CANCER LINKED TO ROCKETDYNE; UCLA STUDY OF WORKERS SHOWS HIGHER-THAN-EXPECTED DEATH RATE.

Byline: Paul Hefner Daily News Sacramento Bureau Copyright 1997, Los Angeles Daily News 

Health researchers have linked on-the-job radiation exposure to excessive cancer deaths among workers at Rocketdyne's Santa Susana Field Laboratory, the Daily News has learned.

In a long-awaited study set to be made public today, UCLA scientists and state health officials will report that the cancer risk to workers exposed to low doses of radiation at the Simi Hills facility is at least six to eight times higher than previous studies suggested.

Their long-term study of 4,600 Rocketdyne workers found higher than expected death rates from a wide variety of cancers, including leukemia and lung cancer, according to documents obtained by the Daily News.

Though the exact numbers of cancer deaths found were not available, researchers found work place radiation responsible for 27.3 percent of such deaths among workers who inhaled or ingested radioactive particles, the documents state.

``Clearly, if I were a worker at that facility, it would get my attention,'' said one official familiar with the report. ``It's fairly blunt for a scientific study.''

The study is the culmination of eight years of controversy since the Daily News disclosed May 14, 1989, that a study for the U.S. Department of Energy found radioactive chemical contamination in the soil at Rocketdyne's Santa Susana Field Laboratory in the hills between Chatsworth and Simi Valley.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stepped in and assumed oversight of the cleanup program at the 2,600-acre facility where nuclear research was conducted for four decades under DOE contracts. A $55 million cleanup is under way.

At the time of the 1989 disclosure, there was no evidence of a health threat to workers or the public.

But under community pressure the epidemiological study was ordered and a key recommendation of the report today is that a second study be considered to determine whether there were any impacts on the health of people living in the vicinity of Santa Susana. Officials emphasized that the findings of the worker study have no bearing on residents living near the facility.

U.S. safety review recommended

Among the important findings of the study of Rocketdyne workers was that cancer deaths attributable to radiation exposure occurred even at levels far below those allowed by current U.S. law. This prompted researchers to travel to Washington, D.C., to report their findings to federal regulators directly, sources said.

The report recommends that U.S. and international radiation exposure safety levels be re-evaluated immediately, that the health of Rocketdyne nuclear workers continue to be tracked and that similar studies be conducted on nuclear workers elsewhere in the country.

Researchers and health officials were scheduled to brief Rocketdyne workers on the study's findings at meetings this morning, and the community at meetings tonight and Friday night.

``This study does not show that you have a higher risk of cancer living in the surrounding area,'' one source said. ``This study was strictly done with workers who had individual, day-to-day exposure. Anyone living in the homes and nearby communities should not be alarmed by the study's findings.''

However, the report calls for a review to determine if further study of the neighboring community is warranted.

One of the things that prompted the exhaustive worker study was a 1990 review of cancer registry data in the five census tracts closest to the field laboratory that found elevated levels of bladder cancer.

Later analysis of the findings by state epidemiologists found no connection between the elevated bladder cancer levels and Rocketdyne operations. The report said there was no reason to conduct health studies among nearby residents.

However, community activists and state legislators called for the worker study, saying it would help determine whether further health studies of area residents are needed.

Rocketdyne declines comment

Rocketdyne officials said Wednesday that they would abide by a confidentiality agreement not to release the results of the study or comment on it until today.

``We still believe that our employees deserved to hear this information first and we're disappointed that the process has been compromised,'' said Rocketdyne spokeswoman Lori Circle.

``We abided by the process and feel it's a great disservice to our employees and their families to not hear it firsthand from the researchers and the Health Department prior to being made public,'' Circle said.

Officials for Rocketdyne, which was acquired this year by Boeing after being part of Rockwell International for decades, have maintained that their nuclear operations used the best safety practices.

When the UCLA study was initiated, they expressed confidence that worker health was not adversely affected.

Nuclear history

The company started doing nuclear research at the remote site shortly after World War II, at one point experiencing the partial meltdown of an experimental reactor core that released some radioactive gas to the atmosphere.

An earlier DOE survey and expanded testing and environmental monitoring since 1989 have revealed no evidence of a health threat to workers or the public, although slight contamination was discovered on neighboring property.

But the latest study, by far the most thorough to date, suggests there is cause for concern for workers. Researchers examined records of radiation exposure, and employment, medical and pension records provided by the company. They also conducted interviews with employees and examined death records.

