United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries

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1 United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 USTUR United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries Annual Report July 1, September 30, 2006 Compiled and Edited Susan M. Ehrhart, Program Administrative Manager Anthony C. James, Director Contributors S. Adam, T. Bivens, M.J. Bosted, R.R. Brey, S.M. Ehrhart, I. Fisenne, J. Glover, D. Hasenauer, A.C. James, D.D. Mahlum, D.B. Stuit, C.R. Watson Acknowledgment: This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Epidemiology and Health Surveillance, under Award Number DE- FG06-92EH Disclaimer: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Page

2 USTUR A unique resource since 1968 Human information for radiological protection standards and health effects of actinides Page 2 United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries College of Pharmacy Washington State University 2710 University Drive Richland, WA Toll Free Direct or FAX Published February 2007

3 United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 Inside This Report Staff Directory... 4 Director s Message... 6 Highlights of 2005/ Financial Report Registrant Statistics Information Systems Radiochemistry Operations Case Studies Voxel Phantom Study National Radiobiology Archives Graduate Education Advisory Committee Report Publications and Presentations Appendix A - Abstracts of Published Papers Appendix B - Organization Chart Appendix C - Distribution List /2006 Page 3

4 Faculty James, Anthony C Director Stuit, Dorothy B Project Associate Staff Directory Adjunct Faculty Birchall, Alan Adjunct Professor Jacobson, Baruch S Adjunct Scientist Selove, Daniel Adjunct Assistant Professor Watson, Charles R Adjunct Assistant Professor Administrative Professionals Ehrhart, Susan M Program Admin. Manager Staff Bosted, Mishelle J Secretary Technical Consultants Alldredge, J. Rich Statistician Bivens, Tim Web Design Consultant Brey, Rich R Health Physics Consultant Fisenne, Isabel Radiochemistry Consultant Glover, Jeff Web Programming Consultant Watson, Charles R Database Consultant Students Avtandilashvili, Maia Graduate Research Fellow (PhD), ISU Chelidze, Nino Graduate Research Fellow (PhD), ISU Fallahian, Naz A Graduate Research Fellow (PhD), ISU Germann, Liesel Graduate Research Fellow (MS), ISU Hasenauer, Deanna x 338 DOE Practicum, UF ufdeanna@ufl.edu McCord, Stacey Graduate Research Fellow (PhD), ISU mccostac@isu.edu Neba, Neba Robinson Graduate Research Fellow (PhD), ISU mukwankaa@yahoo.com Page 4

5 United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 Scientific Advisory Committee Mahlum, Dennis Chairman and Scientific Representative... dennis.mahlum@att.net Aldrich, Joe Scientific Representative aldrichj@orau.gov Vacant... Union Representative Hayes, William Radiochemistry Representative... whayes@pantex.com Meier, Kathryn University and Ethics Representative... kmeier@wsu.edu Thomas, Robert G Scientific Representative rgthomas@aol.com WSU Pullman Campus WSU Tri Cities Campus Page 5

6 Message from the Director Anthony C. James, Ph.D. quantify the variability of actinide biokinetics among individual workers, and the overall effect of this variability on tissue doses for defined intake conditions. In support of these research goals, our primary operational goals are: Page 6 Dear Colleagues and Friends, This year was my second with the U.S. Transuranium and Uranium Registries (USTUR), and my first as their director. I have had a lot to learn. However, the more I do learn about the Registries comprehensive collection of human experience from occupational intakes of actinides, the greater my appreciation of this unique human knowledge base. My distinguished predecessors, the former directors of the National Plutonium Registry (NPR), the U.S. Transuranium Registry (USTR), the U.S. Uranium Registry (USUR), and their many contributing colleagues, built this national and international resource over 37 y of Registries research. My own aims are to (i) maintain the integrity of USTUR Registrant data, (ii) continue successful operation of the Registries, and (iii) further focus USTUR research to address contemporary problems and issues in actinide dose assessment, while (iv) broadening access to USTUR data and its utilization by the national and international scientific community. Our specific research goals are to apply both new and old USTUR data to: Validate practical field methodologies for actinide bioassay and internal dose assessment; contribute to the development of future, more realistic, actinide dosimetry and chelation treatment models; and streamlining USTUR s radiochemistry operations to ensure timely tissue analyses and publication of all donor case results. broader, web-based, publication of (de-identified) case data, including fully linked and indexed health physics, work-site and bioassay data; tissue analysis results; actinide intake characterization; and pathology findings. expanding USTUR s contribution to the academic and practical training of future internal dosimetrists and health physicists. I hope that this, the first annual report of our renewed 5-y grant, marks substantial progress towards all of these goals. For the second year running, USTUR worked within a substantially reduced budget. Along with retirements of senior staff, this necessitated thorough review and re-organization of staffing structure and laboratory facilities. Our Program Administrative Manager, Susan Ehrhart, has effected the required changes with the constant support of our WSU Pullman faculty administration. These administrative and facilities changes give USTUR greater flexibility to expand its research contributions; while also substantially enhancing radiochemistry and tissue analysis capacity. The Registries seven former Directors are: W. Daggett Norwood, MD; NPR , USTR , John A. Norcross, MD; USTR Bryce D. Breitenstein, MD; USTR Robert H. Moore, MD; USUR Margery J. Swint, MD; USTR/USUR Ronald L. Kathren, CHP; USTR/USUR , USTUR Ronald E. Filipy, PhD; USTUR

7 United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 Highlights of 2005/2006 Susan M. Ehrhart, Program Administrative Manager Research Institute (JAERI), Tokai-mura, and at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), Chiba, respectively. Dr. Tolmachev is currently on the research staff at NIRS. He will join WSU/USTUR early in Radiochemistry Research Laboratory Relocated/ Routine Radiochemistry Outsourced No-Cost Extension The US Department of Energy (DOE) approved Washington State University College of Pharmacy s request for a no-cost time extension to continue operating USTUR beyond the initial grant budget period, ending June 30, 2006, until September 30, This extension aligned USTUR s grant with DOE s fiscal year, and also helped to relieve our sponsoring office s FY2005 budget shortfall. The no-cost extension was possible because USTUR reduced operating costs by delaying recruitment to vacant staff positions and used unspent funding from previous years. National/International Search for Associate Research Professor USTUR conducted a 3-month search to fill a vacant Assistant/Associate Research Professor position. The WSU search committee interviewed two qualified candidates and recommended the appointment of Dr. Sergei Y. Tolmachev, a research radiochemist specializing in the application of Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to the measurement of trace amounts of uranium and other heavy metals in environmental and biological samples. Dr. Tolmachev earned his MS degree at the Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology, Moscow, Russia, and his Ph.D. at Kyushu University, Japan. He completed two post-doctoral research fellowships in Japan; at the Japan Atomic Energy On July 1 st, USTUR relocated its radiochemistry research program from the Nuclear Radiation Center, WSU Pullman to the Center for Laboratory Sciences (CLS), Pasco, WA. CLS is a newly-built, well-equipped research/service laboratory operated privately by R.J. Lee Group, Inc., in partnership with Columbia Basin College, the Tri-Cities community college. We also initiated a WSU sub-contract to the Severn Trent Laboratory (STL), located in Richland, WA, to test their performance in carrying out and reporting on radiochemical tissue analyses. If successful, STL will be sub-contracted to provide the large number of tissue analyses required for each whole-body donation. To assist in assessing STL s performance, USTUR engaged the consulting services of Dr. Isabel Fisenne who is an internationally recognized expert on analysis of actinides in human tissues. These actions are expected to significantly increase USTUR s radiochemistry capacity, which is necessary to handle the projected number of USTUR Registrant cases to be analyzed in the next few years. Scientific Advisory Committee The annual USTUR Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting was held March 10-11, 2006, at the Clover Island Inn, Kennewick, WA. The Committee reviewed USTUR s progress since the previous meeting (September, 2004). Two SAC members retired this year: ethics representative Kathryn Paxton George and labor representative Bruce Lawson. Also, Dr. Isabel Fisenne, the radiochemistry representative, stepped down in order to be a consultant to USTUR. All three members had served for multiple 3-year terms, and they will be greatly missed. Dr. Kathryn Meier, the university representative, agreed to serve in the additional role of ethics representative. It is hoped that other replacements will be found before the next annual SAC meeting being planned for April, Page 7

