Mortality (1950-1985) of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited employees, with analysis of occupational radiation exposure

From records of 13,491 AECL employees 9,997 males and 3,494 females were analysed. 68% of males and 35% of females had had occupational radiation exposure.;The increasing mortality trend with increasing radiation exposure for all malignant neoplasms, excluding leukaemias, was statistically significant with a 15 year lag of radiation exposure, but not when the lung group was excluded. A statistically significant trend for all malignant neoplasms, with a 10 year lag of radiation exposure was also found, but was weakened by exclusion of leukaemias. No other group or individual cause mortality of solid malignant neoplasms or leukaemias, or lag of radiation exposure, showed any statistical correlation with radiation exposure. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema mortality was correlated with increasing radiation exposure, with zero lag of radiation exposure and the external standard but less so with a 15 year lag. Among the 2,497 males responding to a 1983 questionnaire--response rate approximately 41.5%--there was a greater proportion of cigarette smokers in the higher exposure category.;Excess mortality risks per 10 mSv radiation exposure were 1.71% and 1.28% respectively. For all leukaemias excluding chronic lymphatic leukaemia, with a 2 year lag of radiation exposure the excess risk per response was 11.08%. (Abstract shortened by UMI.);Analysis of individual causes of malignant death did not show any statistically significant elevation of SMRs for either the non-exposed or exposed, with either zero or 15 year lag. A statistically significant trend of increasing relative risks across increasing radiation exposure categories was found for malignant neoplasms of trachea, bronchus and lung, (lung group), with a 15 year lag of radiation exposure, using the external standard (p = 0.0435).