists who reported assisting with FGIP (≥1 time per month for ≥12 consecutive months) at any time during the study period. Doses corresponding to assistance with FGIP were estimated in terms of proximity to patients, monthly procedure frequency, and procedure type. Box plots and summary statistics (eg, medians and percentiles) were used to describe annual doses and dose trends. RESULTS Median annual dose corresponding to assistance with FGIP was 0.65 mSv (interquartile range [IQR], 0.60-1.40 mSv; 95th percentile, 6.80). Higher occupational doses with wider variability were associated with close proximity to patients during assistance with FGIP (median, 1.20 mSv [IQR, 0.60-4.18 mSv]; 95th percentile, 12.66), performing ≥20 FGIPs per month (median, 0.75 mSv [IQR, 0.60-2.40 mSv]; 95th percentile, 9.44), and assisting with high-dose FGIP (median, 0.70 mSv [IQR, 0.60-1.90 mSv]; 95th percentile, 8.30). CONCLUSIONS Occupational doses corresponding to assistance with FGIP were generally low but varied with exposure frequency, procedure type, and proximity to patients. These results highlight the need for vigilant dose monitoring, radiation safety training, and proper protective equipment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cato M Milder
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland.
| | - David Borrego
- Center for Science and Technology, Radiation Protection Division, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington D.C
| | | | | | - Tae-Eun Kwon
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Donald L Miller
- Center for Devices and Radiological Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Bruce H Alexander
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Martha S Linet
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Choonsik Lee
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Cari M Kitahara
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
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Saenko V, Mitsutake N. Radiation-Related Thyroid Cancer. Endocr Rev 2024; 45:1-29. [PMID: 37450579 PMCID: PMC10765163 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnad022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Radiation is an environmental factor that elevates the risk of developing thyroid cancer. Actual and possible scenarios of exposures to external and internal radiation are multiple and diverse. This article reviews radiation doses to the thyroid and corresponding cancer risks due to planned, existing, and emergency exposure situations, and medical, public, and occupational categories of exposures. Any exposure scenario may deliver a range of doses to the thyroid, and the risk for cancer is addressed along with modifying factors. The consequences of the Chornobyl and Fukushima nuclear power plant accidents are described, summarizing the information on thyroid cancer epidemiology, treatment, and prognosis, clinicopathological characteristics, and genetic alterations. The Chornobyl thyroid cancers have evolved in time: becoming less aggressive and driver shifting from fusions to point mutations. A comparison of thyroid cancers from the 2 areas reveals numerous differences that cumulatively suggest the low probability of the radiogenic nature of thyroid cancers in Fukushima. In view of continuing usage of different sources of radiation in various settings, the possible ways of reducing thyroid cancer risk from exposures are considered. For external exposures, reasonable measures are generally in line with the As Low As Reasonably Achievable principle, while for internal irradiation from radioactive iodine, thyroid blocking with stable iodine may be recommended in addition to other measures in case of anticipated exposures from a nuclear reactor accident. Finally, the perspectives of studies of radiation effects on the thyroid are discussed from the epidemiological, basic science, and clinical points of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Saenko
- Department of Radiation Molecular Epidemiology, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Norisato Mitsutake
- Department of Radiation Molecular Epidemiology, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
- Department of Radiation Medical Sciences, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
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Kwon D, Simon SL, Hoffman FO, Pfeiffer RM. Frequentist model averaging for analysis of dose-response in epidemiologic studies with complex exposure uncertainty. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290498. [PMID: 38096309 PMCID: PMC10721059 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In epidemiologic studies, association estimates of an exposure with disease outcomes are often biased when the uncertainties of exposure are ignored. Consequently, corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) will not have correct coverage. This issue is particularly problematic when exposures must be reconstructed from physical measurements, for example, for environmental or occupational radiation doses that were received by a study population for which radiation doses cannot be measured directly. To incorporate complex uncertainties in reconstructed exposures, the two-dimensional Monte Carlo (2DMC) dose estimation method has been proposed and used in various dose reconstruction efforts. The 2DMC method generates multiple exposure realizations from dosimetry models that incorporate various sources of errors to reflect the uncertainty of the dose distribution as well as the uncertainties in individual doses in the exposed population. Traditional measurement-error model approaches, typically based on using mean doses in the dose-exposure analysis, do not fully account exposure uncertainties. A recently developed statistical approach that overcomes many of these limitations by analyzing multiple exposure realizations in relation to disease risk is Bayesian model averaging (BMA). The analytic advantage of the BMA is its ability to better accommodate complex exposure uncertainty in the risk estimation, but a practical. Drawback is its significant computational complexity. In this present paper, we propose a novel frequentist model averaging (FMA) approach which has all the analytical advantages of the BMA method but is much simpler to implement and computationally faster. We show in simulations that, like BMA, FMA yields 95% confidence intervals for association parameters that close to 95% coverage rate. In simulations, the FMA has shorter length of CIs than those of another frequentist approach, the corrected information matrix (CIM) method. We illustrate the similarities in performance of BMA and FMA from a study of exposures from radioactive fallout in Kazakhstan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deukwoo Kwon
- Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Steven L. Simon
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - F. Owen Hoffman
- Oak Ridge Center for Risk Analysis, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Ruth M. Pfeiffer
- Biostatistics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
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Shishkina EA, Napier BA, Preston DL, Degteva MO. Dose estimates and their uncertainties for use in epidemiological studies of radiation-exposed populations in the Russian Southern Urals. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288479. [PMID: 37561738 PMCID: PMC10414627 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Many residents of the Russian Southern Urals were exposed to radioactive environmental pollution created by the operations of the Mayak Production Association in the mid- 20th century. There were two major releases: the discharge of about 1x1017 Bq of liquid waste into the Techa River between 1949 and 1959; and the atmospheric release of 7.4 * 1016 Bq as a result an explosion in the radioactive waste-storage facility in 1957. The releases into the Techa River resulted in the exposure of more than 30,000 people who lived in riverside villages between 1950 and 1961. The 1957 accident contaminated a larger area with the highest exposure levels in an area that is called the East Urals Radioactive Trace (EURT). Current epidemiologic studies of the exposed populations are based on dose estimates obtained using a Monte-Carlo dosimetry system (TRDS-2016MC) that provides multiple realizations of the annual doses for each cohort member. These dose realizations provide a central estimate of the individual dose and information on the uncertainty of these dose estimates. In addition, the correlation of individual annual doses over realizations provides important information on shared uncertainties that can be used to assess the impact of shared dose uncertainties on risk estimate uncertainty.This paper considers dose uncertainties in the TRDS-2016MC. Individual doses from external and internal radiation sources were reconstructed for 48,036 people based on environmental contamination patterns, residential histories, individual 90Sr body-burden measurements and dietary intakes. Dietary intake of 90Sr resulted in doses accumulated in active bone marrow (or simply, marrow) that were an order of magnitude greater than those in soft tissues. About 84% of the marrow dose and 50% of the stomach dose was associated with internal exposures. The lognormal distribution is well-fitted to the individual dose realizations, which, therefore, could be expressed and easily operated in terms of geometric mean (GM) and geometric standard deviation (GSD). Cohort average GM for marrow and stomach cumulative doses are 0.21 and 0.03 Gy, respectively. Cohort average dose uncertainties in terms of GSD are as follows: for marrow it is 2.93 (90%CI: 2.02-4.34); for stomach and the other non-calcified tissues it is 2.32 (90% CI: 1.78-2.9).
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena A. Shishkina
- Biophysics Laboratory, Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Chelyabinsk, Russia
- Chelyabinsk State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - Bruce A. Napier
- Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, United States of America
| | - Dale L. Preston
- Hirosoft International LLC, Eureka, California, United States of America
| | - Marina O. Degteva
- Biophysics Laboratory, Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Chelyabinsk, Russia
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Harbron RW, Abdelhalim MA, Ainsbury EA, Eakins JS, Modarai B. Editor's Choice - Estimated Radiation Dose to the Operator During Endovascular Aneurysm Repair. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2023; 66:178-185. [PMID: 37011855 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2023.03.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate operator organ doses from fluoroscopically guided infrarenal endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) procedures, using the detailed exposure information contained in radiation dose structured reports. METHODS Conversion factors relating kerma area product (PKA) to primary operator organ doses were calculated using Monte Carlo methods for 91 beam angles and seven x-ray spectra typical of clinical practice. A computer program was written, which selects the appropriate conversion factor for each exposure listed in a structured report and multiplies it by the respective PKA. This system was used to estimate operator doses for 81 EVAR procedures for which structured reports were available. The impact of different shielding scenarios and variations in operator position was also investigated. RESULTS Without any shielding, the median estimated effective dose was 113 μSv (interquartile range [IQR] 71, 252 μSv). The highest median organ doses were for the colon (154 μSv, IQR 81, 343) and stomach (133 μSv, IQR 76, 307). These dose estimates represent all exposures, including fluoroscopy and non-fluoroscopic digital acquisitions. With minimal shielding provided by 0.25 mm of Pb covering the torso and upper legs, the effective dose was reduced by a factor of around 6. With additional shielding from ceiling and table shields, a 25 to 50 fold reduction in dose is achievable. Estimated doses were highest where the primary beam was pointed directly away from the operator. CONCLUSION The models suggest that with optimal use of shielding, operator doses can be reduced to levels equivalent to one to two days of natural background exposure and well below statutory dose limits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard W Harbron
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, Newcastle University, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Mohamed A Abdelhalim
- Academic Department of Vascular Surgery, School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, BHF Centre of Excellence at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth A Ainsbury
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Public Health England Centre for Radiation, Chaemical and Environmental Threats and Hazards, Chilton, UK
| | - Jonathan S Eakins
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Public Health England Centre for Radiation, Chaemical and Environmental Threats and Hazards, Chilton, UK
| | - Bijan Modarai
