Nuclear Shipyard Workers and surprise outcome

08 Jan Nuclear Shipyard Workers and surprise outcome

This study on radiation exposure in the workplace was commissioned by the US Navy and delivered surprising outcomes:

1. The significantly lower cancer death rate of the nuclear workers cohort compared to the non nuclear worker controls suggests that increased low LET radiation may have stimulated their immune systems, as reported in other irradiated populations (Calabrese and Baldwin, 2000).
2. There was a  24% lower Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR) from all causes of
   the nuclear exposed cohort (p < 10–16) compared to the non nuclear exposed controls. A 24% lower SMR implies a 2.8-year increase in average lifespan.

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Sponsler and Cameron 2005 Shipyard Worker Study