8 Page 8 Human Subjects Protocol WSU s Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews USTUR s human subjects protocol annually. This year, USTUR revised the protocol to include protection of subjects participating in special studies involving collection of blood samples from active (living) Registrants. The protocol as a whole was amended to comply with new American Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provisions that took effect April 14, The revised protocol ensures that USTUR s Registrant records and administrative procedures conform with the new HIPAA standards for documentation, handling and privacy. The revised Human Subjects Protocol underwent full IRB review, and approval was granted for a further year. USTUR also provided information on it s current research projects to DOE s Human Subject Database, as required annually for projects funded by DOE that involve human subjects. Adjunct Appointments Two new adjunct assistant professors were added to WSU s USTUR faculty. Dr. Daniel M. Selove, a consulting forensic pathologist, was appointed through December 31, Dr. Charles R. Watson, consultant on USTUR s National Radiobiology Archive (NRA), was appointed through June 30, On expiry, the College of Pharmacy (COP) will renew both appointments for three years. These renewals will align USTUR s faculty appointments with COP s three-year adjunct appointment cycle. National/International Activities Dr. James was appointed to serve on Scientific Sub-committe SC6-3 of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP). This committee is tasked with preparing an NCRP report on Uncertainties in Internal Radiation Dose Assessment. The initial draft is expected by December, 2006, with the final report (for full NCRP review) by December, The activities of SC6-3 are sponsored by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). Dr. Chuck Watson, USTUR s National Radiobiology Archives (NRA) consultant, was appointed to serve as the U.S. representative on the Advisory Board for the European Radiobiological Archives. The inaugural board meeting was held in Munich, Germany, May 16-17, The board will oversee development of an internet version of the European archives. This activity is funded (over 3 years) by the European Community s Euratom Framework ResearchProgram and managed by the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS). Regional Activities Dr. James was appointed by the U.S. Department of Energy s Office of River Protection, Richland, WA to serve as an alternate member of the Hanford Advisory Board (HAB), for the Benton and Franklin County Public Health seat. Dr. Margery Swint, a former ( ) Director of the U.S. Transuranium Registry (USTR) and U.S. Uranium Registry (USUR) holds the primary seat. National Unification of Actinide Dose Assessment Before joining USTUR, Dr. James had co-developed the IMBA Expert bioassay analysis and dose assessment software suite with the UK s National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), with partial DOE funding. This year, Dr. James contributed to the Gap Analysis for this software conducted by DOE s Office of Quality Assurance Programs (EH- 31). This was DOE s formal evaluation procedure to determine the software s suitability for inclusion in the Safety Software Central Registry. In September 2006, DOE added the software to the Registry, in effect endorsing use of these codes for regulatory dose assessment purposes. Since no other comparable internal dose assessment code implements the International Commission on Radiological Protection s (ICRP s) current models, the development of IMBA Expert was a significant service to DOE and the radiation protection field. This development also provide USTUR s research program with standardized methodologies for bioassay analysis in Registrant case studies that are traceable to DOE s contemporary field practices. IMBA Training at DOE Sites Dr. James provided 2-day training courses for internal dosimetry specialists at two DOE sites; BWXT/ AMWTP (Idaho Falls) and BWXT/Pantex (Amarillo). This training familiarized site personnel with the key features and operation of the IMBA Expert USDOE-Edition software for intake and internal dose assessment. Both courses were tailored to address specific site issues and requirements, including live assessment of exposure cases. NIOSH Subcontract The Centers for Disease Control/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health/Office of

9 Compensation Analysis and Support (CDC/NIOSH/ OCAS) awarded USTUR a $25,000 sole-source contract to provide de-identified Registrant data. USTUR provided OCAS with redacted and quality assured 241 Am, 238 Pu and Pu tissue contents, and bioassay and health physics data for 106 Registrants who had worked at the Rocky Flats Plant. These data helped OCAS ensure that exposure assumptions made in adjudicating compensation claims under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA, 2000) are favorable to the claimant, as prescribed by the Act. USTUR Website as a Research Resource United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 continue productive collaboration with ALRADS research students to further the development of virtual phantoms based on human case material. Invited Presentation to Cincinnati Chapter, Health Physics Society USTUR initiated the design and implementation of a comprehensive new website. This will provide full searching and indexing capabilities for USTUR case data; for broader study and application by the national and international scientific community and for disseminating Registries information to Registrants and lay persons. USTUR s current website provides general information, but no access to case data. We commissioned two external specialists (in web design and web programming, respectively) to expedite this enhancement of the USTUR web site. Graduate Student Research Involvement USTUR initiated a subcontract with Idaho State University (ISU), Pocatello, ID to obtain (i) the HPspecialist services of Dr. Richard Brey, a Certified Health Physiscist (CHP) and Director of ISU s Health Physics Program, and (ii) to support the research projects of two of Dr. Brey s graduate students. These students have commenced USTUR-related dissertation research projects. Dr. James provides technical supervision through his faculty affiliation with ISU s Physics Department (Health Physics Program). USTUR Hosted DOE Practicum Fellowship Left to right: Herbert Jones, Jay Maisler, Pete Darnell, Tony James, Warren Sheehan, Bill Woods, Charles Phillips, Keith Tomlinson, Fred Krach, and Henry Spitz (behind the camera) [Photo Henry Spitz (2006) used with permission] Dr. James presented a retrospective dose assessment for a USTUR Registrant who worked at the Mound Laboratory, and was involved in a glove-box explosion in Attending the meeting were several former Mound employees who assisted with the original dose assessment, including Warren Sheehan, one of the principal authors of the article published in Health Physics (18: , 1970). Many of the long-forgotten, historical details of the accident, bioassay analyses, decorporation treatment, and dose-assessment methods were recalled and discussed. MMany of the long-forgotten, historical details associated with the (Photo (c) Health Deanna Hasenauer, a graduate research student at the University of Florida s Advanced Laboratory for Radiation Studies (ALRADS), successfully completed her DOE Practicum project at USTUR. This will enable USTUR to develop a mathematical model of DOE s 241 Am human anthropomorphic phantom. The DOE phantom consists of the half skeleton from USTUR s Case 0102, encased in tissue equivalent plastic to represent the complete torso, head, leg and arm. The Director and technical staff of Kadlec Medical Center s Diagnostic Imaging Unit (Richland, WA) volunteered their time and use of equipment to complete computerized tomography (CT-scan) imaging of the whole phantom. USTUR plans to Page 9

10 Financial Report Susan M. Ehrhart, Program Administrative Manager Federal Resources Grant U.S. Department of Energy Office of Health Studies Management and Operation of the United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries DE-FG06-92EH89181 Amount Awarded: $1,274,460 Period: 07/01/05-09/30/06 Grant U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, BER Operation of the National Radiobiology Archives DE-FG02-04ER63802 Amount Awarded: $111,722 Period: 05/01/04-4/30/05 Amount Awarded: $73,214 Period: 05/01/05-4/30/06 Subcontract U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Transfer of USTUR Data Concerning Rocky Flats Cases Contract M Amount Awarded: $25,000 Period: 11/04/05-12/22/05 Grant and Contract Administration Submitted For FY05/06, the USTUR submitted two grant proposals to the Department of Energy and one contract proposal to the Department of Health and Human Services. All of the proposals were accepted, but were funded at a reduced combined total of $1,368,372. Subcontracts The Registries initiated two sub-awards during this fiscal year. One was a subcontract (G002005) with Severn Trent Laboratories, Inc. for radiochemical services for the amount of $125,000 for the period 05/16/06-9/30/06. The second was a subcontract (G002035) with Idaho State University for health physics graduate research support in the amount of $16,245 covering the period 05/01/06-9/30/06. No-cost Extension The USTUR received a no-cost time extension from the Department of Energy for the management and operation of the United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries DE-FG06-92EH The request extended the budget period for the current grant year from June 30 to September 30, This now aligns the USTUR project year and grant budget period with the Department of Energy s fiscal year, which runs October 1 to September 30. Page 10

11 United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 Operating Budget Operating expenses were kept within budgeted levels, and the fiscal year ended with about $200,000 of unspent funds. The Registries have received approval from DOE to allow carryfoward of unspent funds into FY07. These funds can be used in support of a much-needed, additional faculty member. Figure 1 shows the monthly expenditures for the reporting period. Figure 2 provides an overview of the historical operating budget for the USTUR and the NRA for the past six fiscal years. Reporting Requirements Met Four quarterly progress reports, one year-end annual report for the federally funded grant (DE-FG06-92EH89181) and one year-end annual report for the federally funded grant (DE-FG02-04ER63802) were distributed on a timely basis to sponsoring agencies during the period 07/01/05-9/30/06. In addition, financial status reports were prepared and distributed to the investigators and federal sponsors on a monthly basis. Figure 1 Monthly Expenditures 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 Sep-06 Aug-06 Jul-06 Jun-06 May-06 Apr-06 Mar-06 Feb-06 Jan-06 Dec-05 Nov-05 Oct-05 Sep-05 Aug-05 Jul-05 USTUR NHRTR STL RadioChem NRC NIOSH ISU Figure 2 Historical Operating Budget USTUR NRA FY00 FY01 FY02 FY03 FY04 FY05/06 Page 11

12 Registrant Statistics Mishelle J. Bosted, Secretary Registration Status As of September 30, 2006, the Registries had a total of 918 Registrants in all categories. Of that number, 110 were active (those living Registrants whose authorizations were current and complete) and 369 are deceased. There were 439 Registrants in an inactive category which includes those lost to follow-up and those whose voluntary agreements were not renewed. In FY01, USTUR reviewed all active registrant files, prioritizing them into three categories: #1 - Registrants with significant actinide burdens indicated by positive bioassay results. #2 - Registrants with relatively high external radiation dose or professed exposures to beryllium, asbestos, or chemical solvents, but with minimal actinide body burdens. #3 - Registrants to be placed inactive, i.e., determined by USTUR as not likely to have been exposed. The distribution of current active Registrants between their places of work is shown in Figure 3. In total, there are 89 living Registrants in Category #1 and 24 living Registrants in Category #2. Registrant Renewals USTUR renews agreements with active Registrants every five years, to ensure that they still want to participate in the program. The renewal process, along with the annual Registrant newsletter, serves to maintain USTUR contact with all active Registrants. During this fiscal period, USTUR sent 19 renewal invitations, with 4 follow-up letters. Fifteen Registrants were renewed, and five were placed inactive. One new Registrant joined the program; a volunteer for whole body donation who is still in his 30s. Registrant Deaths USTUR was notified of six Registrant deaths. Two were whole body donors and four were partial body donors. USTUR arranged autopsies for both whole body donors and three of the four partial body donors. USTUR was unable to find a local medical examiner able to perform the autopsy and tissue collection for case 0493, so this case was placed in the inactive category. The following provide summaries of the five new cases. Figure 3 Active Registrants by Category and Worksite Page 12

