4216.0: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 - 3:22 PM

Abstract #17163

Pulmonary Fibrosis in Plutonium Workers

Lee S Newman, MD, MA1, Margaret M Mroz, MSPH1, and A. James Ruttenber, MD, PhD2. (1) Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206, 303-388-4461, newmanl@njc.org, (2) Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO

Background: There have been few systematic studies of the non-malignant health effects of a -radiation in humans. Animal studies and a recent report from the former Soviet Union suggest an association between plutonium exposure and the development of fibrotic lung disease. Prompted by a case of lung fibrosis in a retired plutonium worker in the United States, we sought to explore whether plutonium inhalation increases the risk for developing chest radiograph abnormalities consistent with pulmonary fibrosis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of nuclear weapons workers. Our study population consisted of 327 plutonium-exposed workers with absorbed lung doses from 0 to 2,800 rem and 194 workers who had no estimated plutonium exposure. Absorbed lung dose was calculated as part of an internal dose assessment. We compared severity of posteroanterior chest radiograph interstitial abnormalities between the two groups using the International Labour Organization (ILO) profusion scoring system.

Findings: There was a significantly higher proportion of abnormal chest radiographs among plutonium workers (17.4%) as compared to non-plutonium workers (7.2%), p=<0.01. Of those plutonium workers with absorbed lung doses greater than 1,000 rem, 37.5% had an abnormal chest x-ray compared to other plutonium workers (17%), p=0.05.

Interpretation: Inhaled plutonium may cause lung fibrosis in humans, especially at absorbed lung doses above 1,000 rem.

Learning Objectives: N/A

Keywords: Occupational Disease, Radiation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA