Publications by authors named "Boice J"

Since 1968, the United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries (USTUR) has studied the biokinetics and tissue dosimetry of uranium and transuranium elements in nuclear workers. As part of the USTUR collaboration with the Million Person Study (MPS) of Low-Dose Health Effects, radiation dose to different parts of the human heart is being estimated for workers with documented intakes of 239Pu or 226Ra. The study may be expanded for workers with intakes of 238U and other radionuclides.

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The American radium dial worker (RDW) cohort of over 3,200 persons is being revisited as part of the Million Person Study (MPS) to include a modern approach to RDW dosimetry. An exceptional source of data and contextualization in this project is an extensive collection of electronic records (requiring 43 gigabytes (GB) of storage) digitized from existing microfilm and microfiche housed at the United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries (USTUR). Although the type, extent, and quality (e.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Million Person Study (MPS) investigates the health impacts of gradual exposure to ionizing radiation on over one million U.S. radiation workers and veterans, focusing on both cancer and non-cancer conditions.
  • Recent efforts have highlighted mortality patterns related to neurological and behavioral disorders, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, by analyzing claims data from Medicare beneficiaries.
  • To manage the extensive and complex dataset, the MPS is developing specialized open-source software (Colossus) to facilitate detailed evaluation of health outcomes and related factors from the collected health information.
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Objective: This follow-up study of uranium processing workers at the Fernald Feed Materials Production Center examines the relationship between radiation exposure and cancer and non-cancer mortality among 6403 workers employed for at least 30 days between 1951 and 1985.

Methods: We estimated cumulative, individual, annualised doses to 15 organs/tissues from external, internal and radon exposures. Vital status and cause of death were ascertained in 2017.

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Article Synopsis
  • Mallinckrodt Chemical Works processed uranium for the Manhattan Project from 1942 to 1966, and workers might have been exposed to harmful radiation.
  • Researchers looked at health data for 2,514 white male employees and found a high number of deaths from brain cancer and kidney disease linked to radiation and silica dust exposure.
  • Most of the workers' health statuses were confirmed, and the study showed risk factors for kidney disease and heart problems related to radiation exposure.
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Over 4 million survivors of breast cancer live in the United States, 35% of whom were treated before 2009. Approximately half of patients with breast cancer receive radiation therapy, which exposes the untreated contralateral breast to radiation and increases the risk of a subsequent contralateral breast cancer (CBC). Radiation oncology has strived to reduce unwanted radiation dose, but it is unknown whether a corresponding decline in actual dose received to the untreated contralateral breast has occurred.

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Background: Radiation is one of the most important stressors related to missions in space beyond Earth's orbit. Epidemiologic studies of exposed workers have reported elevated rates of Parkinson's disease. The importance of cognitive dysfunction related to low-dose rate radiation in humans is not defined.

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From 1986 to 1991, 4831 men from Estonia were sent to clean up radioactively contaminated areas near Chernobyl (Chornobyl). Their cancer incidence during 1986 to 2019 was compared to that of the male population of Estonia. The cohort of cleanup workers was linked to national population and cancer registers based on unique personal identification numbers.

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Background: Decades of research have transformed hemophilia from severely limiting children's lives to a manageable disorder compatible with a full, active life, for many in high-income countries. The direction of future research will determine whether exciting developments truly advance health equity for all people with hemophilia (PWH). National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) and American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network conducted extensive inclusive all-stakeholder consultations to identify the priorities of people with inherited bleeding disorders and those who care for them.

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Background: Contralateral breast cancer (CBC) is associated with younger age at first diagnosis, family history and pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) in genes such as and However, data regarding genetic factors predisposing to CBC among younger women who are -negative remain limited.

Methods: In this nested case-control study, participants negative for // PGVs were selected from the WECARE Study. The burden of PGVs in established breast cancer risk genes was compared in 357 cases with CBC and 366 matched controls with unilateral breast cancer (UBC).

