The German uranium miners cohort study: Feasibility and first results

Kreuzer, M; Grosche, B; Brachner, A; Martignoni, K; Schnelzer, M; Schopka, HJ; Brüske-Hohlfeld, I; Wichmann, HE; Burkart, W

HERO ID

1019419

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

1999

Language

English

PMID

10564938

HERO ID 1019419
In Press No
Year 1999
Title The German uranium miners cohort study: Feasibility and first results
Authors Kreuzer, M; Grosche, B; Brachner, A; Martignoni, K; Schnelzer, M; Schopka, HJ; Brüske-Hohlfeld, I; Wichmann, HE; Burkart, W
Journal Radiation Research
Volume 152
Issue 6 Suppl
Page Numbers S56-S58
Abstract In Germany, the largest single cohort study on uranium miners to date is being conducted. The cohort includes about 64,000 workers of the former Wismut company in eastern Germany. Inclusion criteria were: a date of employment between 1946 and 1989, a minimum period of employment of 180 days, and complete information on working history. Due to poor working conditions in the late 1940s and early 1950s, miners were exposed to high levels of radiation, while later radiation exposure was significantly reduced. The aim of the cohort study is to evaluate the risk of lung cancer and other cancers associated with several indicators of exposure to radon and its progeny, with particular attention to low levels of radiation. Radon exposure will be estimated by a detailed job- exposure matrix. Some information about smoking, dust and arsenic is already available. About 49,000 miners are defined as exposed (underground or processing), while the internal control group (surface only) consists of 15,000 workers. A total of 1,436 lung cancer deaths among cohort members have been reported. The first mortality follow-up will be finished early in 2002, and a total of about 3,000 lung cancer deaths are expected by then.
Doi 10.2307/3580115
Pmid 10564938
Wosid WOS:000084240000015
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Conference Location Tokyo, Japan
Conference Name International Workshop on the Health Effects of Thorotrast, Radium, Radon and Other Alpha-Emitters
Conference Date January 20-22, 1999
Comments Source: Web of Science WOS:000084240000015
Is Public Yes
Language Text English