13 Case 1063: A partial body donor from Hanford who worked primarily with uranium. He was employed from the late 1940s until the late 1970s and, at the age of 95 y, is the Registries oldest donor. Case 0990: A whole body donor from Rocky Flats, who had participated in DOE s Worker Follow-up Study. He had been exposed to plutonium with an unusually high 241 Am isotopic content, and his lung burden was readily measurable. Before autopsy (in Richland, WA), external measurements of 241 Am and 239 Pu activity were performed over the thorax, liver, skull, and knee, at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Case 0430: A partial body donor who worked at Rocky Flats from 1960 until retirement in the early 1980 s. United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 Case 0391: A whole body donor who worked at Hanford from the mid 1940 s until his retirement in the mid 1980 s. He worked as a research chemist developing new chemical separation processes. The earliest work, before the advent of glove boxes, involved substantial quantities of plutonium, other actinides, and fission products. Case 0443: A partial body donor who worked at Rocky Flats from the early 1960 s until retirement in the mid 1980 s. Longevity Statistics The average age of all active USTUR Registrants for tissue donation is 75 years. Figure 4 shows how these are distributed among the various DOE work sites. The average age at death for USTUR s 369 tissue donors (through September 30 th, 2006) is 66 years. Figure 4 Number of Active Registrants and Average Age by Work Site Page 13

14 Information Systems Anthony C. James, Director Timothy B. Bivens, Web Design Consultant Jeffrey S. Glover, Web Programming Consultant Internal Network USTUR contracted an independent computer systems analyst to verify the security of its internal network server. Several security issues were identified. These were resolved by: implementing stronger password security; installing Microsoft Windows Server Update Services to automatically provide critical security updates to the server and all USTUR work stations; initiating Internet Protocol Security (IPSec), to increase server-to-workstation security; installing a router/firewall between the WSU campus and internal USTUR networks, and; installing two additional SCSI hard drives. Current USTUR Website Figure 5 shows the number of hits on USTUR s current website ( over this 15-month fiscal period. Table 1 shows the most frequently accessed web pages, the countries of origin of web visits, the top ten keywords searched, and the most common search engines bringing browsers to the USTUR site. Tim Bivens is webmaster for the Radiochemistry Society ( He won the 1999 People s Choice award for best web designer. Jeff Glover is on the Web Programming staff of the Radiochemistry Society. USTUR also set up a high security Virtual Private Network (VPN); to enable offsite access to the US- TUR network by authorized USTUR personnel and external consultants. Figure 5 Monthly Number of Website Hits No data Table 1 Web Browser Statistics Page 14 V isited P ages C o u n tries o f O rigin K eyw o rd s Search ed W eb B ro w sers H om epage 16,931 U n ited States 29,892 uran iu m 271 google.com 1,860 U STU R 4,022 C h in a 688 ustur 242 lostzilla.n et 479 N RA 2,867 Spain 658 body 176 search.yah oo.com 233 O verview 2,752 G erm an y 590 radiobiology 172 ph arm acy.w su.edu 185 D atabase 2,271 C an ada 492 form 131 search.m sn.com 177 H istory 2,195 Japan 453 radiation 125 tricity.w su.edu 153 Staff 2,011 pluton ium 123 im ages.google.com 136 Fact sh eet 1,968 h um an 122 tw otigerson lin e.com 114 RadC h em Policies 1,910 tran su ran ium 119 forolostzilla.n et 102 C auses of D eath 1,803 states 111 google.ca 91

15 Web Publication of USTUR Case Data USTUR has published summary results of radiochemical tissue analyses for many Registrant cases in its progress reports and the open literature. However, these tissue analysis results have broader application when they are presented with their complementary bioassay data and other worksite information. To facilitate this enhancement, and also to promote timely and wide dissemination of de-identified case data, USTUR is developing a comprehensive new website ( Early in 2007, this new site will replace USTUR s current site, which does not publish case data. New USTUR Website In addition to providing the background information on USTUR s research program, the new website (Figure 6) will provide full searching and indexing United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 capabilities for USTUR case data. Search categories will include the following: primary radionuclide; type of intake(s); type of actinide material; work site; length of follow-up, and; pathology findings. The tissue analysis data for each case will be linked to the case bioassay data, and any other (summarized and de-identified) supporting health physics data. Figure 7 (next page) illustrates the navigational structure and content of the Pathology link on the homepage. Clicking this link enables the Post Mortem Observations by International Classification of Diseases - 9 th Revision - Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) database to be explored using various search criteria. Figure 6 Homepage of the New USTUR Website (In Beta Development) Site Page 15

16 Figure 7 Example of Post Mortem Data Indicating Neoplasms ICD-9-CM [ ] In this example, clicking the Search by ICD-9- CM Classifications link on the main page opens a list of the main ICD-9-CM observation categories, with the total number of observations for USTUR Registrants under each of these categories, and a Cases link to all Registrant donor cases under each pathology category. Clicking the Cases link opens a list of all work sites with USTUR donors having the selected ICD-9-CM coded pathology findings in their autopsy report and/or death certificate. Figure 7 shows the resulting list of cases from Rocky Flats coded as Cases >> ICD-9-CM Category >> Neoplasms [ ]. Clicking on a specific case number then lists all sub-categories of Neoplasms observed in that particular donor case (Figure 8). This example shows: Page 16

17 the primary cause of death was Malignant neoplasm of liver and intrahepatic bile ducts; the contributing observation of Secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive systems and; the additional contributing observation of Benign neoplasm of other parts of the digestive system >> Liver and biliary passages. United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 Clicking a Case Number 444 link then opens a scrollable list of all pathological observations in that case. This web database is designed to enable comprehensive searching of USTUR s Case Pathology Observations in fully de-identified and privacy-protected form. It will be updated automatically from USTUR s primary internal database. Figure 8 Displaying Sub-categories of Neoplasms for Case 444 and all Other Pathological Observations for this Case Page 17

18 Radiochemistry Operations Dorothy B. Stuit Project Radiochemist Reorganization of Laboratory Facilities After consultating with WSU s College of Pharmacy and Nuclear Radiation Center (NRC), our DOE program manager, our radiochemistry consultant (Dr. Isabel Fisenne), and our Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), we made major changes to USTUR s entire radiochemistry operation. At the end of June, 2006, USTUR moved its radiochemistry facilities from the NRC (Pullman) to the Center for Laboratory Sciences (CLS) in the Tri-Cities (Pasco, WA). The CLS is a joint public/private research and service laboratory, operated by the RJ Lee Group, Inc., in partnership with the Tri-Cities community college (Columbia Basin College, CBC). A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by USTUR and CLS to govern the facilities move and start-up of the USTUR radiochemistry laboratory at CLS. USTUR plans to carry out the majority of radiochemical analyses at a commercial radioanalytical laboratory. The Severn Trent Laboratory (STL), Richland, WA was selected for evaluation to carry out this work, under a subcontract with WSU. USTUR s in house laboratory at CLS will carry out QA/QC oversight, analyze the tissue samples from partial-body donations, and carry out supporting radiochemistry research. Wet chemistry operations were re-started at the CLS laboratory. Work is in progress to re-establish USTUR s alpha spectrometry counting system in separate laboratory space at CLS. Page 18 Case Radiochemical Analyses USTUR s previous protocol for tissue analysis included analyzing 4 to 9 survey samples on both partial- and whole-body donations, in order to provide an initial rough estimate of the magnitude of the radioactivity in the tissues. However, to streamline case radioanalyses, we are now applying the health physics and bioassay data from each case to predict the appropriate radioisotope tracer levels for each tissue sample. This new procedure will optimize the use of our National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) tracer solutions, and optimize the measurements of various isotopes in the critical tissues for biokinetic modeling. Partial-body Cases Initial surveys and/or complete analyses (as noted) have been carried out for the following partial-body donations. Case 0270: A Hanford donor who died in Four survey samples were reported with an estimated whole body burden of about 9 Bq Pu. This case had some positive urinalysis results for plutonium and americium, but no recorded plutonium exposure incidents. However, he had been involved in a recorded inhalation incident with soluble ruthenium compound. Case 0279: A Hanford laboratory technician who died in She was exposed to plutonium nitrate solution and other skin contaminations with possible inhalation based on positive urinalysis results. Four survey samples were analyzed in Thirteen additional samples have now been analyzed. Case 0315: A donor from Hanford who died in He was a crane operator and was monitored for plutonium and strontium by urinalysis. Five survey samples were prepared in One sample is now ready for analysis, and three are in the process of complete dissolution. Case 0334: A Hanford donor who died in His main intake of plutonium (in 1958) was from a hand wound. Two excisions were per-