- Academic Department of Vascular Surgery, School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, BHF Centre of Excellence at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Boice JD, Cohen SS, Mumma MT, Howard SC, Yoder RC, Dauer LT. Mortality among medical radiation workers in the United States, 1965-2016. Int J Radiat Biol 2023; 99:183-207. [PMID: 34731066 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2021.1967508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Estimates of radiation risks following prolonged exposures at low doses and low-dose rates are uncertain. Medical radiation workers are a major component of the Million Person Study (MPS) of low-dose health effects. Annual personal dose equivalents, HP(10), for individual workers are available to facilitate dose-response analyses for lung cancer, leukemia, ischemic heart disease (IHD) and other causes of death. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Landauer, Inc. dosimetry database identified 109,019 medical and associated radiation workers first monitored 1965-1994. Vital status and cause of death were determined through 2016. Mean absorbed doses to red bone marrow (RBM), lung, heart, and other organs were estimated by adjusting the recorded HP(10) for each worker by scaling factors, accounting for exposure geometry, the energy of the incident photon radiation, sex of the worker and whether an apron was worn. There were 4 exposure scenarios: general radiology characterized by low-energy x-ray exposure with no lead apron use, interventional radiologists/cardiologists who wore aprons, nuclear medicine personnel and radiation oncologists exposed to high-energy photon radiation, and other workers. Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) analyses were performed. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate organ-specific radiation risks. RESULTS Overall, 11,433 deaths occurred (SMR 0.60; 95%CI 0.59,0.61), 126 from leukemia other than chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), 850 from lung cancer, and 1654 from IHD. The mean duration of monitoring was 23.7 y. The excess relative rate (ERR) per 100 mGy was estimated as 0.10 (95% CI -0.34, 0.54) for leukemia other than CLL, 0.15 (0.02, 0.27) for lung cancer, and -0.10 (-0.27, 0.06) for IHD. The ERR for lung cancer was 0.16 (0.01, 0.32) among the 55,218 male workers and 0.09 (-0.19, 0.36) among the 53,801 female workers; a difference that was not statistically significant (p-value = 0.23). CONCLUSIONS Medical radiation workers were at increased risk for lung cancer that was higher among men than women, although this difference was not statistically significant. In contrast, the study of Japanese atomic bomb survivors exposed briefly to radiation in 1945 found females to be nearly 3 times the radiation risk of lung cancer compared with males on a relative scale. For medical workers, there were no statistically significant radiation associations with leukemia excluding CLL, IHD or other specific causes of death. Combining these data with other cohorts within the MPS, such as nuclear power plant workers and nuclear submariners, will enable more precise estimates of radiation risks at relatively low cumulative doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Boice
- National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | - Michael T Mumma
- International Epidemiology Institute, Rockville, MD, USA.,Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sara C Howard
- ORISE Health Studies Program, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | | | - Lawrence T Dauer
- Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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Dauer LT, Woods M, Miodownik D, Serencsits B, Quinn B, Bellamy M, Yoder C, Liang X, Boice JD, Bernstein J. Cohort profile - MSK radiation workers: a feasibility study to establish a deceased worker sub-cohort as part of a multicenter medical radiation worker component in the million person study of low-dose radiation health effects. Int J Radiat Biol 2022; 98:593-599. [PMID: 30810447 PMCID: PMC7147486 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2019.1587194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) is coordinating an expansive epidemiologic effort entitled the Million Person Study of Low-Dose Radiation Health Effects (MPS). Medical workers constitute the largest occupational radiation-exposed group whose doses are typically received gradually over time. METHODS A unique opportunity exists to establish an Institutional Review Board/Privacy Board (IRB/PB) approved, retrospective feasibility sub-cohort of diseased Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) medical radiation workers to reconstruct occupational/work history, estimate organ-specific radiation absorbed doses, and review existing publicly available records for mortality from cancer (including leukemia) and other diseases. Special emphasis will be placed on dose reconstruction approaches as a means to provide valid organ dose estimates that are as accurate and precise as possible based on the available data, and to allow proper evaluation of accompanying uncertainties. Such a study that includes validated dose measurements and information on radiation exposure conditions would significantly reduce dose uncertainties and provided greatly improved information on chronic low-dose risks. RESULTS The feasibility sub-cohort will include deceased radiation workers from MSK who worked during the nearly seventy-year timeframe from 1946 through 2010 and were provided individual personal radiation dosimetry monitors. A feasibility assessment focused on obtaining records for about 25-30,000 workers, with over 124,000 annual doses, including personnel/work histories, specific dosimetry data, and appropriate information for epidemiologic mortality tracing will be conducted. MSK radiation dosimetry measurements have followed stringent protocols complying with strict worker protection standards in order to provide accurate dose information for radiation workers that include detailed records of work practices (including specific task exposure conditions, radiation type, energy, geometry, personal protective equipment usage, badge position, and missed doses), as well as recorded measurements. These dose measurements have been ascertained through a variety of techniques that have evolved over the years, from film badges to thermoluminescent dosimetry technology to optically stimulated luminescent methodologies. It is expected that individual total doses for the sub-cohort will have a broad range from <10 mSv to > =1000 mSv. CONCLUSIONS MSK has pioneered the use of novel radiation diagnostic and therapeutic approaches over time (including initial work with x-rays, radium, and radon), with workplace safety in mind, resulting in a variety of radiation worker exposure scenarios. The results of this feasibility sub-cohort of deceased radiation workers, and associated lessons learned may potentially be applied to an expanded multicenter study of about 170,000 medical radiation worker component of the MPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence T. Dauer
- Radiology & Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Meghan Woods
- Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel Miodownik
- Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brian Serencsits
- Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brian Quinn
- Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Xiaolin Liang
- Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - John D. Boice
- National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Bethesda, MD, USA;,Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jonine Bernstein
- Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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Miller DT, Semins MJ. Safety During Ureteroscopy: Radiation, Eyes, and Ergonomics. Front Surg 2021; 8:737337. [PMID: 34778359 PMCID: PMC8580849 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2021.737337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is known that urologic surgeons are at risk of work-place injury due to the physical requirements of operating and exposure to hazards. These hazards include radiation, exposure to body fluids, use of laser energy, and orthopedic injury due to the physical nature of operating. The risks that these hazards present can be mitigated by implementing several evidence-based safety measures. The methods to protect against radiation exposure include keeping radiation usage in the operating room as low as reasonably achievable, donning lead aprons, and wearing protective glasses. Additionally, protective glasses decrease the risk of eye injury from laser injury and exposure to body fluids. Finally, practicing sound surgical ergonomics is essential to minimize the risk of orthopedic injury and promote career longevity. The interventions discussed herein are simple and easy to implement in one's daily practice of urology.
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Affiliation(s)
- David T Miller
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Michelle J Semins
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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Villoing D, Borrego D, Preston DL, Alexander BH, Rose A, Salasky M, Linet MS, Lee C, Kitahara CM. Trends in Occupational Radiation Doses for U.S. Radiologic Technologists Performing General Radiologic and Nuclear Medicine Procedures, 1980-2015. Radiology 2021; 300:605-612. [PMID: 34156301 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2021204501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Background Occupational doses to most medical radiation workers have declined substantially since the 1950s because of improvements in radiation protection practices. However, different patterns may have emerged for radiologic technologists working with nuclear medicine because of the higher per-procedure doses and increasing workloads. Purpose To summarize annual occupational doses during a 36-year period for a large cohort of U.S. radiologic technologists and to compare dose between general radiologic technologists and those specializing in nuclear medicine procedures. Materials and Methods Annual personal dose equivalents (referred to as doses) from 1980 to 2015 were summarized for 58 434 (62%) participants in the U.S. Radiologic Technologists (USRT) cohort who responded to the most recent mailed work history survey (years 2012-2014) and reported never regularly performing interventional procedures. Doses were partitioned according to the performance of nuclear medicine (yes or no, frequency, procedure type) by calendar year. Annual dose records were described by using summary statistics (eg, median and 25th and 75th percentiles). Results Median annual doses related to performance of general radiologic procedures decreased from 0.60 mSv (interquartile range [IQR], 0.10-1.9 mSv) in 1980 to levels below the limits of detection by 2015, whereas annual doses related to performance of nuclear medicine procedures remained relatively high during this period (median, 1.2 mSv; IQR, 0.12-3.0 mSv). Higher median annual doses were associated with more frequent (above vs below the median) performance of diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures (≥35 vs <35 times per week; 1.6 mSv [IQR, 0.30-3.3 mSv] and 0.9 mSv [IQR, 0.10-2.6 mSv]). Higher and more variable annual doses were associated with more frequent performance of cardiac nuclear medicine (≥10 times per week) and PET (nine or more times per week) examinations (median, 1.6 mSv [IQR, 0.30-2.2 mSv] and 2.2 mSv [IQR, 0.10-4.6 mSv], respectively). Conclusion Annual doses to U.S. radiologic technologists performing general radiologic procedures declined during a 36-year period. However, consistently higher and more variable doses were associated with the performance of nuclear medicine procedures, particularly cardiac nuclear medicine and PET procedures. © RSNA, 2021 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Mettler and Guiberteau in this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphnée Villoing
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (D.V., D.B., A.R., M.S.L., C.L., C.M.K.); Hirosoft International, Eureka, Calif (D.L.P.); Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (B.H.A.); Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo (B.H.A.); and Landauer, Glenwood, Ill (M.S.)
| | - David Borrego
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (D.V., D.B., A.R., M.S.L., C.L., C.M.K.); Hirosoft International, Eureka, Calif (D.L.P.); Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (B.H.A.); Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo (B.H.A.); and Landauer, Glenwood, Ill (M.S.)
| | - Dale L Preston
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (D.V., D.B., A.R., M.S.L., C.L., C.M.K.); Hirosoft International, Eureka, Calif (D.L.P.); Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (B.H.A.); Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo (B.H.A.); and Landauer, Glenwood, Ill (M.S.)
| | - Bruce H Alexander
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (D.V., D.B., A.R., M.S.L., C.L., C.M.K.); Hirosoft International, Eureka, Calif (D.L.P.); Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (B.H.A.); Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo (B.H.A.); and Landauer, Glenwood, Ill (M.S.)
| | - André Rose
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (D.V., D.B., A.R., M.S.L., C.L., C.M.K.); Hirosoft International, Eureka, Calif (D.L.P.); Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (B.H.A.); Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo (B.H.A.); and Landauer, Glenwood, Ill (M.S.)
| | - Mark Salasky
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (D.V., D.B., A.R., M.S.L., C.L., C.M.K.); Hirosoft International, Eureka, Calif (D.L.P.); Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (B.H.A.); Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo (B.H.A.); and Landauer, Glenwood, Ill (M.S.)
| | - Martha S Linet
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (D.V., D.B., A.R., M.S.L., C.L., C.M.K.); Hirosoft International, Eureka, Calif (D.L.P.); Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (B.H.A.); Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo (B.H.A.); and Landauer, Glenwood, Ill (M.S.)
| | - Choonsik Lee
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (D.V., D.B., A.R., M.S.L., C.L., C.M.K.); Hirosoft International, Eureka, Calif (D.L.P.); Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (B.H.A.); Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo (B.H.A.); and Landauer, Glenwood, Ill (M.S.)
| | - Cari M Kitahara
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (D.V., D.B., A.R., M.S.L., C.L., C.M.K.); Hirosoft International, Eureka, Calif (D.L.P.); Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (B.H.A.); Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo (B.H.A.); and Landauer, Glenwood, Ill (M.S.)
