Savannah River Site Health Effects Subcommittee (SRSHES) Meeting

Final Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2002

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Dr. McClain reported that no members expressed opposition to the Outreach Workgroup’s recommendations on the brochure. She confirmed that the document would be revised based on these suggestions and others submitted by the members. The updated brochure will be presented to SRSHES for review and comment. The remainder of the deliberations focused on the direction of the Epidemiologic Data Workgroup. Dr. Umansky reiterated his previous question about additional information that may benefit CDC in determining whether an epidemiologic study will be feasible after the scenarios have been completed.

Ms. Guess followed up on this comment and questioned whether data on the large SRS minority population should be reviewed. Ms. Todorov replied that CDC needs the workgroup’s assistance in collecting more available health data and information on demographics, characteristics, lifestyles and other confounding factors of SRS populations. She responded to Ms. Guess that the workgroup’s data collection efforts will cover the racial distribution in SRS. This type of information will be particularly important if CDC decides to conduct an epidemiologic study in the future. Ms. Todorov planned on having a discussion with NCEH staff to clarify other tasks for the workgroup and deadlines for these activities. To avoid duplicating existing efforts, Mr. Renard reported that demographics on the SRS region have already been collected by NCEH and ATSDR.

To examine potential adverse health effects on a broader scale, Ms. Kato raised the possibility of the workgroup reviewing epidemiologic data from other sites that have the same 12 radionuclides and 22 toxic chemicals of potential importance as SRS. Dr. Lee advised the workgroup to maintain the dosimetry studies Dr. Umansky cited during his presentation for use in future phases of the dose reconstruction project. Mr. Lockridge pointed out that a summary of the research findings would be extremely helpful for the Scenario Workgroup to identify common themes, characterize data gaps, and provide more focused recommendations to CDC. Ms. Todorov and Dr. Umansky confirmed that this effort will be undertaken and a report will be developed for the Scenario Workgroup.