NIOSH Testimony on Radiation by E. Harris, June 28, 1977.

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  This statement concerned NIOSH programs relating to occupational exposure to radiation. In the study of industrial carcinogens, attention was given to the problem of radiation induced carcinogenesis. Much epidemiological data gathered points to exposure to radon daughters as hazards to uranium miners and milling operators. Problems arising from the operation of radiation generating equipment were also addressed such as personnel working with baggage x-ray inspection units at airports. Nonionizing radiation hazards included visible, ultraviolet, radiofrequency and microwave radiation, infrared and ultrasonic radiation. Ultraviolet radiation can cause sunburn, eye damage, depigmentation, precancerous tumors, basal and squamous cell cancers, and malignant melanomas. Infrared radiation has been implicated in the development of cataracts. Laser radiation was linked with burns and fire hazards. The only hazard associated with visible radiation thus far has been eyestrain due to the lack of sufficient light while performing a given task. Optical radiation exposures occurred among workers using cathode ray tubes, such as computer screens, in their jobs. Workers were exposed to many sources of microwave and radiofrequency radiation from radio and radar transmitters, industrial drying equipment, heat sealing and curing equipment, and certain medical research devices. Training and support services offered to those exposed to radiation sources were briefly considered.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Agriculture Farmers Hazardous Substances Hearing Hearing Loss Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced Noise Noise, Occupational Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Safety Safety Management Sense Organs

  More +
• Keywords:
  Computer-equipment; Harris-E Infrared-radiation Ionizing-radiation Laser-radiation Microwave-radiation Mining-industry NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Testimony Nonionizing-radiation Radiation-exposure Skin-exposure Ultraviolet-radiation

  More +
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Testimony
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00191031
• Citation:
  NIOSH 1977 Jun:9 pages
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1977
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:81848de6282d072265d6e6eef6612141ee96344069d21a2eb88823cdd13da514c92c96dea049abe7f47df6f91c4d6e21f9b4aa3326f4c33437214e307ced0275
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/180287/cdc_180287_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 436.27 KB ]