Among their key findings:

Workers exposed to external radiation had higher than expected death rates from leukemia, lymphoma and lung cancer.

Increased doses of internal radiation raised the death rates for a number of cancers, including of the mouth, esophagus and stomach.

Death rates for all cancers increased as external radiation doses increased.

Despite these findings, officials noted that even with the increased risks from radiation exposure, the workers as a group had relatively good health compared to the general population.

State health officials would not publicly respond to the study's findings. But one official said they were moving aggressively to address the issue by briefing workers and dispatching researchers to present a report to the Energy Department.

The study could have wide-ranging impacts on the nation's nuclear industry. An oversight panel formed to keep tabs on the study has recommended that the current limits on radiation exposure be reviewed in light of the findings, documents show.

UCLA and state health officials are set to publicly discuss the findings of the study at two meetings at the Simi Valley Radisson Hotel, 999 Enchanted Way, Simi Valley. The meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. today and 7 p.m. Friday.

ADVICE FOR WORKERS

UCLA researchers and state health officials planned to advise Rocketdyne workers to consider a number of steps to protect their health, documents show.

Among them:

Report any signs of blood or lymph system problems to your doctor, including unusual tiredness or lymph-gland swelling. Doctors should take a comprehensive work history including exposure to radiation and chemicals.

Avoid exposure to chemicals such as benzene and glycol ethers that could be toxic to your bone marrow.

Quit smoking.

If you drink alcoholic beverages, discuss with your doctor whether you should reduce the amount or quit.

HEALTH STUDY FINDINGS

Here are the key findings of the Oversight Committee's report on a health study of Rocketdyne nuclear workers:

Worker exposure to external radiation was associated with elevated cancer death rates.

Where radioactive materials were inhaled or ingested, 27.3 percent of worker cancer deaths were attributable to workplace exposure.

Older adults over 49 are at greater risk from radiation exposure.

Deaths attributable to radiation exposure occurred at doses substantially below U.S. worker safety limits.

ROCKETDYNE CHRONOLOGY

Here are the key events involving a health study of nuclear workers at Rocketdyne's Santa Susana Field Laboratory located in the Simi Hills three miles west of Chatsworth.

May 17, 1989: The Daily News reports that an environmental survey by the U.S. Department of Energy found low levels of radioactive contamination in soil and water on the 290-acre nuclear research portion of the field lab.

Aug. 2, 1989: The U.S. EPA steps in and assumes oversight, reporting no evidence of a public health threat, but charging that past environmental monitoring at the field lab had been inadequate.

Oct. 17, 1989: With a $55 million cleanup program under way, three Assembly members from the San Fernando Valley accuse state regulators of not adequately monitoring the site. An expanded monitoring program is put in place.

Jan. 9, 1990: Then Assemblywoman Cathie Wright, R-Simi Valley, introduces urgency legislation requiring the state Health Department to conduct a full-scale health study of Rocketdyne workers.

Oct. 10, 1990: A state Health Department survey of cancer registry records finds elevated levels of bladder cancer in five census tracts closest to the field lab.

Nov. 27, 1990: Rocketdyne agrees to pay $280,000 to settle state Health Department hazardous waste violations.

Feb. 15, 1991: State health officials inform Rocketdyne that they will fund a thorough health study of the company's nuclear workers.

March 27, 1992: A state Health Department review of the bladder cancer data finds no link between the elevated bladder cancer levels and Rocketdyne operations.

Feb. 19, 1993: An advisory panel of community activists and nationally recognized medical experts chooses UCLA epidemiologist Hal Morgenstern and his associates to conduct the health study.

March 10, 1993: An exhaustive sampling of property adjacent to the field laboratory finds evidence that extremely low levels of radioactive contamination had moved off the plant site. The levels are too low to pose a health threat, officials say.

June 2, 1994: UCLA researchers report they are analyzing radiation exposure records for about 5,000 active and former Rocketdyne employees out of the 40,000 past and present employees who worked at the field lab.

Sept. 11, 1997: After an exhaustive review by members of the advisory panel and Rocketdyne officials, the health study findings of linkage between work place radiation exposure and worker cancer deaths are scheduled for public release.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, 3 box, map

Photo: Rocketdyne's Santa Susana Field Laboratory in the Simi Hills began nuclear research after WWII 

BOX: (1) ADVICE FOR WORKERS (see text)

(2) HEALTH STUDY FINDINGS (see text)

(3) Rocketdyne Chronology (see text)

MAP: Rocketdyne Santa Susana Field Laboratory

Gregg Miller/Daily News