19 formed on consecutive days. Positive bioassay data are available. Six survey samples, including a liver tumor, were prepared in Four samples are now ready for analysis. Case 0341: A donor from Hanford who died in He was a radiation monitor for most of his career, with predominantly external radiation exposure. He was involved in several recorded incidents, with possible plutonium or radium inhalation. However, neither nose counts nor urine bioassay results were positive. Six survey samples are now ready for analysis. Case 0379: A donor who worked for ten years at Hanford. There are some positive bioassay results, from which a hypothetical plutonium intake date can be inferred, but no recorded incidents. Five survey samples were originally analyzed in The liver contained about 5 Bq Pu. A further five samples were prepared in 2003, and a kidney sample was prepared in June Radiochemistry of the kidney and another sample is in progress. Case 0381: A female donor from Hanford who died in She had numerous cuts and contusions and various skin contaminations with plutonium, and possible inhalations. The 14 sampled tissues were prepared in October These samples were dried and ashed, but not analyzed at Pullman. They are at CLS to be analyzed. Case 0412: A Rocky Flats donor who died in He had high exposures to airborne plutonium in the plant fires in 1957 and 1959, and he also had multiple hand wounds. He had measurable 241 Am in chest counts through the 1980 s. A total of 33 tissue samples have been prepared. The liver is ready for analysis. A brain sample is in process of KF fusion to dissolve solid residue. The remaining samples will be completed at CLS. Case 0439: A donor who died in He had worked at Los Alamos from and then at Rocky Flats until he retired in He died in Six survey samples were analyzed for plutonium and americium. Isoptopic uranium analyses will be carried out at CLS using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Case 0445: A donor from Rocky Flats who died in He had no recorded exposures. Six survey samples, including a tumor sample, United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 were analyzed. No skeletal uptake was found and concentrations of less than 0.1 Bq/kg for both plutonium and americium were found in the soft tissues. Radiochemistry for this case is now complete. Case 0511: A donor from the Savannah River Site (SRS), who died in Four survey samples were analyzed in An additional eight samples were prepared under USTUR s prioritized case protocol. These samples were dissolved, and analyzed. One additional sample, a kidney, was prepared in October 2005 and has been dried and ashed. Case 0672: A donor from Los Alamos who died in No information is available in Registrant s records about possible inhalation or wound incidents. Four survey samples were analyzed in Eleven additional samples have now been analyzed for this prioritized case, which completes the radiochemistry for this case. Case 0709: A Hanford donor who died in He had one acute inhalation of plutonium oxide (in 1952). A health physics evaluation in 1953 reported a higher than expected urinary excretion rate based on contemporary assessment methods. Four survey sample results were analyzed in An additional twelve samples have been analyzed, completing the radiochemistry for this case. Case 0719: A Los Alamos donor who died in He was in the UPPU cohort being followed by Dr. Voelz. Four survey samples were analyzed in As a prioritized case, an additional 21 samples have been analyzed, completing the radiochemistry for this case. Case 0727: A Rocky Flats donor who died in He was involved in the 1957, 1965, and 1969 plutonium fires at the plant. According to his site health physics records, he also had possible plutonium inhalations and a number of skin contaminations. Eight survey samples have been analyzed, and assessment of these results will determine whether additional samples will be analyzed. Case 0728: A donor from Rocky Flats who died in His main exposure was from a 1957 plutonium chip fire in a lathe glove box. The original four survey samples were analyzed in This was a prioritized case and thirteen additional samples were analyzed, completing the radiochemistry for this case. Page 19

20 Page 20 Case 0733: A Hanford donor who died in He received several plutonium inhalation intakes during his career, in addition to an excised hand wound (in 1963). Six survey samples were prepared, and four samples have been completed. The lung and liver samples are dissolved, but still await analyses. Case 0737: A donor from Los Alamos who died in He was involved in as many as eleven separate plutonium contamination incidents, with positive nose counts and positive urine bioassays. Seven survey samples were analyzed in The lungs contained 190 Bq of Pu plutonium and 5 Bq of 241 Am. Sixteen additional samples were prepared: four samples are in the process of final dissolution, and the remaining 12 samples have possible solid residues. Dissolution of these samples will be completed at CLS. The lung, lymph nodes and liver samples will also be analyzed at CLS. Case 0795: A donor from Hanford who died in He had a single acute inhalation of plutonium process fumes, with gross skin contamination (in 1956), caused by a blowback in the Purex process building. Five survey samples were analyzed in As a prioritized case, an additional 11 samples have been analyzed, making the radiochemistry for this case complete. Case 0796: A Rocky Flats donor who died in He had a plutonium puncture wound on the right hand (in 1963), in addition to several other incidents of skin contamination of one or both hands. Nine samples were analyzed. Assessment of these radiochemistry results will determine whether additional samples will be analyzed. Case 0817: A Rocky Flats worker who died in Records for this case indicate one plutonium contamination of the nose and hands (in 1976) and several positive 241 Am chest counts. There are no other documented inhalations or contaminated wounds. Five survey samples are ready for analysis of plutonium and americium. Case 0837: A Rocky Flats donor who died in He was not involved in the plutonium fires at Rocky Flats, but he likely did have plutonium inhalations from several recorded incidents involving cut posting bags. His records note a number of skin contaminations, but no major wounds. Nine samples were analyzed for plutonium, americium, and uranium. The highest activity of Pu/Am was found in the lung, with 8 Bq of Pu and 1.6 Bq of 241 Am. The uranium contents were found to be at background level. Further samples will be run at CLS for this case. Case 0991: A Rocky Flats donor, who died in He had a plutonium inhalation in 1980, and was treated for six days with i.v. Ca-DTPA. His records also show hand contaminations and acid burns, and exposures to perchloroethylene and several other solvent fumes. Five survey samples were prepared and three samples are dissolved and ready for analysis. The lung and lymph node are partially dissolved. Case 1016: A uranium mine worker who died in Five survey samples were analyzed in An additional 15 samples have been analyzed for this prioritized case, making radiochemical analysis complete. Case 1019: A donor who died in He had worked in a uranium mine from 1952 to He was exposed to asbestos while working in a naval shipyard (from 1947 to 1952). Eight samples were analyzed in A kidney sample was analyzed this year, as part of a special study of uranium accumulation in the kidney. Case 1027: A donor who worked in a uranium mine for 41 years. In 1986, he participated at Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories in an in vivo counting study of 210 Pb in former uranium mine workers. A kidney sample has been analyzed, again as part of the special study of uranium accumulation. Case 1030: A donor who died in He was a uranium worker at the Fernald site whose records show positive bioassay results for uranium. The uranium concentration in the kidney was analyzed this year, as part of the special study of uranium accumulation. Case 1062: A Rocky Flats donor who died in Isotopic uranium analyses performed for four survey samples (in 2003) showed near background results. A kidney was analyzed for uranium, and five samples of other tissues were analyzed for plutonium and americium content. Case 1063: A Hanford donor who died in He was a uranium worker for 20 years, with positive bioassay results, and later worked with plutonium. There were no positive plutonium

21 bioassay results. Thirty-seven samples were prepared, dried, ashed, and packaged for shipment to CLS. Additional kidney samples have been prepared and dissolved for Cases 1015, 1024, 1026, 1052, 1057, 1059, and 1065, as part of the special study on uranium accumulation in the kidney. These will be analyzed at CLS, using ICP-MS. Whole Body Cases In whole body donation cases, all of the bones from the right side of the body are analyzed, as well as major organs, with approximately half the weight of a single organ (e.g., brain) being used for analysis. The remaining half organs and the entire left side of the body are stored at the NHRTR for possible use in other scientific research. Case 0262: A Hanford whole body donor who died in Radiochemistry analysis was completed by Los Alamos Laboratory, with necessary reruns originally analyzed by USTUR s Pullman laboratory in After review of the data for the subsequent publication, USTUR Whole Body Case 0262: 33-Y Follow-up of PuO 2 in a Skin Wound and Associated Axillary Node by James et al., two additional samples were dissolved and analyzed and the left axillary lymph node was rerun to verify its contents. These additional results were reported during this period. United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 Case 0503: A Rocky Flats whole body donor who died in Records show this Registrant was involved in the October 1965 plant fire. All samples for this case have been dissolved and the initial survey samples completed, but no further analyses were completed during this reporting period. Case 0679: A Los Alamos whole body donor who died in He was involved in a 1951 glove box fire. In 1952 and 1958, he was involved in incidents with plutonium nitrate aerosols. In 1968 he received a plutonium contaminated puncture wound. Complete urine bioassay data throughout the donor s career are available for this case. All 119 tissue samples have been dissolved, and 48 samples have been analyzed for both plutonium and americium. Ten samples were analyzed for plutonium at Pullman. Fourteen plutonium and 28 americium planchets were electro-plated at CLS, and are ready for α-spectrometry. Case 0706: A whole body donor from Rocky Flats who died in His main intake (in 1962) was from an excised puncture wound on his left hand. Also, in 1965, he had an inhalation intake during disassembly of plutonium parts, and was treated for six days with i.v. Ca- DTPA chelation. In addition, he had a positive reaction for beryllium exposure. Tissue radiochemistry is complete, however, further analyses will be performed on the wound site. Case 0269: A Hanford whole body donor who died in He had received multiple chelation treatments with both EDTA and DTPA as the result of a plutonium nitrate inhalation in Radiochemistry results were originally reported in Sixteen urine planchets from this donor, originally collected and analyzed in 1956, were stripped and re-analyzed to give a definitive isotopic ratio for Hanford s freshly separated plutonium product, including the activity ratio of 241 Pu: Pu total-α present in the inhaled plutonium solution. Case 0425: A Rocky Flats whole body donor who died in Records indicate he was involved in the October 1965 plant fire and received several punctures wounds on hands, and had other facial contaminations. The plutonium and americium data were originally reported in the annual report for February 1, January 31, Further uranium analyses are on hold for this case. Case 0720: A Rocky Flats donor who died in He was involved in the 1965 plutonium fire, and had several other plutonium intakes. Records also indicate skin contamination on his hands and face. Radiochemistry of 16 tissue samples was completed at Pullman. These results were used for initial intercomparison with Severn Trent Laboratories. Two other samples were prepared for radiochemical separation. The lung, liver, brain, and axillary lymph node samples are being processed to complete dissolution of solid residues. An additional 37 samples were dried and ashed and are at STL for dissolution and radiochemical analysis. A further 48 wet tissue samples were transferred to STL directly from USTUR s tissue repository in Richland, WA. Case 0745: A Los Alamos donor who died in 2005 and was part of the UPPU group of workers being followed by Dr. Voelz. In 1946, he was involved in an accident involving plutonium nitrate solution splashed onto his face Page 21

