ROCKETDYNE RISK REPORT; FUEL CHEMICAL EXPOSURE LINKED TO INCREASED DEATHS.Byline: Lisa Mascaro Daily News Staff Writer Workers exposed to a chemical in rocket fuel at Rocketdyne's Santa Susana Santa Susana can refer to several places:
UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX study released Friday said. The long-awaited University of California, Los Angeles UCLA comprises the College of Letters and Science (the primary undergraduate college), seven professional schools, and five professional Health Science schools. Since 2001, UCLA has enrolled over 33,000 total students, and that number is steadily rising. study cautioned that hydrazine hydrazine (hī`drəzēn'), chemical compound, formula NH2NH2, m.p. 1.4°C;, b.p. 113.5°C;, specific gravity 1.011 at 15°C;. It is very soluble in water and soluble in alcohol. was among a soup of chemicals that could have contributed to cancer among the mechanics and technicians. The findings were strongly repudiated by company officials. ``The workers in these jobs around these test stands had a higher risk of having lung cancer lung cancer, cancer that originates in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States in both men and women. Like other cancers, lung cancer occurs after repeated insults to the genetic material of the cell. ,'' said principal investigator Noun 1. principal investigator - the scientist in charge of an experiment or research project PI scientist - a person with advanced knowledge of one or more sciences Hal Morgenstern during a morning news conference in Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. . ``Why? . . . We really don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. for sure which chemical or other factor caused the cancer. We think hydrazine.'' The study, among the few ever conducted on the effects of hydrazine on workers, is the companion to a landmark 1997 study. That report found higher cancer death rates among workers exposed to radiation at the hilltop facility, where rocket engines had been tested since the 1950s. Company officials attacked the report during a follow-up news conference, saying its nine-member panel of hired scientists found faults in UCLA's methods. They pledged to conduct their own review - along with a community health study and a follow-up to the radiation study. ``Rocketdyne cannot accept the study's findings as meaningful or conclusive,'' said Steve Lafflam, Rocketdyne's division director of safety health and environmental affairs. ``The overall conclusions are misleading and generally not supported.'' ``We must be careful not to put too much confidence in these findings,'' Lafflam said. The study looked at company health records for 6,107 men who worked at the 12 rocket engine test sites from the 1950s to 1980. It identified 404 cancer deaths, including 146 from lung cancer and the others from cancers of the bladder, kidney, and blood and lymphatic systems. Among those cancer deaths, the study found that those with high exposure to hydrazine were more likely to die from cancer than those who were exposed to lower levels or not at all. Hydrazine, a chemical that causes cancer in animals, has been listed as a suspected carcinogen carcinogen: see cancer. carcinogen Agent that can cause cancer. Exposure to one or more carcinogens, including certain chemicals, radiation, and certain viruses, can initiate cancer under conditions not completely understood. by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution, noise pollution, and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and . Researchers said poor company records during the 1950s and 1960s limited their focus, leaving them unable to precisely pinpoint which workers operated the test stands where hydrazine was most heavily used. However, they said that based on other studies, they believe that the rocket fuel chemical is a likely cause of the cancer. As much as 1 million pounds of hydrazine was used annually to fuel rockets being tested during the height of the space race during the 1950s and '60s. For tests in the '90s, 100,000 to 200,000 pounds are used each year at the hilltop facility. After 1980, workers were required to wear respirators when working with the chemical, officials said. The study was endorsed by the state Department of Health and the 13-member Advisory Panel of residents and scientists that has been monitoring worker health studies. Local residents and lawmakers who have been pushing for a community-wide health study since radiation and chemical exposure were found to have contaminated contaminated, v 1. made radioactive by the addition of small quantities of radioactive material. 2. made contaminated by adding infective or radiographic materials. 3. an infective surface or object. parts of the site in 1989 renewed their call for investigations. Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl Sheila James Kuehl (born February 9, 1941 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is an American politician, and a former child actress. She is currently a Democratic member of the California State Senate, representing the highly urbanized 23rd district in Los Angeles County and parts of southern , D-Encino, pledged to continue seeking funds for a communitywide health study. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE UCLA STUDY A UCLA study released Friday found workers exposed to the rocket fuel hydrazine at Rocketdyne's Santa Susana Field Laboratory are twice as likely to die of cancer as unexposed co-workers. The study examined 6,107 men who were assumed to have been exposed to high levels of hydrazine before 1980. Of those, 146 died of lung cancer and 258 died of other forms of cancer. A companion study of 4,563 Rocketdyne workers exposed to asbestos found no more lung cancer deaths than among unexposed co-workers. Rocketdyne workers who want to discuss their exposure to hydrazine or other chemicals can call Rocketdyne Safety, Health and Environmental Affairs at (800) 808-1160. CAPTION(S): Photo, Box PHOTO Community members review a UCLA study of cancer risk at the Rocketdyne Santa Susana facility. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News BOX: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE UCLA STUDY (see text) |
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