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10
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Apostoaei AI, Thomas BA, Hoffman FO, Kocher DC, Thiessen KM, Borrego D, Lee C, Simon SL, Zablotska LB. Fluoroscopy X-Ray Organ-Specific Dosimetry System (FLUXOR) for Estimation of Organ Doses and Their Uncertainties in the Canadian Fluoroscopy Cohort Study. Radiat Res 2021; 195:385-396. [PMID: 33544842 PMCID: PMC8133309 DOI: 10.1667/rade-20-00212.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
As part of ongoing efforts to assess lifespan disease mortality and incidence in 63,715 patients from the Canadian Fluoroscopy Cohort Study (CFCS) who were treated for tuberculosis between 1930 and 1969, we developed a new FLUoroscopy X-ray ORgan-specific dosimetry system (FLUXOR) to estimate radiation doses to various organs and tissues. Approximately 45% of patients received medical procedures accompanied by fluoroscopy, including artificial pneumothorax (air in pleural cavity to collapse of lungs), pneumoperitoneum (air in peritoneal cavity), aspiration of fluid from pleural cavity and gastrointestinal series. In addition, patients received chest radiographs for purposes of diagnosis and monitoring of disease status. FLUXOR utilizes age-, sex- and body size-dependent dose coefficients for fluoroscopy and radiography exams, estimated using radiation transport simulations in up-to-date computational hybrid anthropomorphic phantoms. The phantoms include an updated heart model, and were adjusted to match the estimated mean height and body mass of tuberculosis patients in Canada during the relevant time period. Patient-specific data (machine settings, exposure duration, patient orientation) used during individual fluoroscopy or radiography exams were not recorded. Doses to patients were based on parameter values inferred from interviews with 91 physicians practicing at the time, historical literature, and estimated number of procedures from patient records. FLUXOR uses probability distributions to represent the uncertainty in the unknown true, average value of each dosimetry parameter. Uncertainties were shared across all patients within specific subgroups of the cohort, defined by age at treatment, sex, type of procedure, time period of exams and region (Nova Scotia or other provinces). Monte Carlo techniques were used to propagate uncertainties, by sampling alternative average values for each parameter. Alternative average doses per exam were estimated for patients in each subgroup, with the total average dose per individual determined by the number of exams received. This process was repeated to produce alternative cohort vectors of average organ doses per patient. This article presents estimates of doses to lungs, female breast, active bone marrow and heart wall. Means and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of average organ doses across all 63,715 patients were 320 (160, 560) mGy to lungs, 250 (120, 450) mGy to female breast, 190 (100, 340) mGy to heart wall and 92 (47, 160) mGy to active bone marrow. Approximately 60% of all patients had average doses to the four studied organs of less than 10 mGy, 10% received between 10 and 100 mGy, 25% between 100 and 1,000 mGy, and 5% above 1,000 mGy. Pneumothorax was the medical procedure that accounted for the largest contribution to cohort average doses. The major contributors to uncertainty in estimated doses per procedure for the four organs of interest are the uncertainties in exposure duration, tube voltage, tube output, and patient orientation relative to the X-ray tube, with the uncertainty in exposure duration being most often the dominant source. Uncertainty in patient orientation was important for doses to female breast, and, to a lesser degree, for doses to heart wall. The uncertainty in number of exams was an important contributor to uncertainty for ∼30% of patients. The estimated organ doses and their uncertainties will be used for analyses of incidence and mortality of cancer and non-cancer diseases. The CFCS cohort is an important addition to existing radio-epidemiological cohorts, given the moderate-to-high doses received fractionated over several years, the type of irradiation (external irradiation only), radiation type (X rays only), a balanced combination of both genders and inclusion of people of all ages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian A. Thomas
- Oak Ridge Center for Risk Analysis, Inc., Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
| | - F. Owen Hoffman
- Oak Ridge Center for Risk Analysis, Inc., Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
| | - David C. Kocher
- Oak Ridge Center for Risk Analysis, Inc., Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
| | | | - David Borrego
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9778
| | - Choonsik Lee
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9778
| | - Steven L. Simon
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9778
| | - Lydia B. Zablotska
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143-1228
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11
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Hamada N, Azizova TV, Little MP. An update on effects of ionizing radiation exposure on the eye. Br J Radiol 2020; 93:20190829. [PMID: 31670577 PMCID: PMC8519632 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20190829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has considered for over 60 years that the lens of the eye is among the most radiosensitive tissues, and has recommended dose limits for the lens to prevent occurrence of vision impairing cataracts (VICs). Epidemiological evidence that doses much lower than previously thought produce cataracts led ICRP to recommend reducing dose threshold for VICs and reducing an occupational equivalent dose limit for the lens in 2011, when only a single threshold of 0.5 Gy was recommended. On the basis of epidemiological evidence, ICRP assumed progression of minor opacities into VICs and no dose rate effect. This contrasts with previously recommended separate thresholds for minor opacities and VICs, and for different exposure scenarios. Progression was assumed based on similar risks of cataracts and cataract surgery in Japanese atomic bomb survivors. The absence of dose rate effect derived from the observed similar thresholds for protracted exposures in Chernobyl cleanup workers and in atomic bomb survivors. Since 2011, there has been an increasing body of epidemiological evidence relating to cataracts and other ocular diseases (i.e. glaucoma and macular degeneration), particularly at low doses and low dose rates. This review paper gives an overview of the scientific basis of the 2011 ICRP recommendation, discusses the plausibility of these two assumptions in the light of emerging scientific evidence, and considers the radiosensitivity of the lens among ocular structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuyuki Hamada
- Radiation Safety Research Center, Nuclear Technology Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), 2-11-1 Iwado-kita, Komae, Tokyo 201-8511, Japan
| | - Tamara V. Azizova
- Clinical Department, Southern Urals Biophysics Institute (SUBI), Ozyorskoe Shosse 19, Ozyorsk Chelyabinsk Region, 456780, Ozersk, Russia
| | - Mark P. Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), 9609 Medical Center Drive, MSC 9778, Bethesda, MD 20892-9778, USA
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12
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Linet MS, Little MP, Kitahara CM, Cahoon EK, Doody MM, Simon SL, Alexander BH, Preston DL. Occupational radiation and haematopoietic malignancy mortality in the retrospective cohort study of US radiologic technologists, 1983-2012. Occup Environ Med 2020; 77:822-831. [PMID: 32967989 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2019-106346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate cumulative occupational radiation dose response and haematopoietic malignancy mortality risks in the US radiologic technologist cohort. METHODS Among 110 297 radiologic technologists (83 655 women, 26 642 men) who completed a baseline questionnaire sometime during 1983-1998, a retrospective cohort study was undertaken to assess cumulative, low-to-moderate occupational radiation dose and haematopoietic malignancy mortality risks during 1983-2012. Cumulative bone marrow dose (mean 8.5 mGy, range 0-430 mGy) was estimated based on 921 134 badge monitoring measurements during 1960-1997, work histories and historical data; 35.4% of estimated doses were based on badge measurements. Poisson regression was used to estimate excess relative risk of haematopoietic cancers per 100 milligray (ERR/100 mGy) bone-marrow absorbed dose, adjusting for attained age, sex and birth year. RESULTS Deaths from baseline questionnaire completion through 2012 included 133 myeloid neoplasms, 381 lymphoid neoplasms and 155 leukaemias excluding chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Based on a linear dose-response, no significant ERR/100 mGy occurred for acute myeloid leukaemia (ERR=0.0002, 95% CI <-0.02 to 0.24, p-trend>0.5, 85 cases) or leukaemia excluding CLL (ERR=0.05, 95% CI <-0.09 to 0.24, p-trend=0.21, 155 cases). No significant dose-response trends were observed overall for CLL (ERR<-0.023, 95% CI <-0.025 to 0.18, p-trend=0.45, 32 cases), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (ERR=0.03, 95% CI <-0.2 to 0.18, p-trend=0.4, 201 cases) or multiple myeloma (ERR=0.003, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.16, p-trend>0.5, 112 cases). Findings did not differ significantly by demographic factors, smoking or specific radiological procedures performed. CONCLUSION After follow-up averaging 22 years, there was little evidence of a relationship between occupational radiation exposure and myeloid or lymphoid haematopoietic neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha S Linet
- National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mark P Little
- National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Cari M Kitahara
- National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Elizabeth K Cahoon
- National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Michele M Doody
- National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Steven L Simon
- National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Bruce H Alexander
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Dale L Preston
- self-employed at Hirosoft International, Eureka, California, USA
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13
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Shallis RM, Weiss JJ, Deziel NC, Gore SD. Challenging the concept of de novo acute myeloid leukemia: Environmental and occupational leukemogens hiding in our midst. Blood Rev 2020; 47:100760. [PMID: 32988660 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2020.100760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Myeloid neoplasms like acute myeloid leukemia (AML) originate from genomic disruption, usually in a multi-step fashion. Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell acquisition of abnormalities in vital cellular processes, when coupled with intrinsic factors such as germline predisposition or extrinsic factors such as the marrow microenvironment or environmental agents, can lead to requisite pre-leukemic clonal selection, expansion and evolution. Several of these entities have been invoked as "leukemogens." The known leukemogens are numerous and are found in the therapeutic, occupational and ambient environments, however they are often difficult to implicate for individual patients. Patients treated with particular chemotherapeutic agents or radiotherapy accept a calculated risk of therapy-related AML. Occupational exposures to benzene, dioxins, formaldehyde, electromagnetic and particle radiation have been associated with an increased risk of AML. Although regulatory agencies have established acceptable exposure limits in the workplace, accidental exposures and even ambient exposures to leukemogens are possible. It is plausible that inescapable exposure to non-anthropogenic ambient leukemogens may be responsible for many cases of non-inherited de novo AML. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of leukemogens as they relate to AML, assess to what extent the term "de novo" leukemia is meaningful, and describe the potential to identify and characterize new leukemogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory M Shallis
- Section of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA.
| | - Julian J Weiss
- Section of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Nicole C Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Steven D Gore
- Section of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
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14
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Little MP, Patel A, Hamada N, Albert P. Analysis of Cataract in Relationship to Occupational Radiation Dose Accounting for Dosimetric Uncertainties in a Cohort of U.S. Radiologic Technologists. Radiat Res 2020; 194:153-161. [PMID: 32845990 PMCID: PMC10656143 DOI: 10.1667/rr15529.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Cataract is one of the major morbidities in the U.S. population and it has long been appreciated that high and acutely delivered radiation doses of 1 Gy or more can induce cataract. Some more recent studies, in particular those of the U.S. Radiologic Technologists, have suggested that cataract may be induced by much lower, chronically delivered doses of ionizing radiation. It is well recognized that dosimetric measurement error can substantially alter the shape of the radiation dose-response relationship and thus, the derived study risk estimates, and can also inflate the variance of the estimates. In the current study, we evaluate the impact of uncertainties in eye-lens absorbed doses on the estimated risk of cataract in the U.S. Radiologic Technologists' Monte Carlo Dosimetry System, using both absolute and relative risk models. Among 11,345 cases we show that the inflation in the standard error for the excess relative risk (ERR) is generally modest, at most approximately 20% of the unadjusted standard error, depending on the model used for the baseline risk. The largest adjustment results from use of relative risk models, so that the ERR/Gy and its 95% confidence intervals change from 1.085 (0.645, 1.525) to 1.085 (0.558, 1.612) after adjustment. However, the inflation in the standard error of the excess absolute risk (EAR) coefficient is generally minimal, at most approximately 0.04% of the standard error.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P. Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Bethesda, MD 20892-9778, USA
| | - Ankur Patel
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Bethesda, MD 20892-9778, USA
- Biostatistics Branch, National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Bethesda, MD 20892-9778, USA
| | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Radiation Safety Research Center, Nuclear Technology Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), 2-11-1 Iwado-kita, Komae, Tokyo 201-8511, Japan
| | - Paul Albert
- Biostatistics Branch, National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Bethesda, MD 20892-9778, USA
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15
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Velazquez-Kronen R, Gilbert ES, Linet MS, Moysich KB, Freudenheim JL, Wactawski-Wende J, Simon SL, Cahoon EK, Alexander BH, Doody MM, Kitahara CM. Lung cancer mortality associated with protracted low-dose occupational radiation exposures and smoking behaviors in U.S. radiologic technologists, 1983-2012. Int J Cancer 2020; 147:3130-3138. [PMID: 32506420 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In the Japanese atomic bomb survivors, risk of lung cancer has been shown to increase with greater acute exposure to ionizing radiation. Although similar findings have been observed in populations exposed to low-dose, protracted radiation, such studies lack information on cigarette smoking history, a potential confounder. In a cohort of 106 068 U.S. radiologic technologists, we examined the association between estimated cumulative lung absorbed dose from occupational radiation exposure and lung cancer mortality. Poisson regression models, adjusted for attained age, sex, birth cohort, pack-years smoked and years since quitting smoking, were used to calculate linear excess relative risks (ERR) per 100 mGy, using time-dependent cumulative lung absorbed dose, lagged 10 years. Mean cumulative absorbed dose to the lung was 25 mGy (range: 0-810 mGy). During the 1983 to 2012 follow-up, 1090 participants died from lung cancer. Greater occupational radiation lung dose was not associated with lung cancer mortality overall (ERR per 100 mGy: -0.02, 95% CI: <0-0.13). However, significant dose-response relationships were observed for some subgroups, which might be false-positive results given the number of statistical tests performed. As observed in other studies of radiation and smoking, the interaction between radiation and smoking appeared to be sub-multiplicative with an ERR per 100 mGy of 0.41 (95% CI: 0.01-1.15) for those who smoked <20 pack-years and -0.03 (95% CI: <0-0.15) for those who smoked ≥20 pack-years. Our study provides some evidence that greater protracted radiation exposure in the low-dose range is positively associated with lung cancer mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Velazquez-Kronen
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Ethel S Gilbert
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Martha S Linet
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Kirsten B Moysich
- Department of Cancer Prevention and Control, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Jo L Freudenheim
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Jean Wactawski-Wende
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Steven L Simon
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Elizabeth K Cahoon
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Bruce H Alexander
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Michele M Doody
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Cari M Kitahara
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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16
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Daniels RD, Kendall GM, Thierry-Chef I, Linet MS, Cullings HM. Strengths and Weaknesses of Dosimetry Used in Studies of Low-Dose Radiation Exposure and Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 2020; 2020:114-132. [PMID: 32657346 PMCID: PMC7667397 DOI: 10.1093/jncimonographs/lgaa001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A monograph systematically evaluating recent evidence on the dose-response relationship between low-dose ionizing radiation exposure and cancer risk required a critical appraisal of dosimetry methods in 26 potentially informative studies. METHODS The relevant literature included studies published in 2006-2017. Studies comprised case-control and cohort designs examining populations predominantly exposed to sparsely ionizing radiation, mostly from external sources, resulting in average doses of no more than 100 mGy. At least two dosimetrists reviewed each study and appraised the strengths and weaknesses of the dosimetry systems used, including assessment of sources and effects of dose estimation error. An overarching concern was whether dose error might cause the spurious appearance of a dose-response where none was present. RESULTS The review included 8 environmental, 4 medical, and 14 occupational studies that varied in properties relative to evaluation criteria. Treatment of dose estimation error also varied among studies, although few conducted a comprehensive evaluation. Six studies appeared to have known or suspected biases in dose estimates. The potential for these biases to cause a spurious dose-response association was constrained to three case-control studies that relied extensively on information gathered in interviews conducted after case ascertainment. CONCLUSIONS The potential for spurious dose-response associations from dose information appeared limited to case-control studies vulnerable to recall errors that may be differential by case status. Otherwise, risk estimates appeared reasonably free of a substantial bias from dose estimation error. Future studies would benefit from a comprehensive evaluation of dose estimation errors, including methods accounting for their potential effects on dose-response associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert D Daniels
- Division of Science Integration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Gerald M Kendall
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, NDPH, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Isabelle Thierry-Chef
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain
| | - Martha S Linet
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Harry M Cullings
- Department of Statistics, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima, Japan
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17
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Yeom YS, Han H, Choi C, Shin B, Kim CH, Lee C. Dose coefficients of percentile-specific computational phantoms for photon external exposures. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2020; 59:151-160. [PMID: 31679045 PMCID: PMC10757349 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-019-00818-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The use of dose coefficients (DCs) based on the reference phantoms recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) with a fixed body size may produce errors to the estimated organ/tissue doses to be used, for example, for epidemiologic studies depending on the body size of cohort members. A set of percentile-specific computational phantoms that represent 10th, 50th, and 90th percentile standing heights and body masses in adult male and female Caucasian populations were recently developed by modifying the mesh-type ICRP reference computational phantoms (MRCPs). In the present study, these percentile-specific phantoms were used to calculate a comprehensive dataset of body-size-dependent DCs for photon external exposures by performing Monte Carlo dose calculations with the Geant4 code. The dataset includes the DCs of absorbed doses for 29 individual organs/tissues from 0.01 to 104 MeV photon energy, in the antero-posterior, postero-anterior, right lateral, left lateral, rotational, and isotropic geometries. The body-size-dependent DCs were compared with the DCs of the MRCPs in the reference body size, showing that the DCs of the MRCPs are generally similar to those of the 50th percentile standing height and body mass phantoms over the entire photon energy region except for low energies (≤ 0.03 MeV); the differences are mostly less than 10%. In contrast, there are significant differences in the DCs between the MRCPs and the 10th and 90th percentile standing height and body mass phantoms (i.e., H10M10 and H90M90). At energies of less than about 10 MeV, the MRCPs tended to under- and over-estimate the organ/tissue doses of the H10M10 and H90M90 phantoms, respectively. This tendency was revised at higher energies. The DCs of the percentile-specific phantoms were also compared with the previously published values of another phantom sets with similar body sizes, showing significant differences particularly at energies below about 0.1 MeV, which is mainly due to the different locations and depths of organs/tissues between the different phantom libraries. The DCs established in the present study should be useful to improve the dosimetric accuracy in the reconstructions of organ/tissue doses for individuals in risk assessment for epidemiologic investigations taking body sizes into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeon Soo Yeom
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Haegin Han
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Korea
| | - Chansoo Choi
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Korea
| | - Bangho Shin
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Korea
| | - Chan Hyeong Kim
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Korea.
