50 Years of the Radiation Exposure Information and Reporting System

Abstract

Purpose

As the Radiation Exposure Information and Reporting System (REIRS) celebrates 50 years of existence, this is an appropriate time to reflect on the innovative and novel system and how it has shaped the study of occupational radiation exposure. It is also fitting to appreciate the vision and initiative of the individuals who recognized the future value of the collection and analysis of this information to better inform regulations, policies, and epidemiologic studies, and thus contribute to the protection of workers and the public from the adverse health effects of radiation exposure.

Conclusions

REIRS has evolved and expanded over its 50-year history and has played a central role in providing the radiation exposure monitoring records for the Million Person Study for individuals monitored as NRC licensees and at DOE facilities. REIRS has played two major functions in epidemiologic studies. First, it has provided dosimetry information on individual workers in occupational studies to ensure nearly complete ascertainment of career doses. Second, REIRS was used as the primary data source for large cohorts within the Million Person Study: nuclear power plant workers (n∼140,000) and industrial radiographers (n∼130,000). The legacy that REIRS continues to uphold is a model for creating and maintaining a successful tool throughout decades of political, technological, and demographic change.

Keywords:

• Radiation Exposure
• REIRS
• occupational radiation
• epidemiology
• radiation records

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Derek Hagemeyer

Derek A. Hagemeyer is the Associate Director for Human Health & Environment at Oak Ridge Associated Universities. He is responsible for program operations associated with human subject health and protection surveillance as well as the independent environmental assessment and verification under the DOE Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). He serves as the principal investigator for the DOE Radiation Exposure Monitoring System (REMS) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Radiation Exposure Information and Reporting System (REIRS) projects. He is currently serving as Vice Chairman of the international Information System on Occupational Exposure (ISOE) Working Group on Data Analysis (WGDA) to provide support in the collection and analysis of ISOE's international database of radiation exposure information. ISOE is jointly sponsored by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Gregory Nichols

Gregory P. Nichols is the President of GP Nichols & Company, LLC. He has nearly 20 years of experience spanning clinical laboratory medicine, emergency medical care, and occupational/environmental health research. He has supported projects for a variety of government agencies including the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Michael T. Mumma

Terry A. Brock is the current NRC project manager for the Analysis of Cancer Risk in Populations near Nuclear Facilities study, the Radiation Exposure Information and Reporting System, and the agency’s participation in the One Million U.S. Radiation Workers and Veterans health study. He has also served as the project manager for the State-of-the-Art Reactor Consequence Analyses study and on the Risk Task Group that explored risk-informing the radioactive materials arena.

John D. Boice

Michael Mumma is the Director of Information Technology at the International Epidemiology Institute and the International Epidemiology Field Station for Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He has over 20 years of experience in data analysis and conducting epidemiologic investigations.

Terry A. Brock

John Boice is President of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements and Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University. He is an international authority on radiation effects and served on the Main Commission of the International Commission on Radiological Protection and on the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. He directs the Million Person Study of Low-Dose Health Effects.