264863 Analysis of a US Department of Energy Emergent Technologies Cohort

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Clifton Strader, PhD , Office of Health and Safety - HS-10, US Department of Energy, Washington, DC, DC
Donna Cragle, PhD , Occupational Exposure and Worker Health Programs, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, TN
Elizabeth Ellis, MS, PhD , Occupational Exposure and Worker Health Programs, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, TN
Martin D. Barrie, MS, JD, PhD , Occupational Exposure and Worker Health Programs, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, TN
William Tankersley, MS, CIH , Occupational Exposure and Worker Health Programs, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, TN
Phil Wallace, MBA , Occupational Exposure and Worker Health Programs, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, TN
Gregory Nichols, MPH, CPH , Occupational Exposure and Worker Health Programs, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, TN
  
Background: Although the use of engineered nanoparticles has become rather ubiquitous within various industries and research institutions, the long-term health effects in humans is still unknown. In order to monitor/track personnel involved in the use and handling of unbounded engineered nanoparticles (UNP), the US Department of Energy (DOE) issued DOE Order 456.1, which includes maintenance of (1) “a list of all nanotechnology activities” and (2) “registries of all personnel designated as nanomaterial workers.” Using data from DOE's Illness and Injury Surveillance Program (IISP), which includes four of the five DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers (NSRCs), Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) created a registry using the sub-set of workers identified as being involved in the use of UNP.

Methods: Workers in IISP who were identified as potentially using UNP were placed into a registry. Simple descriptive statistics were used to analyze health data captured on these workers from 2008 to 2011.

Results: 861 individuals from seven DOE sites were identified as being involved in the use of UNP, and 415 (48%) worked exclusively at an NSRC. To date, 633 health events have been identified. Further analyses are planned.

Conclusions: These initial data are inconclusive with regard to establishing any association between exposure to UNP and adverse health effects. Further health assessments are needed to adequately assess the potential impact of working with UNP on the DOE workforce.

Learning Areas:
Occupational health and safety

Learning Objectives:
Identify DOE workers who handle unbound engineered nanoparticles and monitor potential adverse health outcomes.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an epidemiologist with 3 years of experience in conducting occupational and environmental health studies. My work has supported agencies such as the US Department of Energy, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. While I have studied a variety of occupational and environmental exposures, the majority of my research has focused on radiation, engineered nanomaterials, and coal combustion products.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 2083.0: Poster Session: Occupational Health Surveillance