| | - Choonsik Lee
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
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18
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Little MP, Cahoon EK, Kitahara CM, Simon SL, Hamada N, Linet MS. Occupational radiation exposure and excess additive risk of cataract incidence in a cohort of US radiologic technologists. Occup Environ Med 2020; 77:1-8. [PMID: 31792080 PMCID: PMC10673645 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2019-105902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previous analyses of cataract in radiation-exposed populations have assessed relative risk; radiogenic excess additive risk (EAR), arguably of more public health importance, has not been estimated. Previous analysis of a large prospective cohort of US radiologic technologists (USRT) quantified excess relative risk of cataract in relation to occupational radiation dose. We aim to assess EARs of cataract. METHODS We estimated EARs of cataract/cataract surgery in the USRT cohort using generalised additive models in relation to occupational radiation exposure, and assessed risk modification by a priori-selected cataract risk factors (diabetes, body mass index, smoking, race, sex, birth-year, ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation exposure). RESULTS There were 11 345 cataract diagnoses and 5440 of cataract surgery during 832 462 and 888 402 person-years of follow-up, respectively. Cumulative occupational radiation exposure was associated with self-reported cataract, but not with cataract surgery, with EAR/104 person-year Gy=94 (95% CI: 47 to 143, p<0.001) and EAR/104 person-year Gy=13 (95% CI: <0 to 57, p=0.551), respectively. There was marked (p<0.001) variation of EAR by age and by diabetes status, with risk higher among persons ≥75 years and diabetics. There were indications of elevated risk among those with higher UVB radiation (p=0.045), whites (p=0.056) and among those with higher levels of cigarette smoking (p=0.062). Elevated additive risk was observed for estimated occupational radiation eye-lens doses <100 mGy (p=0.004) with no dose-response curvature (p=0.903). CONCLUSIONS The elevated additive risks associated with low-dose radiation, if confirmed elsewhere, have important public health and clinical implications for radiation workers as well as regulatory measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Elizabeth K Cahoon
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Cari M Kitahara
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Steven L Simon
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Radiation Safety Research Center, Nuclear Technology Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Martha S Linet
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Martinez Marignac V, Mondragon L, Gloria O, Cervantes L, Cantero F, Favant J. Preclinical study of genuine essiac formula: A cancer treatment eight-herbs' tea minimizes DNA insult of X-rays. CLINICAL CANCER INVESTIGATION JOURNAL 2020. [DOI: 10.4103/ccij.ccij_73_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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20
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Velazquez-Kronen R, Borrego D, Gilbert ES, Miller DL, Moysich K, Freudenheim JL, Wactawski-Wende J, Cahoon EK, Little MP, Millen AE, Balter S, Alexander BH, Simon SL, Linet MS, Kitahara CM. Cataract risk in US radiologic technologists assisting with fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures: a retrospective cohort study. Occup Environ Med 2019; 76:317-325. [PMID: 30890565 PMCID: PMC6686674 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2018-105360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess radiation exposure-related work history and risk of cataract and cataract surgery among radiologic technologists assisting with fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures (FGIP). METHODS This retrospective study included 35 751 radiologic technologists who reported being cataract-free at baseline (1994-1998) and completed a follow-up questionnaire (2013-2014). Frequencies of assisting with 21 types of FGIP and use of radiation protection equipment during five time periods (before 1970, 1970-1979, 1980-1989, 1990-1999, 2000-2009) were derived from an additional self-administered questionnaire in 2013-2014. Multivariable-adjusted relative risks (RRs) for self-reported cataract diagnosis and cataract surgery were estimated according to FGIP work history. RESULTS During follow-up, 9372 technologists reported incident physician-diagnosed cataract; 4278 of incident cases reported undergoing cataract surgery. Technologists who ever assisted with FGIP had increased risk for cataract compared with those who never assisted with FGIP (RR: 1.18, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.25). Risk increased with increasing cumulative number of FGIP; the RR for technologists who assisted with >5000 FGIP compared with those who never assisted was 1.38 (95% CI 1.24 to 1.53; p trend <0.001). These associations were more pronounced for FGIP when technologists were located ≤3 feet (≤0.9 m) from the patient compared with >3 feet (>0.9 m) (RRs for >5000 at ≤3 feet vs never FGIP were 1.48, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.74 and 1.15, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.35, respectively; pdifference=0.04). Similar risks, although not statistically significant, were observed for cataract surgery. CONCLUSION Technologists who reported assisting with FGIP, particularly high-volume FGIP within 3 feet of the patient, had increased risk of incident cataract. Additional investigation should evaluate estimated dose response and medically validated cataract type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Velazquez-Kronen
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA, 20892
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA, 14214
| | - David Borrego
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA, 20892
| | - Ethel S. Gilbert
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA, 20892
| | - Donald L. Miller
- Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA, 20993
| | - Kirsten Moysich
- Department of Cancer Prevention and Control, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA, 14263
| | - Jo L. Freudenheim
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA, 14214
| | - Jean Wactawski-Wende
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA, 14214
| | - Elizabeth K. Cahoon
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA, 20892
| | - Mark P. Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA, 20892
| | - Amy E. Millen
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA, 14214
| | - Stephen Balter
- Departments of Radiology and Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA, 10032
| | - Bruce H. Alexander
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA, 55455
| | - Steven L. Simon
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA, 20892
| | - Martha S. Linet
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA, 20892
| | - Cari M. Kitahara
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA, 20892
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Little MP, Fang M, Liu JJ, Weideman AM, Linet MS. Inflammatory disease and C-reactive protein in relation to therapeutic ionising radiation exposure in the US Radiologic Technologists. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4891. [PMID: 30894578 PMCID: PMC6426979 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41129-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammation underlies many autoimmune diseases, including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and rheumatoid arthritis, also type-2 diabetes and osteoarthritis. Associations have been suggested of high-dose ionising radiation exposure with type-2 diabetes and elevated levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of chronic inflammation. In this analysis we used a proportional hazards model to assess effects of radiotherapy on risks of subsequent inflammatory disease morbidity in 110,368 US radiologic technologists followed from a baseline survey (1983–1989/1994–1998) through 2008. We used a linear model to assess log-transformed C-reactive protein concentration following radiotherapy in 1326 technologists. Relative risk of diabetes increased following radiotherapy (p < 0.001), and there was a borderline significant increasing trend per treatment (p = 0.092). For osteoarthritis there was increased relative risk associated with prior radiotherapy on all questionnaires (p = 0.005), and a significant increasing trend per previous treatment (p = 0.024). No consistent increases were observed for other types of inflammatory disease (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis) associated with radiotherapy. There was a borderline significant (p = 0.059) increasing trend with dose for C-reactive protein with numbers of prior radiotherapy treatments. Our results suggest that radiotherapy is associated with subsequent increased risk of certain inflammatory conditions, which is reinforced by our finding of elevated levels of C-reactive protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA.
| | - Michelle Fang
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Jason J Liu
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Ann Marie Weideman
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Martha S Linet
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
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Lee WJ, Preston DL, Cha ES, Ko S, Lim H. Thyroid cancer risks among medical radiation workers in South Korea, 1996-2015. Environ Health 2019; 18:19. [PMID: 30857541 PMCID: PMC6413450 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-019-0460-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thyroid cancer rates, especially among children, are known to be increased by radiation exposure. However, little is known about the impact of chronic low-dose radiation exposure on thyroid cancer risk in adulthood. This study examined radiation effects on thyroid cancer rates as well as an overall evaluation of thyroid cancer risk among medical radiation workers. METHODS Data on all diagnostic medical radiation workers enrolled in the national dosimetry registry between 1996 and 2011 were linked with the cancer registry data through 2015. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were used to compare the observed cancer incidence rates in this population to those for the general population while internal comparisons were used to estimate relative risks (RRs) for occupational history and excess relative risks (ERRs) were used to quantify the radiation dose-response relationship. RESULTS Overall, 827 thyroid cancer cases were reported among 93,922 medical radiation workers. Thyroid cancer SIRs were significantly higher than expected for both men (SIR 1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.53 to 1.91) and women (SIR 1.18, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.28). However, RRs for thyroid cancer by job title and duration of employment showed no particular pattern among diagnostic medical radiation workers. There were no indications of a significant dose effect on thyroid cancer rates for either men (ERR/100 mGy 0.07, 95% CI -0.38 to 0.53) or women (ERR/100 mGy -0.13, 95% CI -0.49 to 0.23). The findings were similar for different job titles or when limited to workers employed for at least one year. CONCLUSIONS While thyroid cancer incidence rates among Korean medical radiation workers were somewhat higher than those in the general population, there was no significant evidence that this increase was associated with occupational radiation dose. Additional follow-up together with consideration of other risk factors should provide useful information on thyroid cancer rates in this cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Jin Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, 73, Goryeodae-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea.
| | | | - Eun Shil Cha
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, 73, Goryeodae-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Seulki Ko
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, 73, Goryeodae-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Hyeyeun Lim
- Environmental Health Center, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
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Hamada N, Azizova TV, Little MP. Glaucomagenesis following ionizing radiation exposure. MUTATION RESEARCH. REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH 2019; 779:36-44. [PMID: 31097150 PMCID: PMC10654893 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2019.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma is a group of optic neuropathies causing optic nerve damage and visual field defects, and is one of the leading causes of blindness. Nearly a century has passed since the first report of glaucoma manifested following ionizing radiation therapy of cancers. Nevertheless, associations between glaucoma and radiation exposures, a dose response relationship, and the mechanistic underpinnings remain incompletely understood. Here we review the current knowledge on manifestations and mechanisms of radiogenic glaucoma. There is some evidence that neovascular glaucoma is manifest relatively quickly, within a few years after high-dose and high dose-rate radiotherapeutic exposure, but little evidence of excess risks of glaucoma after exposure to much lower doses or dose rates. As such, glaucoma appears to have some of the characteristics of a tissue reaction effect, with a threshold of at least 5 Gy but possibly much higher.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuyuki Hamada
- Radiation Safety Research Center, Nuclear Technology Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), 2-11-1 Iwado-kita, Komae, Tokyo, 201-8511, Japan.
| | - Tamara V Azizova
- Clinical Department, Southern Urals Biophysics Institute, Ozyorskoe Shosse 19, Ozyorsk Chelyabinsk Region, 456780, Russia.
| | - Mark P Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Drive, MSC 9778, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA.
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Cataractogenic load – A concept to study the contribution of ionizing radiation to accelerated aging in the eye lens. MUTATION RESEARCH-REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH 2019; 779:68-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2018] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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25
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Chang LA, Borrego D, Lee C. Body-weight dependent dose coefficients for adults exposed to idealised external photon fields. JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION 2018; 38:1441-1453. [PMID: 30375363 PMCID: PMC6376489 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/aae66e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
In epidemiological investigations of cancer risk from occupational exposure, it is important to obtain an organ-specific dose for each cohort member for accurate risk analysis. To date, dose conversion coefficients, which convert physical dose measurement to organ dose, are only available for individuals with reference body size, which can differentially bias the estimated organ dose depending on the body mass index of cohort members. In the current study, we calculated the organ dose coefficients applicable to adult males and females with various body weights by using the Monte Carlo radiation transport technique combined with a library of body size-dependent hybrid computational phantoms exposed in six idealised irradiation geometries. We adapted the eight adult male phantoms, 175 cm tall with weights of 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130 kg, and the nine adult female phantoms, 165 cm tall with weights of 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130 kg. The radiation transport was simulated using MCNPX 2.7 Monte Carlo code. Phantoms were irradiated by external photon fields in anterior posterior (AP), posterior-anterior, right and left lateral, rotational, and isotropic geometries. The results showed that the 60 kg adult male phantom shows 1.33-, 1.43-, 1.44- and 1.52-fold greater dose coefficients for the lungs, heart, stomach, and liver, respectively, than the 120 kg adult male phantom at 0.1 MeV in AP geometry. We derived exponential correlation between organ dose coefficients and body weight to facilitate calculation of organ dose coefficients for a given weight. The comprehensive organ dose coefficients and exponential regression model can be used to estimate more accurate organ dose for individuals of the two genders with various body weights exposed to external photon radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lienard A. Chang
- Department of Radiation Safety and Imaging Physics, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - David Borrego
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Choonsik Lee
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
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26
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Little MP, Kitahara CM, Cahoon EK, Bernier MO, Velazquez-Kronen R, Doody MM, Borrego D, Miller JS, Alexander BH, Simon SL, Preston DL, Hamada N, Linet MS, Meyer C. Occupational radiation exposure and risk of cataract incidence in a cohort of US radiologic technologists. Eur J Epidemiol 2018; 33:1179-1191. [PMID: 30151727 PMCID: PMC10645574 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-018-0435-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
It has long been known that relatively high-dose ionising radiation exposure (> 1 Gy) can induce cataract, but there has been no evidence that this occurs at low doses (< 100 mGy). To assess low-dose risk, participants from the US Radiologic Technologists Study, a large, prospective cohort, were followed from date of mailed questionnaire survey completed during 1994-1998 to the earliest of self-reported diagnosis of cataract/cataract surgery, cancer other than non-melanoma skin, or date of last survey (up to end 2014). Cox proportional hazards models with age as timescale were used, adjusted for a priori selected cataract risk factors (diabetes, body mass index, smoking history, race, sex, birth year, cumulative UVB radiant exposure). 12,336 out of 67,246 eligible technologists reported a history of diagnosis of cataract during 832,479 person years of follow-up, and 5509 from 67,709 eligible technologists reported undergoing cataract surgery with 888,420 person years of follow-up. The mean cumulative estimated 5-year lagged eye-lens absorbed dose from occupational radiation exposures was 55.7 mGy (interquartile range 23.6-69.0 mGy). Five-year lagged occupational radiation exposure was strongly associated with self-reported cataract, with an excess hazard ratio/mGy of 0.69 × 10-3 (95% CI 0.27 × 10-3 to 1.16 × 10-3, p < 0.001). Cataract risk remained statistically significant (p = 0.030) when analysis was restricted to < 100 mGy cumulative occupational radiation exposure to the eye lens. A non-significantly increased excess hazard ratio/mGy of 0.34 × 10-3 (95% CI - 0.19 × 10-3 to 0.97 × 10-3, p = 0.221) was observed for cataract surgery. Our results suggest that there is excess risk for cataract associated with radiation exposure from low-dose and low dose-rate occupational exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA.
| | - Cari M Kitahara
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Elizabeth K Cahoon
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Marie-Odile Bernier
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
- Laboratory of Epidemiology, Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Raquel Velazquez-Kronen
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Michele M Doody
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - David Borrego
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Jeremy S Miller
- Information Management Services, Silver Spring, MD, 20904, USA
| | - Bruce H Alexander
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55409, USA
| | - Steven L Simon
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | | | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Radiation Safety Research Center, Nuclear Technology Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), 2-11-1 Iwado-kita, Komae, Tokyo, 201-8511, Japan
| | - Martha S Linet
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Craig Meyer
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55409, USA
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Little MP, Tatalovich Z, Linet MS, Fang M, Kendall GM, Kimlin MG. Improving Assessment of Lifetime Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure in Epidemiologic Studies: Comparison of Ultraviolet Exposure Assessment Methods in a Nationwide U.S. Occupational Cohort. Photochem Photobiol 2018; 94:1297-1307. [PMID: 29896764 DOI: 10.1111/php.12964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Solar ultraviolet radiation is the primary risk factor for skin cancers and sun-related eye disorders. Estimates of individual ambient ultraviolet irradiance derived from ground-based solar measurements and from satellite measurements have rarely been compared. Using self-reported residential history from 67 189 persons in a nationwide occupational US radiologic technologists' cohort, we estimated ambient solar irradiance using data from ground-based meters and noontime satellite measurements. The mean distance moved from city of longest residence in childhood increased from 137.6 km at ages 13-19 to 870.3 km at ages ≥65, with corresponding increases in absolute latitude difference moved. At ages 20/40/60/80, the Pearson/Spearman correlation coefficients of ground-based and satellite-derived potential solar ultraviolet exposure, using irradiance and cumulative radiant exposure metrics, were high (=0.87-0.92). There was also moderate correlation (Pearson/Spearman correlation coefficients = 0.51-0.60) between irradiance at birth and at last-known address, for ground-based and satellite data. Satellite-based lifetime estimates of ultraviolet radiation were generally 14-15% lower than ground-based estimates, albeit with substantial uncertainties, possibly because ground-based estimates incorporate fluctuations in cloud and ozone, which are incompletely incorporated in the single noontime satellite-overpass ultraviolet value. If confirmed elsewhere, the findings suggest that ground-based estimates may improve exposure assessment accuracy and potentially provide new insights into ultraviolet radiation-disease relationships in epidemiologic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD
| | - Zaria Tatalovich
- Surveillance Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD
| | - Martha S Linet
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD
| | - Michelle Fang
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD
| | | | - Michael G Kimlin
- NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Sun and Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Qld, Australia
- Cancer Council Queensland, Qld, Australia
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Kitahara CM, Preston DL, Neta G, Little MP, Doody MM, Simon SL, Sigurdson AJ, Alexander BH, Linet MS. Occupational radiation exposure and thyroid cancer incidence in a cohort of U.S. radiologic technologists, 1983-2013. Int J Cancer 2018. [DOI: org/10.1002/ijc.31270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Cari M. Kitahara
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Radiation Epidemiology Branch; National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda MD
| | | | - Gila Neta
- Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Implementation Science; National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda MD
| | - Mark P. Little
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Radiation Epidemiology Branch; National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda MD
| | - Michele M. Doody
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Radiation Epidemiology Branch; National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda MD
| | - Steven L. Simon
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Radiation Epidemiology Branch; National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda MD
| | - Alice J. Sigurdson
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Radiation Epidemiology Branch; National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda MD
| | - Bruce H. Alexander
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health; University of Minnesota; Minneapolis MN
| | - Martha S. Linet
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Radiation Epidemiology Branch; National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda MD
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Villoing D, Kitahara CM, Passmore C, Simon SL, Yoder RC. Photon energy readings in OSL dosimeter filters: an application to retrospective dose estimation for nuclear medicine workers. JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION 2018; 38:1053-1063. [PMID: 29916399 PMCID: PMC6169304 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/aacd64] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This work investigates the applicability of using data from personal monitoring dosimeters to assess photon energies to which medical workers were exposed. Such determinations would be important for retrospective assessments of organ doses to be used in occupational radiation epidemiology studies, particularly in the absence of work history or other information regarding the energy of the radiation source. Monthly personal dose equivalents and filter ratios under two different metallic filters contained in the Luxel+® dosimeter were collected from Landauer, Inc. from 19 nuclear medicine (NM) technologists employed by three medical institutions, the institution A only performing traditional NM imaging (primarily using 99m Tc) and institutions B and C also performing positron emission tomography (PET, using 18F). Calibration data of the Luxel+® dosimeter for various xray spectra were used to establish ranges of filter ratios from 1.1 to 1.6 for 99m Tc and below 1.1 for 18F. Median filter ratios were 1.33 (Interquartile range (IQR), 0.15) for institution A, 1.08 (IQR, 0.16) for institution B, and 1.08 (IQR, 0.14) for institution C. The distributions of these filter ratios were statistically-significantly different between the institution A only performing traditional NM imaging and institutions B and C also performing PET imaging. In this proof-of-concept study, filter ratios from personal monitoring dosimeters were used to assess differences in photon energies to which NM technologists were exposed. Dosimeters from technologists only performing traditional NM procedures mostly showed Al/Cu filter ratios above 1.2, those likely performing only PET in a particular month had filter ratios below 1.1, and those which showed filter ratios between 1.1 and 1.2 likely came from technologists rotating between traditional NM and PET imaging in the same month. These results suggest that it is possible to distinguish technologists who only worked with higher-energy procedures versus those who only worked with other types of NM procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphnée Villoing
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, United States of America
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Bernier MO, Doody MM, Van Dyke ME, Villoing D, Alexander BH, Linet MS, Kitahara CM. Work history and radioprotection practices in relation to cancer incidence and mortality in US radiologic technologists performing nuclear medicine procedures. Occup Environ Med 2018; 75:533-561. [PMID: 29720482 PMCID: PMC6051924 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2017-104559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Technologists working in nuclear medicine (NM) are exposed to higher radiation doses than most other occupationally exposed populations. The aim of this study was to estimate the risk of cancer in NM technologists in relation to work history, procedures performed and radioprotection practices. METHODS From the US Radiologic Technologists cohort study, 72 755 radiologic technologists who completed a 2003-2005 questionnaire were followed for cancer mortality through 31 December 2012 and for cancer incidence through completion of a questionnaire in 2012-2013. Multivariable-adjusted models were used to estimate HRs for total cancer incidence and mortality by history of ever performing NM procedures and frequency of performing specific diagnostic or therapeutic NM procedures and associated radiation protection measures by decade. RESULTS During follow-up (mean=7.5 years), 960 incident cancers and 425 cancer deaths were reported among the 22 360 technologists who worked with NM procedures. We observed no increased risk of cancer incidence (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.04) or death (HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.19) among workers who ever performed NM procedures. HRs for cancer incidence but not mortality were higher for technologists who began performing therapeutic procedures in 1960 and later compared with the 1950s. Frequency of performing diagnostic or therapeutic NM procedures and use of radioprotection measures were not consistently associated with cancer risk. No clear associations were observed for specific cancers, but results were based on small numbers. CONCLUSION Cancer incidence and mortality were not associated with NM work history practices, including greater frequency of procedures performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Odile Bernier
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Michele M. Doody
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | | | - Daphnee Villoing
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Bruce H. Alexander
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Martha S. Linet
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Cari M. Kitahara
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
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Little MP, Kitahara CM, Cahoon EK, Bernier MO, Velazquez-Kronen R, Doody MM, Borrego D, Miller JS, Alexander BH, Simon SL, Preston DL, Meyer C, Linet MS, Hamada N. Occupational radiation exposure and glaucoma and macular degeneration in the US radiologic technologists. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10481. [PMID: 29992993 PMCID: PMC6041262 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28620-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
There are well-documented associations of glaucoma with high-dose radiation exposure, but only a single study suggesting risk of glaucoma, and less conclusively macular degeneration, associated with moderate-dose exposure. We assessed risk of glaucoma and macular degeneration associated with occupational eye-lens radiation dose, using participants from the US Radiologic Technologists Study, followed from the date of surveys in 1994-1998, 2003-2005 to the earliest of diagnosis of glaucoma or macular degeneration, cancer other than non-melanoma skin cancer, or date of last survey (2012-2014). We excluded those with baseline disease or previous radiotherapy history. Cox proportional hazards models with age as timescale were used. There were 1631 cases of newly self-reported doctor-diagnosed cases of glaucoma and 1331 of macular degeneration among 69,568 and 69,969 eligible subjects, respectively. Estimated mean cumulative eye-lens absorbed dose from occupational radiation exposures was 0.058 Gy. The excess relative risk/Gy for glaucoma was -0.57 (95% CI -1.46, 0.60, p = 0.304) and for macular degeneration was 0.32 (95% CI -0.32, 1.27, p = 0.381), suggesting that there is no appreciable risk for either endpoint associated with low-dose and low dose-rate radiation exposure. Since this is the first examination of glaucoma and macular degeneration associated with low-dose radiation exposure, this result needs to be replicated in other low-dose studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-9778, USA.