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This article summarizes a Symposium on 'Radiation risks of the central nervous system' held virtually at the 67th Annual Meeting of the Radiation Research Society, 3-6 October 2021. Repeated low-dose radiation exposure over a certain period could lead to reduced neuronal proliferation, altered neurogenesis, neuroinflammation and various neurological complications, including psychological consequences, necessitating further research in these areas. Four speakers from radiation biology, genetics and epidemiology presented the latest data from their studies seeking insights into this important topic.

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The US National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) convened Scientific Committee 6-12 (SC 6-12) to examine methods for improving dose estimates for brain tissue for internally deposited radionuclides, with emphasis on alpha emitters. This Memorandum summarises the main findings of SC 6-12 described in the recently published NCRP Commentary No. 31, 'Development of Kinetic and Anatomical Models for Brain Dosimetry for Internally Deposited Radionuclides'.

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Background: There are few occupational studies of women exposed to ionizing radiation. During World War II, the Tennessee Eastman Corporation (TEC) operated an electromagnetic field separation facility of 1152 calutrons to obtain enriched uranium (U) used for the Hiroshima atomic bomb. Thousands of women were involved in these operations.

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Background: Estimates of radiation risks following prolonged exposures at low doses and low-dose rates are uncertain. Medical radiation workers are a major component of the Million Person Study (MPS) of low-dose health effects. Annual personal dose equivalents, (10), for individual workers are available to facilitate dose-response analyses for lung cancer, leukemia, ischemic heart disease (IHD) and other causes of death.

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Background: The aim of the Million Person Study of Low-Dose Health Effects (MPS) is to examine the level of radiation risk for chronic exposures received gradually over time and not acutely as was the case for the Japanese atomic bomb survivors. Nuclear power plant (NPP) workers comprise nearly 15 percent of the MPS. Leukemia, selected cancers, Parkinson's disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD) and other causes of death are evaluated.

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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers study how radiation affects people's health to make safety rules and keep everyone safe.
  • The Million Person Study looks at health effects from long-term radiation exposure compared to short, intense exposure like what atomic bomb survivors experienced.
  • Many different groups of workers exposed to radiation are included in the study, and important findings about their health risks are being gathered and analyzed.
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Purpose: Hormonal changes related to pregnancy and lactation among women treated for cancer might influence the risk of second primary cancer. We investigated whether pregnancy near the time of breast cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma or other cancer diagnoses is associated with increased risk of developing a new primary cancer.

Methods: Women born after 1 April 1935 diagnosed with cancer at ages 15-44 years during 1968-2006 were identified in the Danish Cancer Registry.

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Background: Radiation therapy (RT) for breast cancer increases risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Women treated for left- vs right-sided breast cancer receive greater heart radiation exposure, which may further increase this risk. The risk of radiation-associated CAD specifically among younger breast cancer survivors is not well defined.

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Background: During World War II (WWII), the Manhattan Engineering District established a secret laboratory in the mountains of northern New Mexico. The mission was to design, construct and test the first atomic weapon, nicknamed 'The Gadget' that was detonated at the TRINITY site in Alamogordo, NM. After WWII, nuclear weapons research continued, and the laboratory became the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).

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Purpose: Pooling of individual-level data for workers involved in uranium refining and processing (excluding enrichment) may provide valuable insights into risks from occupational uranium and external ionizing radiation exposures.

Methods: Data were pooled for workers from four uranium processing facilities (Fernald, Mallinckrodt and Middlesex from the U.S.

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Purpose: This paper reviews the history of the radium dial workers in the United States, summarizes the scientific progress made since the last evaluation in the early 1990s, and discusses current progress in updating the epidemiologic cohort and applying new dosimetric models for radiation risk assessment.

Background: The discoveries of radiation and radioactivity led quickly to medical and commercial applications at the turn of the 20th century, including the development of radioluminescent paint, made by combining radium with phosphorescent material and adhesive. Workers involved with the painting of dials and instruments included painters, handlers, ancillary workers, and chemists who fabricated the paint.

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