22 Page 22 and eye. Substantial hand contamination and positive nose counts were recorded. Four of five samples are in various stages of dissolution. A further 56 tissue samples were dried, ashed and shipped to CLS. Case 1007: A Fernald donor who died in He had chronic inhalation intakes of uranium over his sixteen years of employment as a chemical operator. The major soft tissues were analyzed by Kinetic Phosphorescence Analysis (KPA) at Los Alamos. The remaining 74 tissue samples have been dissolved (in Pullman) and are at CLS for isotopic uranium analysis by ICP-MS. External Radiochemistry Operations - STL Submitted by Ms. Sherryl Adam, STL Project Manager. In June 2006, STL Richland received 16 tissue solutions previously analyzed by the USTUR Pullman laboratory. The tissue solutions were to be analyzed for 239 Pu and 241 Am. This was intended as a demonstration study of STL s separation and measurement capabilities prior to receiving undissolved tissue samples. After submitting the data it became apparent that STL s understanding of the required aliquot sizes differed from that of the USTUR. The data were reviewed and USTUR expressed concern about elevated 243 Am tracer yields, most of which were greater than 100%. USTUR requested that STL remeasure the separated sample discs from 16 tissue samples processed at Pullman. The intention was to intercalibrate measurements between the STL and Pullman laboratories. These results were closer than for STL s original measurements, but remained significantly different from Pullman s results. Dr. Isabel Fisenne visited the laboratory to evaluate STL s methods and results. She suggested that STL s 243 Am tracer solution could be the source of the observed counting bias. An investigation was initiated to determine the cause of this bias. USTUR transferred their NIST-certified 243 Am tracer solution, to be used by STL exclusively for USTUR work. STL is continuing to investigate the residual 243 Am bias. Dr. Fisenne toured the STL laboratory and observed the work in progress for USTUR. STL was experiencing difficulty in achieving total dissolution of all the digestate for some tissues. Dr. Fisenne suggested that the solid residue might be just silica, and that it might not be necessary to dissolve this. Dr. Fisenne and the analyst collaborated to create a test plan that would involve filtering the solids and counting the filter for gross alpha activity. If the filter had activity it would be digested using hydrofluoric acid and this digestate would be combined with the sample. If the filter had no activity, the filter would not be included in the analysis. This filter screening technique has been very successful. Another topic discussed was USTUR s need for a dry ash weight for all bone samples. STL had initially performed wet ashing. STL s report and Electronic Data Delivery (EDD) formats were revised. A chain of custody (COC) spreadsheet was generated by USTUR. This spreadsheet contains bar codes for each sample. STL uses that bar code when logging in the samples and continues to use the USTUR sample ID throughout the analysis process. This bar-code process has eliminated transcription steps, thus reducing errors. Dr. James requested that STL review the uncertainty equations used at the laboratory. It is STL s common practice to include approximately 3-5% error in the TPU for random unidentified errors. USTUR did not want this estimated random error included in the total projected uncertainty (TPU). STL duly excluded this term from the calculation of USTUR results. Radiochemistry Audit USTUR s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) in consultation with the DOE s Program Manager recommended an independent technical audit regarding the future radiochemistry operations of the Registries program. The USTUR explored the feasibility of consolidating the management and performance of the radiochemistry operations from Pullman, Wa to Richland, WA. The Committee recommended Dr. Fisenne, an expert in this field, to provide an independent audit of USTUR s selected radiochemistry laboratory Severn Trent Laboratory, Inc. (STL, Richland, WA). The following report (abridged here) was submitted by Dr. Isabel Fisenne, USTUR Radiochemistry Consultant. A contract for personal services between Washington State University and Isabel M. Fisenne (IMF) was signed on February 17, Its purpose was to provide the USTUR with an independent technical audit of STL Richland s performance in analyzing and reporting the actinide isotopic contents of tissues in several USTUR Registrant cases, including a whole-body donation, and split samples to be ana-

23 lyzed independently by STL Richland and USTUR s Pullman radiochemistry laboratory. The selection of STL Richland as the prime candidate had much to do with their physical proximity to the USTUR, as well as their experience in other areas of radiochemical analyses. STL did not currently perform tissue analyses for any actinides. STL s QA/QC procedures for the actinide analyses of environmental matrices were reviewed as generic indicators of performance. These were partially based on a review of STL Richland s participation in the USDOE Environmental Measurements Laboratory (EML) Quality Assessment Program (QAP). STL Richland s performance in QAP was variable, depending on the matrix. Prior to the March 2006 Scientific Advisory Committee Meeting (SAC), IMF reviewed the initial STL Richland contract proposal and pricing for the radiochemical analyses of USTUR tissue samples. Both the turnaround times and pricing were reasonable. Because STL Richland had, to this point, virtually no experience with large tissue samples, performance evaluation was a critical issue. Experience had shown that the most time-consuming phase of radiochemical analysis is the initial sample preparation. The USTUR Pullman laboratory procedures required up to one month: dry ashing tissues in walk-in ovens, followed by wet ashing with oxidizing acid and for a few samples, potassium fluoride fusion on insoluble residues. STL Richland made a good faith effort to gain experience in the expeditious sample preparation of large sized (as much as 1 kg) soft tissues and bone specimens. The tissues selected by STL for trial were muscle, brain, liver and bone. Unspiked and spiked aliquots of these animal tissues were analyzed for isotopic plutonium, 241 Am and total uranium. The radiochemical analysis methodology for actinides in tissues was not an STL Standard Operational Procedure (SOP). STL used this opportunity to test more efficient separation media (based on the use of Eichrom columns) for the sequential separation of plutonium, americium and perhaps uranium. These initial efforts were reported by STL management at the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) held in Kennewick, WA during March Dr. James arranged for IMF to be present at STL Richland during a two day DOELAP audit. The auditor, who also allowed some participation by IMF, reviewed the policies and procedures for routine measurements at STL in detail. The areas covered United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 included the operation of the solid state alpha spectrometry systems in terms of background counting, detection efficiency determination, routine maintenance, record keeping and troubling shooting. The STL radiochemical procedures that could become relevant to the anticipated USTUR contract were reviewed for suitability. The preliminary STL sample preparation techniques being tested on animal tissues were observed and were judged rapid compared to those in use at the USTUR Pullman laboratory. The initial plan was to have aliquots from a suite of sample solutions previous analyzed at Pullman analyzed at STL for comparison purposes. Although this would not test STL s ability to perform the tissue solubilization, it would test their separation and measurement capabilities. A quantity of Pullman laboratory QA/QC data was submitted for review. These consisted mainly of copies of notebook pages for internal QC samples dating from 1994 through The results of the internal QC spiked samples were in good agreement with the known value. A sub-set of Case #0720 samples was analyzed for 238,239 Pu and 241 Am at USTUR s Pullman laboratory. The results were of high quality and independently verified. These same solutions were delivered to STL for comparative analyses. STL had not been given guidance on the quantity of each solution to analyze resulting in an unsatisfactory comparison. Since these results were not satisfactory, STL was to re-run the samples pending guidance from USTUR. These analytical results also suggested a need for cross-calibration of the STL-WSU tracer solutions, particularly 243 Am. IMF suggested that the Pu and Am planchettes prepared in Pullman be measured at STL. STL was informed of the tracer activities and used the socalled relative calculation based on the use of the absolute activity of the tracer as supplied by USTUR. Although the Am results were better than those on samples separated, plated and measured at STL, discrepancies remained in the comparison of USTUR and STL measurement results on the identical planchettes. This suggested a measurement problem yet to be resolved. In discussions about the alpha spectrometry data received from STL, it was realized that the software used by USTUR and STL could be different, depending on supplier and/or version. In addition there Page 23