| | - Cari M Kitahara
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Elizabeth K Cahoon
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Marie-Odile Bernier
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-9778, USA
- Laboratory of Epidemiology, Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Raquel Velazquez-Kronen
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Michele M Doody
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-9778, USA
| | - David Borrego
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Jeremy S Miller
- Information Management Services, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20904, USA
| | - Bruce H Alexander
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55409, USA
| | - Steven L Simon
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-9778, USA
| | | | - Craig Meyer
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55409, USA
| | - Martha S Linet
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Radiation Safety Research Center, Nuclear Technology Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), 2-11-1 Iwado-kita, Komae, Tokyo, 201-8511, Japan
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Choi Y, Shil Cha E, Jin Bang Y, Ko S, Ha M, Lee C, Jin Lee W. ESTIMATION OF ORGAN DOSES AMONG DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL RADIATION WORKERS IN SOUTH KOREA. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2018; 179:142-150. [PMID: 29106680 PMCID: PMC6257005 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncx239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to estimate the radiation organ doses from occupational exposure in 94 396 Korean medical radiation workers. Data on badge doses (i.e. personal dose equivalent at 10 mm) between 1996 and 2011 obtained from a national dosimetry registry, survey data from 2012 to 2013, and organ dose conversion coefficients provided by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) were used for the estimation. The highest mean cumulative badge doses (26.87 mSv) were observed in radiologists, followed by radiologic technologists (15.96 mSv). Male workers exhibited higher mean cumulative badge doses, across occupational groups. The estimated organ doses showed similar trends with those of badge doses. Organs located outside the apron's coverage such as the thyroid showed higher mean organ doses than those protected by the apron. Our findings could contribute to future radiation epidemiologic studies to investigate health effects from occupational radiation exposure in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeongchull Choi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine,
Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun Shil Cha
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine,
Seoul, Korea
| | - Ye Jin Bang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine,
Seoul, Korea
| | - Seulki Ko
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine,
Seoul, Korea
| | - Mina Ha
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine,
Cheonan, Korea
| | - Choonsik Lee
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute,
National Institutes of Health, Shady Grove, MD, USA
| | - Won Jin Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine,
Seoul, Korea
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Seo S, Lim WY, Lee DN, Kim JU, Cha ES, Bang YJ, Lee WJ, Park S, Jin YW. Assessing the health effects associated with occupational radiation exposure in Korean radiation workers: protocol for a prospective cohort study. BMJ Open 2018; 8:e017359. [PMID: 29602835 PMCID: PMC5884371 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The cancer risk of radiation exposure in the moderate-to-high dose range has been well established. However, the risk remains unclear at low-dose ranges with protracted low-dose rate exposure, which is typical of occupational exposure. Several epidemiological studies of Korean radiation workers have been conducted, but the data were analysed retrospectively in most cases. Moreover, groups with relatively high exposure, such as industrial radiographers, have been neglected. Therefore, we have launched a prospective cohort study of all Korean radiation workers to assess the health effects associated with occupational radiation exposure. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Approximately 42 000 Korean radiation workers registered with the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission from 2016 to 2017 are the initial target population of this study. Cohort participants are to be enrolled through a nationwide self-administered questionnaire survey between 24 May 2016 and 30 June 2017. As of 31 March 2017, 22 982 workers are enrolled in the study corresponding to a response rate of 75%. This enrolment will be continued at 5-year intervals to update information on existing study participants and recruit newly hired workers. Survey data will be linked with the national dose registry, the national cancer registry, the national vital statistics registry and national health insurance data via personal identification numbers. Age-specific and sex-specific standardised incidence and mortality ratios will be calculated for overall comparisons of cancer risk. For dose-response assessment, excess relative risk (per Gy) and excess absolute risk (per Gy) will be estimated with adjustments for birth year and potential confounders, such as lifestyle factors and socioeconomic status. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This study has received ethical approval from the institutional review board of the Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (IRB No. K-1603-002-034). All participants provided written informed consent prior to enrolment. The findings of the study will be disseminated through scientific peer-reviewed journals and be provided to the public, including radiation workers, via the study website (http://www.rhs.kr/) and onsite radiation safety education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songwon Seo
- Laboratory of Low Dose Risk Assessment, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Nowon-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Wan Young Lim
- Laboratory of Low Dose Risk Assessment, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Nowon-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dal Nim Lee
- Laboratory of Low Dose Risk Assessment, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Nowon-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jung Un Kim
- Laboratory of Low Dose Risk Assessment, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Nowon-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun Shil Cha
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ye Jin Bang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Won Jin Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sunhoo Park
- Laboratory of Low Dose Risk Assessment, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Nowon-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young Woo Jin
- Laboratory of Low Dose Risk Assessment, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Nowon-gu, Seoul, Korea
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Kitahara CM, Preston DL, Neta G, Little MP, Doody MM, Simon SL, Sigurdson AJ, Alexander BH, Linet MS. Occupational radiation exposure and thyroid cancer incidence in a cohort of U.S. radiologic technologists, 1983-2013. Int J Cancer 2018; 143:2145-2149. [PMID: 29355960 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.31270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Although childhood exposure to ionizing radiation is a well-established risk factor for thyroid cancer, the risk associated with adulthood exposure remains unclear. We prospectively examined the association between cumulative, low-to-moderate dose occupational radiation exposure to the thyroid and thyroid cancer incidence in the U.S. Radiologic Technologists cohort. The study included 89,897 members who completed at least two of four mailed questionnaires and were cancer-free at the time of the first questionnaire. Cumulative occupational thyroid radiation dose (mean = 57 mGy, range = 0-1,600 mGy) was estimated based on self-reported work histories, historical data and, during the years 1960-1997, 783,000 individual film badge measurements. During follow-up, we identified 476 thyroid cancer cases. We used Poisson regression to estimate excess relative risk of thyroid cancer per 100 milliGray (ERR/100 mGy) absorbed dose to the thyroid gland. After adjusting for attained age, sex, birth year, body mass index and pack-years smoked, we found no association between thyroid dose and thyroid cancer risk (ERR/100 mGy = -0.05, 95% CI <-0.10, 0.34). In this large cohort study of radiologic technologists, protracted, low-to-moderate dose ionizing radiation exposure to the thyroid gland in adulthood was not associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cari M Kitahara
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | | | - Gila Neta
- Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Implementation Science, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Mark P Little
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Michele M Doody
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Steven L Simon
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Alice J Sigurdson
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Bruce H Alexander
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Martha S Linet
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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Bernier MO, Journy N, Villoing D, Doody MM, Alexander BH, Linet MS, Kitahara CM. Cataract Risk in a Cohort of U.S. Radiologic Technologists Performing Nuclear Medicine Procedures. Radiology 2018; 286:592-601. [PMID: 29019450 PMCID: PMC5790300 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2017170683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Purpose To estimate the risk of cataract in a cohort of nuclear medicine (NM) radiologic technologists on the basis of their work histories and radiation protection practices. Materials and Methods In the years 2003-2005 and 2012-2013, 42 545 radiologic technologists from a U.S. prospective study completed questionnaires in which they provided information regarding their work histories and cataract histories. Cox proportional hazards models, stratified according to birth-year cohort (born before 1940 or born in 1940 or later) and adjusted for age, sex, and race, were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for the risk of cataract in radiologic technologists according to NM work history practices according to decade. Results During the follow-up period (mean follow-up, 7½ years), 7137 incident cataracts were reported. A significantly increased risk of cataract (HR, 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03, 1.14) was observed among workers who performed an NM procedure at least once-as opposed to never. Risks of cataract were increased in the group who had performed a diagnostic (HR, 1.07; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.12) or therapeutic (HR, 1.10; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.17) NM procedure. Risks were higher for those who had first performed diagnostic NM procedures in the 1980s to early 2000s (HR, 1.30; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.58) and those who had performed therapeutic NM procedures in the 1970s (HR, 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.23) and in the 1980s to early 2000s (HR, 1.14; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.29). With the exception of a significantly increased risk associated with performing therapeutic NM procedures without shielding the radiation source in the 1980s (HR, 1.32; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.67), analyses revealed no association between cataract risk and specific radiation protection technique used. Conclusion An increased risk of cataract was observed among U.S. radiologic technologists who had performed an NM procedure at least once. This association should be examined in future studies incorporating estimated lens doses. © RSNA, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Odile Bernier
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (M.O.B., N.J., D.V., M.M.D., M.S.L., C.M.K.); Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France (M.O.B.); and Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (B.H.A.)
| | - Neige Journy
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (M.O.B., N.J., D.V., M.M.D., M.S.L., C.M.K.); Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France (M.O.B.); and Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (B.H.A.)
| | - Daphnee Villoing
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (M.O.B., N.J., D.V., M.M.D., M.S.L., C.M.K.); Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France (M.O.B.); and Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (B.H.A.)
| | - Michele M. Doody
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (M.O.B., N.J., D.V., M.M.D., M.S.L., C.M.K.); Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France (M.O.B.); and Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (B.H.A.)
| | - Bruce H. Alexander
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (M.O.B., N.J., D.V., M.M.D., M.S.L., C.M.K.); Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France (M.O.B.); and Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (B.H.A.)
| | - Martha S. Linet
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (M.O.B., N.J., D.V., M.M.D., M.S.L., C.M.K.); Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France (M.O.B.); and Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (B.H.A.)
| | - Cari M. Kitahara
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (M.O.B., N.J., D.V., M.M.D., M.S.L., C.M.K.); Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France (M.O.B.); and Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (B.H.A.)
