Nuclear Health and Safety

Mortality Study of Atmospheric Nuclear Test Participants Is Flawed Gao ID: RCED-92-182 August 10, 1992

A 1979 report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggested that the incidence of leukemia among servicemen who had participated in atmospheric nuclear tests in the 1950s may have been seriously underestimated. In response, the Defense Nuclear Agency commissioned the National Academy of Sciences to study how low-level radiation affected participants in other atmospheric tests. The Academy's 1985 report concluded that the death rate from cancer in the five tests reviewed was generally less than that which would be expected in the general population. New information developed by the Defense Nuclear Agency in 1989, however, raised doubts about the validity of the Academy study. GAO provides information on the actions or omissions by the federal government in connection with the 1985 National Academy of Sciences report. GAO discusses (1) the accuracy of the data supplied to the Academy, (2) when and how inaccuracies in the data were discovered, (3) when and how the inaccuracies occurred, and (4) what actions have been taken to correct the data and update the 1985 mortality study.

GAO found that: (1) the Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) has consolidated and refined participant nuclear test series databases and comparisons of preconsolidation and postconsolidation data show inaccuracies; (2) DNA discovered through its comparison that about 15,000 of the 47,435 individuals assessed did not participate in the tests and about 28,000 participants were not included in the study's results; (3) the inaccuracies resulted from pressures to complete the work, inexperienced data gatherers, and difficulties in obtaining complete and accurate records; (4) DNA radiation data provided to the National Academy of Sciences were understated and contained inaccuracies due to exposure data being incorrectly transcribed; (5) despite discussions between DNA and the Academy, data inaccuracies continue, and the data can be used for approximations only; and (6) DNA is contracting with the Academy for follow-up study.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Team: Phone:


The Justia Government Accountability Office site republishes public reports retrieved from the U.S. GAO These reports should not be considered official, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Justia.