Analysis Of Cancer Risks in Populations Near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1

Project Title:

Analysis Of Cancer Risks in Populations Near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1

PIN:

DELS-NRSB-10-02        

Major Unit:

Division on Earth and Life Studies

Institute of Medicine

Sub Unit:

Board on Health Sciences Policy

Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board

RSO:

Crowley, Kevin

Subject/Focus Area:

Energy and Energy Conservation; Environment and Environmental Studies; Health and Medicine

Project Scope

The National Academies will provide an assessment of cancer risks in populations living near U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission-licensed nuclear facilities. This assessment will be carried out in two consecutive phases: 

A Phase 1 scoping study will identify scientifically sound approaches for carrying out the cancer epidemiology study that has been requested by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It will address the following tasks:

1. Methodological approaches for assessing off-site radiation dose, including consideration of:

• Pathways, receptors, and source terms
• Availability, completeness, and quality of information on gaseous and liquid radioactive releases and direct radiation exposure from nuclear facilities 
• Approaches for overcoming potential methodological limitations arising from the variability in radioactive releases over time and other confounding factors
• Approaches for characterizing and communicating uncertainties.

2. Methodological approaches for assessing cancer epidemiology, including consideration of:

• Characteristics of the study populations (e.g., socioeconomic factors, all age groups, children only, and nuclear facility workers) 
• Geographic areas to use in the study (e.g., county, zip codes, census tracts, or annular rings around the facility at some nominal distances) 
• Cancer types and health outcomes of morbidity and mortality
• Availability, completeness, and quality of cancer incidence and mortality data
• Different epidemiological study designs and statistical assessment methods (e.g., ecologic or case-control study designs)
• Approaches for overcoming potential methodological limitations arising from low statistical power, random clustering, changes in population characteristics over time, and other confounding factors 
• Approaches for characterizing and communicating uncertainties.

The results of this Phase 1 scoping study will be used to inform the design of the cancer risk assessment, which will be carried out in Phase 2.

Note (05-02-2011): The Project Scope has been revised for clarity. The updated version is shown above. 

The project is sponsored by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The approximate start date for the project is 09/01/2010.

The Phase 1 report is expected to be issued in early 2012.

Project Duration:

18 months    

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