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Villoing D, Yoder RC, Passmore C, Bernier MO, Kitahara CM. A U.S. Multicenter Study of Recorded Occupational Radiation Badge Doses in Nuclear Medicine. Radiology 2018; 287:676-682. [PMID: 29390195 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2018171138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Purpose To summarize occupational badge doses recorded for a sample of U.S. nuclear medicine technologists. Materials and Methods Nine large U.S. medical institutions identified 208 former and current nuclear medicine technologists certified after 1979 and linked these individuals to historic badge dose records maintained by a commercial dosimetry company (Landauer), yielding a total of 2618 annual dose records. The distributions of annual and cumulative occupational doses were described by using summary statistics. Results Between 1992 and 2015, the median annual personal dose equivalent per nuclear medicine technologist was 2.18 mSv (interquartile range [IQR], 1.25-3.47 mSv; mean, 2.69 mSv). Median annual personal dose equivalents remained relatively constant over this period (range, 1.40-3.30 mSv), while maximum values generally increased over time (from 8.00 mSv in 1992 to 13.9 mSv in 2015). The median cumulative personal dose equivalent was 32.9 mSv (IQR, 18.1-65.5 mSv; mean, 51.4 mSv) for 45 technologists who had complete information and remained employed through 2015. Conclusion Occupational radiation doses were well below the established occupational limits and were consistent with those observed for nuclear medicine technologists worldwide and were greater than those observed for nuclear and general medical workers in the United States These results should be informative for radiation monitoring and safety efforts in nuclear medicine departments. © RSNA, 2018 Online supplemental material is available for this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphnée Villoing
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (D.V., C.M.K.); Weddington, NC (R.C.Y.); Landauer, Glenwood, Ill (C.P.); and Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France (M.O.B.)
| | - R Craig Yoder
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (D.V., C.M.K.); Weddington, NC (R.C.Y.); Landauer, Glenwood, Ill (C.P.); and Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France (M.O.B.)
| | - Christopher Passmore
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (D.V., C.M.K.); Weddington, NC (R.C.Y.); Landauer, Glenwood, Ill (C.P.); and Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France (M.O.B.)
| | - Marie-Odile Bernier
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (D.V., C.M.K.); Weddington, NC (R.C.Y.); Landauer, Glenwood, Ill (C.P.); and Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France (M.O.B.)
| | - Cari M Kitahara
- From the Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 (D.V., C.M.K.); Weddington, NC (R.C.Y.); Landauer, Glenwood, Ill (C.P.); and Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France (M.O.B.)
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Chang LA, Miller DL, Lee C, Melo DR, Villoing D, Drozdovitch V, Thierry-Chef I, Winters SJ, Labrake M, Myers CF, Lim H, Kitahara CM, Linet MS, Simon SL. Thyroid Radiation Dose to Patients from Diagnostic Radiology Procedures over Eight Decades: 1930-2010. HEALTH PHYSICS 2017; 113:458-473. [PMID: 28968349 PMCID: PMC5677542 DOI: 10.1097/hp.0000000000000723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This study summarizes and compares estimates of radiation absorbed dose to the thyroid gland for typical patients who underwent diagnostic radiology examinations in the years from 1930 to 2010. The authors estimated the thyroid dose for common examinations, including radiography, mammography, dental radiography, fluoroscopy, nuclear medicine, and computed tomography (CT). For the most part, a clear downward trend in thyroid dose over time for each procedure was observed. Historically, the highest thyroid doses came from the nuclear medicine thyroid scans in the 1960s (630 mGy), full-mouth series dental radiography (390 mGy) in the early years of the use of x rays in dentistry (1930s), and the barium swallow (esophagram) fluoroscopic exam also in the 1930s (140 mGy). Thyroid uptake nuclear medicine examinations and pancreatic scans also gave relatively high doses to the thyroid (64 mGy and 21 mGy, respectively, in the 1960s). In the 21st century, the highest thyroid doses still result from nuclear medicine thyroid scans (130 mGy), but high thyroid doses are also associated with chest/abdomen/pelvis CT scans (18 and 19 mGy for males and females, respectively). Thyroid doses from CT scans did not exhibit the same downward trend as observed for other examinations. The largest thyroid doses from conventional radiography came from cervical spine and skull examinations. Thyroid doses from mammography (which began in the 1960s) were generally a fraction of 1 mGy. The highest average doses to the thyroid from mammography were about 0.42 mGy, with modestly larger doses associated with imaging of breasts with large compressed thicknesses. Thyroid doses from dental radiographic procedures have decreased markedly throughout the decades, from an average of 390 mGy for a full-mouth series in the 1930s to an average of 0.31 mGy today. Upper GI series fluoroscopy examinations resulted in up to two orders of magnitude lower thyroid doses than the barium swallow. There are considerable uncertainties associated with the presented doses, particularly for characterizing exposures of individual identified patients. Nonetheless, the tabulations provide the only comprehensive report on the estimation of typical radiation doses to the thyroid gland from medical diagnostic procedures over eight decades (1930-2010). These data can serve as a resource for epidemiologic studies that evaluate the late health effects of radiation exposure associated with diagnostic radiologic examinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lienard A Chang
- *Radiation Epidemiology Branch (REB)/Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG)/National Cancer Institute (NCI)/National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD. Now at Department of Radiation Safety and Imaging Physics/Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX; †Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD; ‡REB/DCEG/NCI/NIH, Bethesda, MD; §International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Ionizing radiation poses important health risks. The per capita annual dose rate has increased in the United States and there is increasing concern for the risks posed by low-dose occupational exposure among workers in nuclear industries and healthcare. Recent nuclear accidents and concern for terrorism have heightened concern for catastrophic, high-dose ionizing radiation exposure. This review will highlight recent research into the risks to lung health posed by ionizing radiation exposure and into potential treatments. RECENT FINDINGS Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and some antioxidants have shown promise as mitigators, to decrease pneumonitis and fibrosis when given after exposure. Studies of survivors of nuclear catastrophes have shown increased risk for lung cancer, especially in nonsmokers. There is evidence for increased lung cancer risk in industrial radiation workers, especially those who process plutonium and may inhale radioactive particles. There does not seem to be an increased risk of lung cancer in healthcare workers who perform fluoroscopic procedures. SUMMARY High-dose ionizing radiation exposure causes pneumonitis and fibrosis, and more research is needed to develop mitigators to improve outcomes in nuclear catastrophes. Long-term, low-dose occupational radiation may increase lung cancer risk. More research to better define this risk could lead to improved safety protocols and screening programs.
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Journy NM, Bernier MO, Doody MM, Alexander BH, Linet MS, Kitahara CM. Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, and Cause-Specific Mortality in a Large Cohort of Women. Thyroid 2017; 27:1001-1010. [PMID: 28578598 PMCID: PMC5564026 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2017.0063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism is 0.5-4% in iodine-replete communities, but it is 5-10 times higher in women than in men. Those conditions are associated with a broad range of metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases. Biological evidence of a role of thyroid hormones in carcinogenesis also exists. However, the association between thyroid dysfunction and cardiovascular disease or cancer mortality risk remains controversial. In a large cohort of women, the associations of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism with cause-specific mortality were evaluated after nearly 30 years of follow-up. METHODS The prospective study included 75,076 women aged 20-89 years who were certified as radiologic technologists in the United States in 1926-1982, completed baseline questionnaires in 1983-1998 from which medical history was ascertained, and reported no malignant disease or benign thyroid disease except thyroid dysfunction. A passive follow-up of this cohort was performed through the Social Security Administration database and the National Death Index-Plus. Cause-specific mortality risks were compared according to self-reported thyroid status, with proportional hazards models adjusted for baseline year and age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, family history of breast cancer, and life-style and reproductive factors. RESULTS During a median follow-up of 28 years, 2609 cancer, 1789 cardiovascular or cerebrovascular, and 2442 other non-cancer deaths were recorded. Women with hyperthyroidism had an elevated risk of breast cancer mortality after 60 years of age (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.04 [confidence interval (CI) 1.16-3.60], 13 cases in hyperthyroid women) compared to women without thyroid disease. Hypothyroid women had increased mortality risks for diabetes mellitus (HR = 1.58 [CI 1.03-2.41], 27 cases in hypothyroid women), cardiovascular disease (HR = 1.20 [CI 1.01-1.42], 179 cases), and cerebrovascular disease (HR = 1.45 [CI 1.01-2.08], 35 cases, when restricting the follow-up to ≥10 years after baseline). Other causes of death were not associated with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, though there was a suggestion of an elevated risk of ovarian cancer mortality in hyperthyroid women based on very few cases. CONCLUSION The excess mortality risks observed in a large, prospective 30-year follow-up of patients with thyroid dysfunction require confirmation, and, if replicated, further investigation will be needed because of the clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neige M.Y. Journy
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Marie-Odile Bernier
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
- Laboratoire d'épidémiologie des rayonnements ionisants, Service de Radiobiologie et d'Epidémiologie, Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Michele M. Doody
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Bruce H. Alexander
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Martha S. Linet
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Cari M. Kitahara
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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Till JE, Beck HL, Grogan HA, Caffrey EA. A review of dosimetry used in epidemiological studies considered to evaluate the linear no-threshold (LNT) dose-response model for radiation protection. Int J Radiat Biol 2017; 93:1128-1144. [DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2017.1337280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Occupational Radiation Exposure and Deaths From Malignant Intracranial Neoplasms of the Brain and CNS in U.S. Radiologic Technologists, 1983-2012. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2017; 208:1278-1284. [PMID: 28350475 DOI: 10.2214/ajr.16.16964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Childhood exposure to acute, high-dose radiation has consistently been associated with risk of benign and malignant intracranial tumors of the brain and CNS, but data on risks of adulthood exposure to protracted, low-to-moderate doses of radiation are limited. In a large cohort of radiologic technologists, we quantified the association between protracted, low-to-moderate doses of radiation and malignant intracranial tumor mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study population included 83,655 female and 26,642 male U.S. radiologic technologists who were certified for at least 2 years as of 1982. The cohort was followed from the completion date of the first or second survey (1983-1989 or 1994-1998) to the date of death, loss to follow-up, or December 31, 2012, whichever was earliest. Occupational brain doses through 1997 were based on work history, historical data, and, for most years after the mid 1970s, individual film badge measurements. Radiation-related excess relative risks (ERRs) and 95% CIs were estimated from Poisson regression models adjusted for attained age and sex. RESULTS Cumulative mean absorbed brain dose was 12 mGy (range, 0-290 mGy). During follow-up (median, 26.7 years), 193 technologists died of a malignant intracranial neoplasm. Based on models incorporating a 5-year lagged cumulative brain dose, cumulative brain dose was not associated with malignant intracranial tumor mortality (overall ERR per 100 mGy, 0.1; 95% CI, < -0.3 to 1.5). No effect modification was observed by sex or birth cohort. CONCLUSION In this nationwide cohort of radiologic technologists, cumulative occupational radiation exposure to the brain was not associated with malignant intracranial tumor mortality.
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Harbron R. What do recent epidemiological studies tell us about the risk of cancer from radiation doses typical of diagnostic radiography? Radiography (Lond) 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radi.2016.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Breast cancer risk and protracted low-to-moderate dose occupational radiation exposure in the US Radiologic Technologists Cohort, 1983-2008. Br J Cancer 2016; 115:1105-1112. [PMID: 27623235 PMCID: PMC5117787 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2016.292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Revised: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Although high-dose ionising radiation is associated with increased breast cancer risks, the association with protracted low-dose-rate exposures remains unclear. The US Radiologic Technologist study provides an opportunity to examine the association between low-to-moderate dose radiation and breast cancer incidence and mortality. Methods: One thousand nine hundred and twenty-two self-reported first primary cancers were diagnosed during 1983–2005 among 66 915 female technologists, and 586 breast cancer deaths occurred during 1983–2008 among 83 538 female cohort members. Occupational breast dose estimates were based on work histories, historical data, and, after the mid-1970s, individual film badge measurements. Excess relative risks were estimated using Poisson regression with birth cohort stratification and adjustment for menopause, reproductive history, and other risk factors. Results: Higher doses were associated with increased breast cancer incidence, with an excess relative risk at 100 mGy of 0.07 (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.005 to 0.19). Associations were strongest for technologists born before 1930 (excess relative risk at 100 mGy=0.16; 95% CI: 0.03–0.39) with similar patterns for mortality among technologists born before 1930. Conclusions: Occupational radiation to the breast was positively associated with breast cancer risk. The risk was more pronounced for women born before 1930 who began working before 1950 when mean annual doses (37 mGy) were considerably higher than in later years (1.3 mGy). However, because of the uncertainties and possible systematic errors in the occupational dose estimates before 1960, these findings should be treated with caution.
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Liu JJ, Cahoon EK, Linet MS, Little MP, Dagnall CL, Higson H, Savage SA, Freedman DM. Relationship between plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and leucocyte telomere length by sex and race in a US study. Br J Nutr 2016; 116:953-60. [PMID: 27515444 PMCID: PMC10655924 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114516002075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
A few studies have examined the association between vitamin D and telomere length, and fewer still have examined the relationship in black or male populations. We investigated the cross-sectional association between the vitamin D metabolite 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration in plasma and relative leucocyte telomere length (LTL) in 1154 US radiologic technologists who were 48-93 years old (373 white females, 278 white males, 338 black females, 165 black males). Plasma 25(OH)D concentration was measured by the chemiluminescence immunoassay, and relative LTL was measured by quantitative PCR. Logistic regression was used to obtain OR and 95 % CI for long v. short (based on median) LTL in relation to continuous 25(OH)D, quartiles of 25(OH)D and 25(OH)D deficiency. We found no significant association between continuous 25(OH)D and long LTL in all participants (P trend=0·440), nor in white females (P trend=0·845), white males (P trend=0·636), black females (P trend=0·967) or black males (P trend=0·484). Vitamin D deficiency (defined as 25(OH)D<30 nmol/l), however, was significantly associated with short LTL in whites (P=0·024), but not in other groups. In this population, we found little evidence to support associations between 25(OH)D and long LTL over the entire range of 25(OH)D in the overall study population or by sex and race.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason J. Liu
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Elizabeth K. Cahoon
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Martha S. Linet
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Mark P. Little
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Casey L. Dagnall
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Herbert Higson
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Sharon A. Savage
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - D. Michal Freedman
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
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Drozdovitch V, Chumak V, Kesminiene A, Ostroumova E, Bouville A. Doses for post-Chernobyl epidemiological studies: are they reliable? JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION 2016; 36:R36-R73. [PMID: 27355439 PMCID: PMC9426290 DOI: 10.1088/0952-4746/36/3/r36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
On 26 April 2016, thirty years will have elapsed since the occurrence of the Chernobyl accident, which has so far been the most severe in the history of the nuclear reactor industry. Numerous epidemiological studies were conducted to evaluate the possible health consequences of the accident. Since the credibility of the association between the radiation exposure and health outcome is highly dependent on the adequacy of the dosimetric quantities used in these studies, this paper makes an effort to overview the methods used to estimate individual doses and the associated uncertainties in the main analytical epidemiological studies (i.e. cohort or case-control) related to the Chernobyl accident. Based on the thorough analysis and comparison with other radiation studies, the authors conclude that individual doses for the Chernobyl analytical epidemiological studies have been calculated with a relatively high degree of reliability and well-characterized uncertainties, and that they compare favorably with many other non-Chernobyl studies. The major strengths of the Chernobyl studies are: (1) they are grounded on a large number of measurements, either performed on humans or made in the environment; and (2) extensive effort has been invested to evaluate the uncertainties associated with the dose estimates. Nevertheless, gaps in the methodology are identified and suggestions for the possible improvement of the current dose estimates are made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Drozdovitch
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Vadim Chumak
- National Research Centre for Radiation Medicine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | | | | | - André Bouville
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Retired
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Choi Y, Kim J, Lee JJ, Jun JK, Lee WJ. Reconstruction of Radiation Dose Received by Diagnostic Radiologic Technologists in Korea. J Prev Med Public Health 2016; 49:288-300. [PMID: 27744670 PMCID: PMC5066420 DOI: 10.3961/jpmph.16.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Diagnostic medical radiation workers in Korea have been officially monitored for their occupational radiation doses since 1996. The purpose of this study was to design models for reconstructing unknown individual radiation doses to which diagnostic radiation technologists were exposed before 1996. Methods Radiation dose reconstruction models were developed by using cross-sectional survey data and the personal badge doses of 8167 radiologic technologists. The models included calendar year and age as predictors, and the participants were grouped into six categories according to their sex and facility type. The annual doses between 1971 and 1995 for those who were employed before 1996 were estimated using these models. Results The calendar year and age were inversely related to the estimated radiation doses in the models of all six groups. The annual median estimated doses decreased from 9.45 mSv in 1971 to 1.26 mSv in 1995, and the associated dose variation also decreased with time. The estimated median badge doses from 1996 (1.22 mSv) to 2011 (0.30 mSv) were similar to the measured doses (1.68 mSv to 0.21 mSv) for the same years. Similar results were observed for all six groups. Conclusions The reconstruction models developed in this study may be useful for estimating historical occupational radiation doses received by medical radiologic technologists in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeongchull Choi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jaeyoung Kim
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jung Jeung Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jae Kwan Jun
- National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
| | - Won Jin Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Van Dyke ME, Drozdovitch V, Doody MM, Lim H, Bolus NE, Simon SL, Alexander BH, Kitahara CM. Historical Patterns in the Types of Procedures Performed and Radiation Safety Practices Used in Nuclear Medicine From 1945-2009. HEALTH PHYSICS 2016; 111:37-46. [PMID: 27218293 PMCID: PMC4880417 DOI: 10.1097/hp.0000000000000519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The authors evaluated historical patterns in the types of procedures performed in diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine and the associated radiation safety practices used from 1945-2009 in a sample of U.S. radiologic technologists. In 2013-2014, 4,406 participants from the U.S. Radiologic Technologists (USRT) Study who previously reported working with medical radionuclides completed a detailed survey inquiring about the performance of 23 diagnostic and therapeutic radionuclide procedures and the use of radiation safety practices when performing radionuclide procedure-related tasks during five time periods: 1945-1964, 1965-1979, 1980-1989, 1990-1999, and 2000-2009. An overall increase in the proportion of technologists who performed specific diagnostic or therapeutic procedures was observed across the five time periods. Between 1945-1964 and 2000-2009, the median frequency of diagnostic procedures performed substantially increased (from 5 wk to 30 wk), attributable mainly to an increasing frequency of cardiac and non-brain PET scans, while the median frequency of therapeutic procedures performed modestly decreased (from 4 mo to 3 mo). Also a notable increase was observed in the use of most radiation safety practices from 1945-1964 to 2000-2009 (e.g., use of lead-shielded vials during diagnostic radiopharmaceutical preparation increased from 56 to 96%), although lead apron use dramatically decreased (e.g., during diagnostic imaging procedures, from 81 to 7%). These data describe historical practices in nuclear medicine and can be used to support studies of health risks for nuclear medicine technologists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam E. Van Dyke
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Vladimir Drozdovitch
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michele M. Doody
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Hyeyeun Lim
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Norman E. Bolus
- Department of Clinical & Diagnostic Sciences, School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Steven L. Simon
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Bruce H. Alexander
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Cari M. Kitahara
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Rajaraman P, Doody MM, Yu CL, Preston DL, Miller JS, Sigurdson AJ, Freedman DM, Alexander BH, Little MP, Miller DL, Linet MS. Cancer Risks in U.S. Radiologic Technologists Working With Fluoroscopically Guided Interventional Procedures, 1994-2008. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2016; 206:1101-8; quiz 1109. [PMID: 26998721 PMCID: PMC10986158 DOI: 10.2214/ajr.15.15265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine risks of cancer incidence and mortality among U.S. radiation technologists performing or assisting with fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A nationwide prospective cohort of 90,957 radiologic technologists, who responded to a 1994-1998 survey that collected information on whether they had ever worked with fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures, was followed through completion of a subsequent cohort survey during 2003-2005 (for cancer incidence) or December 31, 2008 (for cancer mortality). Sex-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were calculated by use of Cox proportional hazards models for incidence and mortality from all cancers other than nonmelanoma skin cancer and for specific cancer outcomes in participants who reported ever performing fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures compared with technologists who never performed these procedures. RESULTS The analysis showed an approximately twofold increased risk of brain cancer mortality (HR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.48-4.40) and modest elevations in incidence of melanoma (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.05-1.61) and in breast cancer incidence (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.02-1.32) but not mortality (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.69-1.66) among technologists who performed fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures compared with those who never performed these procedures. Although there was a small suggestive increase in incidence of all cancers combined, excluding nonmelanoma skin cancers (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.00-1.17), mortality from all cancers combined, excluding nonmelanoma skin cancers, was not elevated (HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.88-1.14). We similarly observed no elevated risk of cancers of the thyroid, skin other than melanoma, prostate, lung, or colon and rectum or of leukemia that was not chronic lymphocytic leukemia among workers who performed fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures. CONCLUSION We observed elevated risks of brain cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma among technologists who performed fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures. Although exposure to low-dose radiation is one possible explanation for these increased risks, these results may also be due to chance or unmeasured confounding by nonradiation risk factors. Our results must be confirmed in other studies, preferably with individual radiation dose data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preetha Rajaraman
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
- Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
| | - Michele M. Doody
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
| | - Chu Ling Yu
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Alice J. Sigurdson
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
| | - D. Michal Freedman
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
| | - Bruce H. Alexander
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Mark P. Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
| | - Donald L. Miller
- Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Martha S. Linet
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
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Kitahara CM, Linet MS, Rajaraman P, Ntowe E, Berrington de González A. A New Era of Low-Dose Radiation Epidemiology. Curr Environ Health Rep 2016; 2:236-49. [PMID: 26231501 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-015-0055-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The last decade has introduced a new era of epidemiologic studies of low-dose radiation facilitated by electronic record linkage and pooling of cohorts that allow for more direct and powerful assessments of cancer and other stochastic effects at doses below 100 mGy. Such studies have provided additional evidence regarding the risks of cancer, particularly leukemia, associated with lower-dose radiation exposures from medical, environmental, and occupational radiation sources, and have questioned the previous findings with regard to possible thresholds for cardiovascular disease and cataracts. Integrated analysis of next generation genomic and epigenetic sequencing of germline and somatic tissues could soon propel our understanding further regarding disease risk thresholds, radiosensitivity of population subgroups and individuals, and the mechanisms of radiation carcinogenesis. These advances in low-dose radiation epidemiology are critical to our understanding of chronic disease risks from the burgeoning use of newer and emerging medical imaging technologies, and the continued potential threat of nuclear power plant accidents or other radiological emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cari M Kitahara
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rm 7E566, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA,
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Lee T, Sigurdson AJ, Preston DL, Cahoon EK, Freedman DM, Simon SL, Nelson K, Matanoski G, Kitahara CM, Liu JJ, Wang T, Alexander BH, Doody MM, Linet MS, Little MP. Occupational ionising radiation and risk of basal cell carcinoma in US radiologic technologists (1983-2005). Occup Environ Med 2015; 72:862-9. [PMID: 26350677 PMCID: PMC10641595 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2015-102880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine risk for incident basal cell carcinoma from cumulative low-dose ionising radiation in the US radiologic technologist cohort. METHODS We analysed 65,719 Caucasian technologists who were cancer-free at baseline (1983-1989 or 1994-1998) and answered a follow-up questionnaire (2003-2005). Absorbed radiation dose to the skin in mGy for estimated cumulative occupational radiation exposure was reconstructed for each technologist based on badge dose measurements, questionnaire-derived work history and protection practices, and literature information. Radiation-associated risk was assessed using Poisson regression and included adjustment for several demographic, lifestyle, host and sun exposure factors. RESULTS Cumulative mean absorbed skin dose (to head/neck/arms) was 55.8 mGy (range 0-1735 mGy). For lifetime cumulative dose, we did not observe an excess radiation-related risk (excess relative risk/Gy=-0.01 (95% CI -0.43 to 0.52). However, we observed that basal cell carcinoma risk was increased for radiation dose received before age 30 (excess relative risk/Gy=0.59, 95% CI -0.11 to 1.42) and before 1960 (excess relative risk/Gy=2.92, 95% CI 1.39 to 4.45). CONCLUSIONS Basal cell carcinoma risk was unrelated to low-dose radiation exposure among radiologic technologists. Because of uncertainties in dosimetry and sensitivity to model specifications, both our null results and our findings of excess risk for dose received before age 30 and exposure before 1960 should be interpreted with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terrence Lee
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
| | - Alice J. Sigurdson
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth K. Cahoon
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
| | - D. Michal Freedman
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
| | - Steven L. Simon
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
| | - Kenrad Nelson
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Genevieve Matanoski
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Cari M. Kitahara
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
| | - Jason J. Liu
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
| | - Timothy Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bruce H. Alexander
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Michele M. Doody
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
| | - Martha S. Linet
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
| | - Mark P. Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20892-9778, MD, USA
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