MISSING DOSE FROM MORTALITY STUDIES OF RADIATION EFFECTS AMONG WORKERS AT OAK-RIDGE-NATIONAL-LABORATORY

Missing dose is a problem that has not been adequately addressed in th e mortality studies of radiation effects among workers at Oak Ridge Na tional Laboratory. The missing dose is a result of recording a zero fo r below-detectable doses, especially for frequent (weekly) film badge readings. To make the thorough dosimetry assessment needed in the curr ent Oak Ridge National Laboratory worker studies, it will probably be necessary to consider all data at hand including personnel dose record s, daily pocket meter readings used to supplement weekly and quarterly readings from other dosimeters, and monitoring results from both buil ding surveys and fixed stations. The fixed-station data should be extr emely useful in developing a better understanding of the unusual tempo ral variation of the external radiation doses to Oak Ridge National La boratory workers during the high exposure-rate periods of the 1950s an d early 1960s.