24 are two methods of calculating alpha spectrometry measurements: relative and absolute calculation. It was unclear exactly which software package or method USTUR used to calculate the alpha spectrometry data. The USTUR Radiochemistry Procedures Manual contains USTUR 600: Alpha Spectrometry Measurements, which indicated that the relative method was used for the USTUR calculations. It also included a formula for the correction of the 241 Am contamination in the USTUR 243 Am tracer solution that was also found to be correct. The equations used to propagate measurement uncertainty, including the correction for the contamination in the 243 Am tracer were found to be correct. The hardcopy printouts of the STL measurements of the USTUR separated and electroplated planchettes had to be checked to determine the consistency of spectral evaluation. The full report from the measurements of the 36 planchettes, QA data, administrative tracking, etc., was almost 400 pages. There was some confusion about exactly what alpha spectral data was used by STL. Each alpha spectral analysis contained eight pages, where the total counts for the regions of interest printed on half the pages did not always agree. Furthermore, the channel by channel printouts had hand marked (by STL staff) regions of interest. By looking at both the spectral plot and the channel by channel printouts, it appeared that the spectral evaluation was not as good as would be expected. This was tested by manually evaluating the spectrum. The manual evaluation agreed better with the USTUR spectral data than the result tendered by STL. Another vexing point was that the propagated uncertainties reported by USTUR and STL were not in agreement. The STL uncertainty was always higher than that of USTUR. In a joint meeting at STL, issues of concern were discussed including the alpha spec software package used at STL (Canberra), the differences in total counts on successive pages of a spectral report (only the first page used), the hand marked areas on the channel by channel spectrum printouts (STL staff check for QC purposes). In discussing the bias in the uncertainties calculated by the USTUR and STL it was learned that at STL, the propagated uncertainty includes the Poisson error and an automatic 5% increase for systematic uncertainties. This automatic 5% addition to the total uncertainty explains the bias in STL s reported uncertainties. Page 24 Another important issue was STL s changing the USTUR sample identification number as any one sample moved through various analytical stages at STL. Only the USTUR sample ID number should be used through the STL process stream. The next issue was the bar coding of each sample to interface with the STL work stream. The concept was that the USTUR would provide all the necessary bar code labels, containing only the unique USTUR sample ID number, to follow each sample through the various analysis stages. A most important decision was made concerning tracer solutions. STL would be given the USTUR 242 Pu and 243 Am tracer solutions to be used only for USTUR tissue sample analyses. STL agreed and saw no difficulty with the materials transfer. This strategy was to eliminate the problems associated with the provenance of the STL tracer solutions and to aid in the propagation of uncertainty for 241 Am measurements. It was also realized that too much tracer was being added to each sample, particularly in the case of the 243 Am tracer solution. The spreadsheet sent to STL with the samples and bar codes would also specify the quantity of tracer (in dpm) to be added to each sample. The format for the summary report (an Excel spreadsheet format) to be sent by STL to USTUR would be specified by USTUR. The Excel format will permit interfacing with other areas of the database. The computer housing the alpha spectrometry software used at the Pullman facility for the USTUR tissue measurements was transferred to WSU Richland. There were two purposes for this: first, to obtain the channel by channel spectra obtained at Pullman and perform human QC checks; and second, to establish the comparability with STL software by transferring the STL channel by channel spectra to the USTUR software enabling a critical evaluation of the two results. STL s experimental procedures have not been presented for review as these are considered a work in progress. STL must make their dissolution and separation methodology available to USTUR prior to awarding a full-scale contract for USTUR tissue analyses.

25 United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 Case Studies Anthony C. James, Director USTUR s Registrants The USTUR maintains a secure (privacy-protected) set of documents (and an electronic database) containing administrative, health physics, bioassay and medical records for its living Registrants, as well as pathology findings and results of radiochemical analyses of tissue samples for its 370 deceased donors. Registration to become a donor is purely voluntarily. In order to remain an active potential donor, every Registrant must confirm in writing every 5 years that they wish to donate their tissues at autopsy for USTUR study. A potential donor can withdraw permission at any time, as can the donor s family on the donor s death. The majority of USTUR Registrants are routine autopsy or partial body donors, in that they have agreed to an autopsy, during which a licensed medical examiner can take samples of their major internal body organs. There is, however, a substantial number of Registrants who are whole body donors and permit USTUR to study their whole body after autopsy. The first whole body donation was made in 1979: that of a gentleman with a high internal deposition of 241 Am. This donation was commemorated by publication of the USTUR study in a Special Issue of Health Physics. (1) The publication included a detailed description of the Registry s protocol for sampling the complete skeleton. (2) It also included the first systemic physiological (recycling compartment) model for americium, developed from definitive human data. (3) All donations to the USTUR, not just those of whole bodies, add significantly to the core scientific body of human experience from occupational intakes of actinides. A prime example is the routine autopsy donation by a gentleman who, in 1976, had received a facial wound heavily contaminated with 241 Am. This case was also commemorated in a Special Issue of Health Physics, (4) and by several follow-up USTUR studies. (5) These two cases are also unique in that the donors wished to be identified. USTUR ensures that all other Registrants (deceased or potential donors) remain anonymous. Of the 370 deceased Registrants, 335 were partial body donors, 30 (8%) were whole body donors, and 5 were special study cases (health physics and bioassay data donations, without tissue samples). Of the 110 living Registrants, 86 are potential partial-body donors, 17 (15%) are potential whole-body donors, and 7 are special study cases. The USTUR s most recent volunteer (< 35-y-old) received a substantial accidental internal deposition of plutonium while working on remediation and clean-up of a contaminated waste burial site. Since 1992, when USTUR became WSU s responsibility, 100 donations have been made, of which 16 are whole-body donations. Over this 14-y period, the annual death rate has increased from about 1% per year to almost 5%, as the Registrant population advances in age. Historical Profile of Donors Exposures The earliest plutonium intakes by Registries donors were in About two-thirds of the Registries first 23 whole-body donors received their intakes before 1958 (Figure 9 - next page). Over the three-decades spanning the actinide exposures of USTUR donors, the sensitivity of bioassay measurements (i.e., limits of detection) improved substantially. Technical details of bioassay practices utilized at various DOE work sites are freely available. (6) This information enables bioassay data for individual donors to be assessed rigorously in relation to the measured actinide contents of the donor s tissues. (7-10) Table 2 lists the number of US- TUR Registrants according to the DOE site where they worked. In addition to the data for these DOE workers, the USTUR holds supplementary data for 11 uranium miners, 3 thorotrast cases, 51 Sellafield (UK) plutonium workers, and 9 miscellaneous cases. Page 25

26 Figure 9 Year of Accidental Intake First 23 Whole-body Donations Table 2 Registrants by DOE Work Site lymph nodes, skeleton and liver from all autopsied cases. USTUR now has tissue radiochemistry data from 305 donors who worked at DOE sites. The DRMIA has lung and systemic organ data from 530 Mayak donors. Figure 10 Pu Concentration in Liver Compared for U.S. and Mayak Workers Page 26 USTUR Donors Tissue Burdens The range of transuranium radionuclide organ burdens measured in the USTUR donor population spans almost four orders of magnitude. Figure 10 compares the concentration of plutonium in livers of 106 USTUR donors with those from the Russian Federation s Dosimetry Registry of the Mayak Industrial Association (DRMIA). (11) The median liver concentration in these106 USTUR donors was approximately 1/200 of that in the 74 DRMIA donors; although the ranges of concentration overlapped. USTUR and DRMIA are currently updating this inter-comparison to include the lungs, Variability in Pu Distribution Between Body Organs A key objective of USTUR s research program is to quantify the inter-personal variability of biokinetic

27 transfer rates for plutonium and other actinides between organs of the body, and the resulting variability of tissue doses for a given amount and type of intake. For example, USTUR s results for the ratio of Pu activity in the liver to the Pu activity in the lung as measured at autopsy for 102 Rocky Flats cases (12) demonstrate that this is highly variable, even for workers exposed at a single DOE work site (Figure 11). The observed distribution is approximately log-normal, with a large geometric standard deviation (σ g ) of 5.6. The median value (0.29:1) is significantly lower than expected. For inhalation of ICRP s default Type S material (assumed to represent insoluble forms of plutonium) the ratio United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 would be approximately 1.6:1; while for inhalation of soluble (Type M ) plutonium, or intake via a skin wound, the liver:lung activity ratio would be orders of magnitude higher. The observed high degree of variability in this tissue activity ratio arises from two discrete components: (i) variability in the physical characteristics/absorption behavior of the Pu material itself, and; (ii) variability in biokinetic behavior of Pu between individual persons. USTUR s objective is to quantify the respective contributions of these components to the observed variability in distribution of plutonium among tissues, by performing detailed assessment of many individual donor cases. Figure 11 Distribution of Log 10 (Liver:Lung Pu Activity Ratio) in 102 Cases Quantifying Pu Biokinetics ICRP Model Framework ICRP s current biokinetic model for Pu was introduced in Publication 67. (13) This was designed to represent realistically both the internal (systemic) transfer of Pu to and from the blood and organs of retention and its elimination in urine and feces over time. (14) Likewise, ICRP s current lung model (Human Respiratory Tract Model, HRTM, of Publication 66) (15) was designed to represent realistically the competitive nature of uptake to the blood (via particle dissolution) and elimination of intact particles to the content of the gastro-intestinal tract and feces. Figure 12 shows how both models are combined to determine organ dose rates, urinary and fecal excretion rates over time, and the resulting committed organ doses for a given amount of inhaled activity with given aerosol characteristics (activity median aerodynamic diameter, AMAD, and material absorption rates). In the case of an intake via a wound, an Page 27

28 Figure 12 Combination of IC66 Respiratory Tract Model (HRTM) and IC67 Systemic Pu Model appropriate compartmental representation of the retention of material at the wound site and its translocation to any associated lymph nodes is substituted for the HRTM. USTUR Case Studies being Published Last year s annual report illustrated USTUR s results from biokinetic modeling of the bioassay data and measured tissue contents of plutonium in two whole body cases: (i) Case 0262 involving two acute inhalation intakes followed by a contaminated wound, and (ii) Case 0269 involving a single acute inhalation of an acidic Pu(No 3 ) 4 mist treated with various chelating agents. A paper on each study has been submitted for peer-reviewed publication. (8,9) Case 0262: Modeling multiple acute intakes (inhalations and wound) The detailed information on Pu distribution between body organs (and cortical and trabecular bone) available from this whole body donation, combined with comprehensive bioassay data (Pu excretion in urine) enabled specific values of key systemic transfer rates to be determined for this individual, in addition to characterizing the long-term retention behavior of insoluble plutonium particles in the skin wound and the associated axillary lymph node. (8) Table 3 shows the modifications to ICRP s reference parameter values (multiplying factors) needed to match the organ contents measured in this USTUR donor, while simultaneously providing an optimum fit to the bioassay data. Page 28

