Abstract

Background

Approximately 235,000 military personnel participated at one of 230 U.S. atmospheric nuclear weapons tests from 1945 through 1962. At the Nevada Test Site (NTS), the atomic veterans participated in military maneuvers, observed nuclear weapons tests, or provided technical support. At the Pacific Proving Ground (PPG), they served aboard ships or were stationed on islands during or after nuclear weapons tests.

Material and methods

Participants at seven test series, previously studied with high-quality dosimetry and personnel records, and the first test at TRINITY formed the cohort of 114,270 male military participants traced for vital status from 1945 through 2010. Dose reconstructions were based on Nuclear Test Personnel Review records, Department of Defense. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) and Cox and Poisson regression models were used in the analysis.

Results

Most atomic veterans were enlisted men, served in the Navy at the PPG, and were born before 1930. Vital status was determined for 96.8% of the veterans; 60% had died. Enlisted men had significantly high all-causes mortality SMR (1.06); officers had significantly low all-causes mortality SMR (0.71). The pattern of risk over time showed a diminution of the ‘healthy soldier effect’: the all-causes mortality SMR after 50 years of follow-up was 1.00. The healthy soldier effect for all cancers also diminished over time. The all-cancer SMR was significantly high after 50 years (SMR 1.10) primarily from smoking-related cancers, attributed in part to the availability of cigarettes in military rations. The highest SMR was for mesothelioma (SMR 1.56) which was correlated with asbestos exposure in naval ships. Prostate cancer was significantly high (SMR 1.13). Ischemic heart disease was significantly low (SMR 0.84). Estimated mean doses varied by organ were low; e.g., the mean red bone marrow dose was 6 mGy (maximum 108 mGy). Internal cohort dose–response analyses provided no evidence for increasing trends with radiation dose for leukemia (excluding chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)) [ERR (95% CI) per 100 mGy −0.37 (−1.08, 0.33); n = 710], CLL, myelodysplastic syndrome, multiple myeloma, ischemic heart disease, or cancers of the lung, prostate, breast, and brain.

Conclusion

No statistically significant radiation associations were observed among 114,270 nuclear weapons test participants followed for up to 65 years. The 95% confidence limits were narrow and excluded mortality risks per unit dose that are two to four times higher than those reported in other investigations. Significantly elevated SMRs were seen for mesothelioma and asbestosis, attributed to asbestos exposure aboard ships.

中文翻译：

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八次地上核武器试验系列中美军参与者的死亡率

摘要

背景

从 1945 年到 1962 年，大约 235,000 名军事人员参加了美国 230 次大气核武器试验之一。在内华达试验场 (NTS)，原子退伍军人参加了军事演习、观察核武器试验或提供技术支持。在太平洋试验场（PPG），他们在核武器试验期间或之后在船上服役或驻扎在岛屿上。

材料与方法

七个测试系列的参与者，之前研究过高质量的剂量测定和人事记录，TRINITY 的第一次测试形成了 114,270 名男性军事参与者的队列，从 1945 年到 2010 年追踪了生命状态。剂量重建基于核测试人员审查记录， 国防部。分析中使用了标准化死亡率 (SMR) 和 Cox 和 Poisson 回归模型。

结果

大多数原子能退伍军人是入伍军人，在 PPG 的海军服役，并且出生于 1930 年之前。96.8% 的退伍军人的生命状况已确定；60% 已经死亡。入伍男性的全因死亡率 SMR (1.06) 显着较高；警官的全因死亡率 SMR 显着降低（0.71）。随着时间的推移，风险模式显示“健康士兵效应”的下降：50 年随访后的全因死亡率 SMR 为 1.00。所有癌症的健康士兵效应也随着时间的推移而减弱。50 年后，所有癌症的 SMR 显着高（SMR 1.10），主要来自与吸烟相关的癌症，部分原因是军用口粮中卷烟的可用性。SMR 最高的是间皮瘤（SMR 1.56），这与海军舰艇中的石棉暴露相关。前列腺癌显着升高（SMR 1. 13）。缺血性心脏病显着降低（SMR 0.84）。不同器官的估计平均剂量较低；例如，平均红骨髓剂量为 6 mGy（最大 108 mGy）。内部队列剂量反应分析没有提供证据表明白血病（不包括慢性淋巴细胞白血病 (CLL)）的辐射剂量呈增加趋势 [ERR (95% CI) 每 100 mGy -0.37 (-1.08, 0.33)；n  = 710]、CLL、骨髓增生异常综合征、多发性骨髓瘤、缺血性心脏病或肺癌、前列腺癌、乳腺癌和脑癌。

结论

在长达 65 年的随访中，114,270 名核武器试验参与者未观察到具有统计学意义的辐射关联。95% 的置信限很窄，并且排除了每单位剂量的死亡风险，该风险比其他研究报告的风险高 2 到 4 倍。间皮瘤和石棉沉着病的 SMR 显着升高，这归因于船上的石棉暴露。