J Occup Environ Med. 2024 Mar 25. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003099. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: U.S. nuclear capable shipyard workers have increased potential for occupational radiation exposure.
OBJECTIVE: to examine solid tumor mortality risks at low doses.
METHOD: 437,937 workers working from 1957 to 2004 at eight U.S. shipyards were studied.
RESULTS: Radiation workers with a median life-time dose at 0.82 mSv had a significantly lower solid tumor mortality risk [Relative risk (RR): 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.94-0.98] than non-radiation workers. Among 153,930 radiation workers., the RRs of solid tumors increased with increasing dose categories without statistical significance. The dose category >0- < 25 mSv had significantly lower RR (0.95, 95% CI: 0.91-0.99) vs. 0 dose and the Excess Relative Risk was 0.05/100 mSv (95% CI: 0.01-0.08).
CONCLUSION: Solid tumor risk might increase with radiation dose, but not linearly at low doses. Actual mortality risk may be dependent on dose received.
PMID:38527177 | DOI:10.1097/JOM.0000000000003099