29 Figure 13 shows the temporal pattern of uptake by systemic organs predicted by these modified IC66/67 model parameters (Table 3), together with the respective organ contents measured at autopsy. With the predominant, very slow, uptake of Pu from the wound and axillary lymph node, the maximum amount of total systemic activity occurred at the end of life (34 y after the first inhalation intake), i.e., the maximum body burden is that directly measured at autopsy. Thus, the dose rates to the major systemic organs (bone, liver red bone marrow) were also highest at the time of death. The modeled temporal changes in plutonium contents of these component tissue compartments together with the organ weights measured at autopsy, enable the absorbed dose rates as a function of time for each target tissue (and the total doses) to be evaluated specifically for this individual. United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 Table 3 Optimized IC66/67 Parameter Values for ues Case for Case Transfer Pathway Transfer Rate, d -1 IC66/67 Reference Value Case 0262 Factor Respiratory tract (IC66): AI3 to bb AI3 to LNTH Systemic Pu model (IC67): Blood to Cortical bone surface Cortical bone volume to Marrow Blood to Trabecular bone surface Trabecular bone surface to Volume Trabecular bone volume to Marrow Trabecular marrow to Blood Blood to Liver Liver 2 to Blood Blood to Other kidney tissue Blood to Urinary path Blood to Urinary bladder content Blood to ST Blood to Testes Figure 13 Autopsy Predicted Temporal Uptake of Pu in Systemic Organs with values Measured at The maximum total systemic activity measured in this case (at autopsy) was 52 Bq (1.4 nci), where this includes the activity measured in the lungs and thoracic lymph nodes, but excludes that retained in the skin wound and axillary lymph node. Applying the IC67 Pu biokinetic model for the Reference Worker (and the ICRP Publication 60 tissue weighting factors) (16), the resulting effective dose (from the Pu in all three intakes) is approximately 35 msv (3.5 rem). Page 29

30 USTUR also measured the in-grown 241 Am activity in the wound, axillary lymph node, lung, thoracic lymph nodes, and systemic tissues in this case, and has characterized the original isotopic composition ( 241 Pu: Pu ratio) of the plutonium material by measuring directly the 241 Am in-growth in the axillary lymph node sample. In FY 2007, these data will be applied to analyze the separate biokinetics of americium in systemic organs. The 241 Am in-growth is important (i) in contributing significant additional tissue dose, and (ii) in defining changes in the 241 Am: Pu ratio over time in specific organs. In cases of substantial exposure, external counting of the 59 kev γ-emission from 241 Am in the lungs and other parts of the body is used at some DOE sites as a practical indicator of Pu organ contents. Case 0269: Modeling the effectiveness of i.v. Ca- EDTA and Ca-DTPA therapy USTUR has reported an initial study of the mechanisms of action and effectiveness of promptly administered i.v. Ca-EDTA and delayed administration of i.v. Ca-DTPA in Case (9) That study evaluated the quantitative therapy-induced enhancements of specific elimination rate constants incorporated in the IC67 Pu biokinetic model (Figure 14). Figure 14 Hypothetical Chelation Pathways Considered in Modeling Case 0269 Table 4 Effectiveness of Chelation Therapy in Case 0269 Tissue Tissue Pu Content at Death, kbq USTUR Model Measured Therapy Untreated Saving Whole Body % Lungs % LNTH % Liver % Skeleton % Muscle, Skin, etc % Kidneys % However, Leggett et al. (17) have now proposed an enhancement of ICRP s baseline Pu biokinetic model. In particular, this enhanced model structure treats the early kinetics of Pu transfer between two distinct blood compartments and tissue fluid in a manner that is consistent with the results of European biokinetic studies with human volunteers. (18,19) Figure 15 shows the revised Pu biokinetic model structure currently being considered by Committee 2 of ICRP. (20) This new model is likely to be adopted for ICRP s planned recalculations of occupational annual limits on intake (21) (intended to replace ICRP Publication 68 (22) in 2008). Figure 15 ICRP s Updated Pu Systemic Model (Taken from Eckerman, 2007 (19) with Permission) USTUR s analysis demonstrated that both the Ca- EDTA and Ca-DTPA therapy regimes administered in Case 0269 had substantial effects in decorporating Pu from the liver, soft tissues, bone marrow and bone surfaces in this individual case (Table 4). Notably also, the 3-y-delayed administration of i.v. Ca-DTPA was as effective as the promptly administered i.v. Ca-EDTA in decorporating Pu from these Page 30 USTUR s whole body case data will be applied to test whether or not this proposed new representation of early blood and tissue fluid kinetics (coupled with the newly assumed direct uptake of Pu by trabecular and cortical bone volume and revised liver uptake pathways) provides a more realistic physiological basis for representing the observed behavior of Pu in the human. In particular, the Case 0269 data

31 provides a definitive early test of the practical utility of this more complex model structure. Therefore, with this objective, in FY 2007 USTUR plans to rework its analysis of the effects of the i.v. Ca-EDTA and Ca-DTPA therapies administered in Case 0269 relative to ICRP s proposed new reference model of Pu biokinetics. References (1) Bretienstein HD, Newton CE, Norris HT, et al. The U.S. Transuranium Registry Report on the 241Am content of a whole body. Health Phys. 49: (1985). (2) McInroy JF, Boyd HA, Eutsler BC, Romero D. Part IV: Preparation and analysis of the tissues and bones. Health Phys. 49: (1985). (3) Durbin PW, Schmidt CT. Part V: Implications for metabolic modeling. Health Phys. 49: (1985). (4) Thompson RC, et al Hanford americium exposure incident: overview and perspective (with accompanying papers). Health Phys. 45: (1983). (5) Toohey RE, Kathren RL, et al. Overview and dosimetry of the Hanford americium accident case (with accompanying papers). Health Phys. 69: (1995). (6) NIOSH Office of Compensation Analysis and Support (OCAS). Technical documents used in dose reconstruction. Available for download at html (November, 2006). (7) James AC, Filipy RE, Russell JJ, McInroy JF. US- TUR Case 0259 whole body donation: A comprehensive test of the current ICRP models for the behavior of inhaled 238PuO2 ceramic particles. Health Phys. 84:2-33 (2003). (8) James AC, Sasser LB, Stuit DB, Wood TG, Glover SE, Lynch TP, Dagle GE. USTUR whole body case 0262: 33-y follow-up of PuO 2 in a skin wound and associated lymph node. Radiat. Prot. Dosim. (in press). (9) James AC, Sasser LB, Stuit SE, Glover SE, Carbaugh EH. USTUR whole body case 0269: Demonstrating effectiveness of i.v. Ca-DTPA for Pu. Radiat. Prot. Dosim. (In press). (10) James AC, Birchall A, Marsh JW, Puncher M. User manual for IMBA Expert USDOE-Edition (Phase II). (Richland, WA: ACJ & Associates, Inc. (2004). (Available at htm). (11) Suslova KG, Filipy RE, Khokhryakov VF, Romanov SA, Kathren RL. Comparison of the dosimetry registry of the Mayak industrial association and the United States Transuranium United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 and Uranium Registries: A preliminary report. Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 67:13-22 (1996). (12) James AC, Sasser LB, Stuit DB, Bosted M, Ehrhart SM, Wood TG, Emmel RR. Transfer of USTUR data concerning Rocky Flats cases. USTUR Final Report to NIOSH/OCAS under Contract No M USTUR Richland, WA: U.S. Transuranium & Uranium Registries. (13) International Commission on Radiological Protection. Age-dependent doses to members of the public from intakes of radionuclides: Part 2, ingestion dose coefficients. ICRP Publication 67. Ann. ICRP 23(3/4) (1993). (14) Leggett RW, Eckerman KF. Evolution of the ICRP s biokinetic models. Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 53(1-4): (1994). (15) International Commission on Radiological Protection. Human respiratory tract model for radiological protection. ICRP Publication 66. Ann. ICRP 24(1-3) (1994). (16) International Commission on Radiological Protection Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. ICRP Publication 60. Ann ICRP 21(1-3) (1991). (17) Leggett RW, Eckerman KF, Khokhryakov VF, Suslova KG, Krahlenbuhl MP, Miller SC. Mayak worker study: An improved biokinetic model for reconstructing doses from internally deposited plutonium. Radiat. Res. 164: (2005). (18) Talbot RJ, Newton D, Warner AJ. Metabolism of injected Pu in two healthy men. Health Phys. 65:41-46 (1993). (19) Ham GJ, Harrison JD. The gastrointestinal absorption and urinary excretion of Pu in male volunteers. Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 87: (2000). (20) Eckerman KF. ORNL s DCAL software package. In: Proceedings of the 4 th JAEA/EPA Workshop on Radiation Risk Assessment, November 7-8, Tokai-mura, Japan: Japan Atomic Energy Agency. (In press). (21) Eckerman KF. ICRP New Recommendations: Committee 2 s Effort. In: Proceedings of the 4 th JAEA/EPA Workshop on Radiation Risk Assessment, November 7-8, Tokai-mura, Japan: Japan Atomic Energy Agency. (In press). (22) International Commission on Radiological Protection. Dose coefficients for intakes of radionuclides by workers. ICRP Publication 68. Ann. ICRP 24(4) (1995). Page 31

