Selected Presentations
2013 Scientific Advisory Committee Meeting
2012 SAC Recommendations and 2013 Overview – Tolmachev, S.Y.
The SAC’s recommendations from last year’s meeting, and how the USTUR addressed each recommendation, were presented. An overview of 2013 activities was also provided. Activities included publication of the FY2011-2012 Annual Report, in-house radiochemical analyses, and collaboration with other scientific organizations.
2013 USTUR Financial & Administrative Development – Parker, M.
The FY2013 expenditures, FY2014 budget, and our new budget management software were explained. The cost of facilities leases, F & A costs, personnel changes, and the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) personnel that are supported by the current $900,000 grant were also discussed.
Registrant Statistics – McComish, S.L.
Summary statistics included the average age of Registrants and the number of Registrants from various work sites. During the past year, the USTUR received a commitment from one new Registrant, six Registrants passed away, fifteen renewed their participation in the Registries, and two changed to an inactive status. A brief summary of each deceased individual’s exposure was provided.
USTUR Health Physics Database – Avtandilashvili, M.V.
Progress toward entering Registrant exposure records into the USTUR’s health physics database was summarized by intake type, contaminant, and solubility class. The goals of this project and prioritization of cases was also discussed.
National Human Radiobiological Tissue Repository – McComish, S.L.
As of September 2013, 11,960 samples had been logged into THEMIS. Most of these samples were frozen tissues (49%), followed by frozen bones (26%) and acid solutions (21%). Acids and frozen tissues/bones were further broken down to display the proportion of tissue types – such as skeletal, respiratory, and lymph nodes – in each category.
2013 Radiochemistry Progress Report – Miller, F.
Operation of the radiochemistry laboratory was described. Topics included tissue analysis progress, method development, new equipment, and facility maintenance.
Retention of Soluble Plutonium in the Human Respiratory Tract – Nielsen, C.
Chris Nielsen’s upcoming PhD research on the distribution of plutonium nitrate in the lungs of a former worker was summarized. Traditionally, lungs were dissected into anatomical locations such as the superior, inferior, and middle lobes. For this work, the lungs were dissected according to the functional locations used by the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP): the bronchial (larger) airways, bronchiolar (smaller) airways, and alveolar interstitial tissue.
USTUR Collaborations with JCCRER Project 2.4 – Hay, T.
The organization, purpose, and goals of the US/Russian Joint Coordinating Committee on Radiation Effects Research (JCCRER) was explained. Project 2.4, Mayak Worker Dosimetry, focuses on reconstructing internal and external doses to Mayak workers. Data from one USTUR Registrant has been used by Project 2.4 and the European SOLO program to estimate bound fraction parameters in the lung model. This work will be expanded to include data from two more individuals who donated tissues to the USTUR.
Progress Toward a Graduate Certificate Program in Radiation Protection, Year 2 – Stansbury, P.
A graduate certificate program in radiation protection is being developed at WSU Tri-Cities. This progress report discussed 3rd year funding, a timetable for starting the program, the radiation instrumentation teaching lab, equipment purchased, and a text that was found for a unique course.
Uranium Hexafluoride Biokinetic Modeling – Avtandilashvili, M.
Few studies have published human data on acute exposures to uranium hexafluoride (UF6). This study modelled the deposition and retention of uranium in a USTUR Registrant who was exposed to UF6 and its hydrolosis products. The intake was estimated, and doses were calculated.
Research & Operation Plan for FY2014 – Tolmachev, S.Y.
The FY2014 budget, and goals for radiochemical analyses, entry of exposure data into the health physics database, NHRTR tissue and acid solution inventory, and scientific collaborations were presented.
“Non-Registrant” Inquiries and Possible Donations – McComish, S.L.
A discussion on how to identify former Registrants from the HEHF program, and when to accept new Registrants was conducted.
Trap in NIOSH/LTAS for Calculating PMR for Mesothelioma: Experience from a USTUR Study – Zhou, J.
The calculation methods used by NIOSH’s Life Table Analysis System (LTAS), and its relevance to a USTUR study, were discussed.