Evaluation of health effects in Sequoyah Fuels Corporation workers from accidental exposure to uranium hexafluoride

• Main Authors: Fisher, D.R. ), Swint, M.J., Kathren, R.L. )
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: 63 RADIATION; THERMAL; AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; BLOOD; BIOASSAY; HEALTH HAZARDS; RISK ASSESSMENT; PERSONNEL; OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE; SEQUOYAH UF6 PRODUCTION PLANT; ACCIDENTS; URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; URINE; BONE TISSUES; CREATININE; INTAKE; KIDNEYS; LUNGS; PH VALUE; PHYSIOLOGY; RADIATION DOSES; UREA; ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS; AMIDES; ANIMAL TISSUES; AZOLES; BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS; BIOLOGICAL WASTES; BODY; BODY FLUIDS; CARBONIC ACID DERIVATIVES; CONNECTIVE TISSUE; DOSES; FLUORIDES; FLUORINE COMPOUNDS; HALIDES; HALOGEN COMPOUNDS; HAZARDS; HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; IMIDAZOLES; IMINES; INDUSTRIAL PLANTS; MATERIALS; NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; ORGANS; RESPIRATORY SYSTEM; Carbonic acid
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6945131; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6945131; https://doi.org/10.2172/6945131

Urine bioassay measurements for uranium and medical laboratory results were studied to determine whether there were any health effects from uranium intake among a group of 31 workers exposed to uranium hexafluoride (UF{sub 6}) and hydrolysis products following the accidental rupture of a 14-ton shipping cylinder in early 1986 at the Sequoyah Fuels Corporation uranium conversion facility in Gore, Oklahoma. Physiological indicators studied to detect kidney tissue damage included tests for urinary protein, casts and cells, blood, specific gravity, and urine pH, blood urea nitrogen, and blood creatinine. We concluded after reviewing two years of follow-up medical data that none of the 31 workers sustained any observable health effects from exposure to uranium. The early excretion of uranium in urine showed more rapid systemic uptake of uranium from the lung than is assumed using the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Publication 30 and Publication 54 models. The urinary excretion data from these workers were used to develop an improved systemic recycling model for inhaled soluble uranium. We estimated initial intakes, clearance rates, kidney burdens, and resulting radiation doses to lungs, kidneys, and bone surfaces. 38 refs., 10 figs., 7 tabs.