FINAL REPORT OF THE
RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION
ACT COMMITTEE

SUBMITTED TO THE
HUMAN RADIATION INTERAGENCY
WORKING GROUP

JULY, 1996

CONTENTS

Executive Summary
Proposed Amendments to the Statute
Recommended Modifications to the Department of Justice Regulations
Introduction

Issues Relating to Compensation for Lung Cancer

Statutory and Regulatory Framework for Compensation
Fairness of the Present Statutory Compensation Criteria
Alternative Compensation Criteria

Description of the Relative Risk Model Used to Derive Proposed Alternative Criteria, and Model Parameters
Proposed Alternative Compensation Criteria
Proposed Modifications to the Definition of Smoking in the Regulations
Navajo and Smoking
Cessation of Smoking
Comparison of the Compensable Risk Thresholds Required of Uranium Miners and Downwinders

Issues Relating to Compensation for Nonmalignant Respiratory Diseases

Statutory and Regulatory Background
Recommendations Regarding Statutory Compensation Criteria
Proof of Radon Progeny Exposure as a Condition for Compensation for Pulmonary Fibrosis Proof of Radon Exposure as a Condition for Compensation for Silicosis or Pneumoconiosis
Recommendations for Modification of the Existing Regulations Governing Proof of a Nonmalignant Respiratory Disease
Requirement That Claimant Prove Functional Impairment in Addition to the Presence of Disease
Regulations Governing Proof of Disease Process
Regulation Requiring Proof of Disease Process Where a Claimant Can Prove Impairment
Lack of Authority in the Regulations for Proof of Disease By HRCT Scans
Lack of Authority in the Regulations for Proof of Disease By Biopsy in Living Miners
Requirement That Chest Radiographs Be Interpreted Only By "B"-Readers
Regulations Regarding Proof of Impairment
Pulmonary Function Test Standards
Required Reduction in Lung Function to Qualify as Impaired

Appendix A. Establishment of Data-Based Criteria for Radon-Associated Lung Cancer

Introduction
Scientific Basis for the Association of Radon Progeny Exposure and Lung Cancer
Effects of Radon Progeny in Underground Miners
Effects of Smoking on Risk of Lung Cancer Due To Radon Progeny Exposure
Effect of Radon Progeny Exposure in Native Americans
Cohort Studies of U.S. Uranium Miners
Colorado Plateau Uranium Miners
New Mexico Uranium Miners
Material and Methods of Analysis
Topic 1: Modeling Lung Cancer Risk and WLM
Topic 2: Cigarette Smoking and Lung Cancer Risk Due To Radon
Topic 3: Radon Risk Among Native Americans
Topic 4: Risk Modeling Based on Duration of Exposure and Year First Exposed
Topic 5: Comparisons PCs for Data-Based Risk Model and RECA-Based Models
Development of Model-Based Compensation Criteria

Figures

Figure 1: Mean levels of radon decay products measured in Working Levels (WL) in uranium mines surveyed during the periods 1950-1969
Figure 2: Number of measurements of radon decay products in uranium mines surveyed during the period 1950-1969
Figure 3: Comparison of PC_RECA and PC_WLM
Figure 4: PC_WLM by cumulative radon progeny exposure
Figure 5: Comparison^$ of PC_WLM and PC_dur

Tables

Table 1
Table 2
Table 3a
Table 3b
Table 3c
Table 4a
Table 4b
Table 4c
Table 5a
Table 5b
Table 5c
Table 6a
Table 6b
Table 6c