32 Voxel Phantom Study Anthony C. James, Director Deanna Hasenauer, DOE Practicum Fellow, U. of Florida The Registries hosted a DOE Practicum Project Fellow from the University of Florida s (UF) Advanced Radiation Dosimetry Studies (ALRADS) laboratory ( Deanna Hasenauer, the fellowship student, had earned her MS degree at UF working on three-dimensional (voxel) modeling techniques a pplied to the radiological protection of pediatric patients in nuclear medicine. (1) Her research project at USTUR initiated the development of a mathematical (voxel) phantom of DOE s 241 Am USTUR anthropomorphic phantom (Figure 16) (see also Figure 16 Anthropomorphic Phantom Incorporating Half the Skeleton of USTUR Donor # Case 0102 (a substantial accidental 241 Am intake) was the first whole body donation to the U.S. Transuranium registry (in 1979) (see also the article entitled Case Studies pp of this report). Half of this gentleman s skeleton, encased in tissue equivalent plastic, still provides a unique human phantom for calibrating whole body counting systems at DOE laboratories and internationally. 241 Am is present as a contaminant radionuclide in the majority of USTUR Registrants with accidental plutonium intakes. It emits a 59.5 kev photon Deanna Hasenauer, DOE Practicum Fellow (center), with Traci McCoy (left) and Melissa Sloan (CT-scan technicians), at Kadlec Diagnostic Imaging Center, Richland, WA preparing to run USTUR Case #0102 head phantom through a GE Lightspeed 16 scanner. which can be detected outside the body (if the activity is high enough). However, at this relatively low photon energy, the amount of self-absorption in body tissues depends rather critically on tissue thickness (body build) and the distribution of activity within the body. In collaboration with the Pacific Northwest Laboratory s (PNNL) In Vivo Monitoring Program, USTUR is using high-resolution planar germanium detectors to count 241Am activity in various parts of donated whole bodies (Figure 17) before tissues and organs are sampled for radiochemical analysis. For each individual case, starting with the Case 0102 human 241 Am phantom, USTUR aims to develop a three-dimensional mathematical model, or virtual phantom. These virtual phantoms will represent the bones of the torso, head and limbs, their radionuclide content, and the overlying thickness of soft tissue. Their availability will allow the counting efficiency of different detector types and configurations to be modeled (calculated accurately) for people of different anatomical build and body size. Dr. Wesley Bolch, UF s ALRADS Director, and his research students are developing a suite of skeletal dosimetric phantoms for nuclear medicine patients aged from infancy to young adulthood. These are based on computer tomographic (CT-scan) images taken post mortem. The ALRADS researchers have developed mathematical methods and computer codes to render a series of two-dimensional CT-scan Page 32

33 image files into a three-dimensional voxel model of the whole body, including the trabecular and cortical bone structure of all parts of the skeleton. Among other activities, Dr. Bolch is contributing these virtual phantom models to the ongoing work of ICRP s Task Group on Internal Dosimetry (INDOS). These three-dimensional modeling techniques developed by ALRADS are directly applicable to USTUR s case studies of elderly donors. Figure 17 Four Planar Germanium Detectors Positioned Over the Lower Torax and Liver of a Whole-Body Donor United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 Figures are examples of the file images of single slices taken from CT scans of the Case 0102 phantom. Given that each image is from a mm-thick slice, sections of a particular bone may be complete (e.g., the ulna in the left arm, clavicles in the thorax, mandible in the skull). The full bone images are re-constructed in three dimensions at a later stage in the analysis. Figure 18 Transverse View of Thorax Right Rib Sternum Left Lung Thoracic Vertebra CT-scanning and Image Analysis The Director and technical staff of Kadlec Medical Center s Diagnostic Imaging Unit (Richland, WA) generously volunteered their time and use of equipment to complete the CT-scan imaging of each part of the Case 0102 phantom (shown in Figure 16 previous page). Figure 19 Coronal View of Left Arm Humerus The scanning was performed with a GE LightSpeed 16 machine (yielding 16 slices per scanner head rotation). All images were acquired using a slice thickness of mm, the thinnest slice attainable with this scanner. These thin slices provided good spatial resolution. In order to achieve the best skeletal contrast, each slice was reconstructed using a bone filter reconstruction kernel. The slices were also (separately) reconstructed using a soft tissue reconstruction kernel to enable soft tissues such as the lungs, heart, brain, muscle, to be imaged. All scans were performed using a peak voltage of 120 kvp and anode current between 225 ma and 250 ma. The full image data sets of each part of the Case 0102 phantom were stored on a CD-ROM, in the form of DICOM files. Technical information on the mathematical techniques used to analyze each CT scan, along with the actual DICOM files created for the Case 0102 phantom, are available at org/dicom_files_case_0102/. Ulna Radius Hand Page 33

34 Figure 20 Transverse View of Skull Right Side - contains 241 Am (Case 0102) 241 Left Side - no Am content (from another cadaver) Figure 21 Sagital View of Skull CT Contours A graduate student at UF, Josh Nipper, developed the software package CT Contours. This uses the Interactive Data Language (IDL) interface to enable manual, slice-by-slice segmentation of any tissue using a chosen tag or color value. For this USTUR study, cortical bone and spongiosa (marrow cavities) were segmented separately for each bone image. Segmentation can be performed in any view of the CT-scan image, i.e., the transverse, coronal, or sagital planes (Figure 22). Figure 23 (next page) is an example of a manually segmented slice of cortical bone and spongiosa from the skull of the Case 0102 physical phantom. Once segmentation has been completed, a 3-dimensional representation of the bone is built from the segmented contours of the cortical bone, spongiosa, and soft tissue elements. Figure 22 CT Contours Segmentation Screen Page 34

35 Figure 23 Segmented Slice of Skull from Case 0102 Physical Phantom United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries - Annual Report 2005/2006 [Red = Spongiosa (Trabeculae + Marrow); Blue = Cortical Bone] Future Work Once 3-dimensional voxel models of each part of the the Case 0102 physical phantom are completed, these can be imported into the Monte Carlo Neutron-Photon transport code (MCNPx) to simulate low-energy X- and γ-radiation transport and the response of external counting sytems. For example, it is common practice to position planar germanium detectors over the frontal lobe of the skull and/or the knee in order to estimate the skeletal content of 241 Am on the assumption that these locations minimize interference and scattering contributions from internal organs and soft tissues. Three-dimensional voxel models (virtual phantoms) will enable quantification of the variation of detector response with position and angle, and location over other body organs. Various actinide concentrations can be placed in individual voxels within a particular bone or soft tissue. In addition to photon detection simulation, the volumetric data provided by CT-scan segmentation and 3-dimensional reconstruction of individual bones will refine USTUR s quantitative measurements of the activity concentration in trabecular and cortical bone from whole-body donations. Reference (1) Hasenauer D, Watchman C, Shah A, Bolch WE. An image-based skeletal dosimetry model for the pediatric male. Health Phys. 90(6):S (2006). Page 35

36 NRA National Radiobiology Archives Chuck Watson, Database Consultant Program Background The National Radiobiology Archives (NRA) is an archival program, started in 1989, to collect and organize data, lab notebooks, and animal tissue specimens from government (Department of Energy and its predecessor agencies) sponsored radiobiology life-span animal studies. These unique records, histopathology slides and paraffin embedded tissue blocks are maintained in a central facility and are available for further research study. The materials include electronic and paper records for each of more than 6000 life-span-observations on dogs as well as details of major studies involving nearly 30,000 mice. Although these studies were performed over many years and at different laboratories with differing data managment systems, the NRA has translated them into a standardized set of relational database tables. These can be distributed to interested individuals on written request. Since transfer of the NRA to Washington State University (WSU), the USTUR has actively promoted and publicized the availability of these materials for research. In addition, the Registries have developed a brochure that describes the NRA program. The brochure is featured on the USTUR Website and is also distributed to potential research collaborators. Page 36 University of Utah donation The NRA received an electronic update of the University of Utah beagle dog database from Dr. Ray Lloyd. It contained final dosimetry values and summarized medical findings for 2,228 life-span animals injected with 241 Am, 149 Cf, 252 Cf, 253 Es, 239 Pu, 224 Ra, 226 Ra, 228 Ra, 90 Sr, or 228 Th. These revised values were merged with the existing NRA dosimetry records which were donated to the NRA in A report to Dr. Lloyd summarizing the update process and describing a few discrepancies is on file. Ray Lloyd of the University of Utah requested an electronic copy of the SNOMED/SNODOG coded histopathology records from his laboratory. The NRA sent the 44,694 records by in July, If this data had not been collected by the NRA in Photo: NRA Slide and Block Collection 1990, Dr. Lloyd would not have been able to retrieve this valuable information. Ray, at age 77, is the last active member of the Utah radiobiology team, and has no local data management support. An Access software interface was prepared and a database of the Utah dog information was delivered to Tom Fritz for his cause of death review. Tom was the clinical veterinarian at Argonne National Laboratory, and was responsible for ascribing the cause of death for over 3000 life-span external irradiation beagle dogs. He is reviewing the Utah medical findings and will ascribe the cause of death so that all the NRA data has congruent definitions of this statistically important variable. Four of the five beagle dog laboratories provided a coded primary cause of death for each dog. The primary cause of death is not necessarily the immediate cause of death; for example, if a dog with a lung tumor died from pneumonia, the primary cause of death was the lung tumor while the immediate cause of death was pneumonia. The University of Utah research team preferred to summarize all significant medical findings related to death in a comment, but refrained from ascribing a coded cause of death. This activity is on hold pending funding for Dr. Fritz.