New Members Announced to Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announces new members to serve on the independent Advisory Board for its Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program. The additional members will support the work of the Board, reviewing the program’s ability to accurately estimate a worker’s past exposure to radiation, in particular energy employees who claim to have developed cancer as a result of their work environment.

Over 20 years ago, The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (EEOICPA or the Act), as Amended, established a compensation program for the civilian men and women who, over the previous 50 years, had performed duties uniquely related to the nuclear weapons production and testing of the Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessor agencies. Because these workers may have been exposed to radioactive and toxic substances and incurred illnesses, compensation and medical benefits are provided to eligible workers under the Act.

NIOSH’s Division of Compensation Analysis and Support (DCAS) is primarily responsible for estimating work related radiation exposure, or dose reconstruction, for workers with cancer who filed these claims. DCAS calculates the probability or likelihood that the cancer(s) were related to workplace exposure to radiation, which requires extensive analysis on an individual case basis, reconstructing a workplace environment.

To ensure that the methods and guidelines used in dose reconstruction are as sound as possible, the Advisory Board reviews and comments on the validity and quality of DCAS dose reconstructions, methods, and technical documents. Members are public representatives with a balance of scientific, medical, and worker points of view.

The following members have accepted to serve:

• Victoria Cassano, M.D., M.P.H.I.L., M.P.H., F.A.C.P.M., President and Chief Medical Officer, Performance Medical Consulting, LLC.
• Arthur Frank, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Drexel University
• Nicole Martinez, Ph.D., C.H.P., Joint Faculty, Clemson University and the Center for Radiation Protection Knowledge at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• David Pompa, Lab Tech III & Union Representative, Pantex Plant (retired)

More information on dose reconstructions can be found on the main NIOSH Dose Reconstruction and FAQs: Dose Reconstruction pages.

NIOSH is the federal institute that conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. Find more information about NIOSH at www.cdc.gov/niosh.