Cataract Risk in a Cohort of U.S. Radiologic Technologists Performing Nuclear Medicine Procedures

Details

• Personal Author:
  Alexander BH ; Bernier M-O ; Doody MM ; Journy N ; Kitahara CM ; Linet MS ; Villoing D
• Description:
  Purpose: To estimate the risk of cataract in a cohort of nuclear medicine (NM) radiologic technologists on the basis of their work histories and radiation protection practices. Materials and Methods: In the years 2003-2005 and 2012-2013, 42 545 radiologic technologists from a U.S. prospective study completed questionnaires in which they provided information regarding their work histories and cataract histories. Cox proportional hazards models, stratified according to birth-year cohort (born before 1940 or born in 1940 or later) and adjusted for age, sex, and race, were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for the risk of cataract in radiologic technologists according to NM work history practices according to decade. Results: During the follow-up period (mean follow-up, 7½ years), 7137 incident cataracts were reported. A significantly increased risk of cataract (HR, 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03, 1.14) was observed among workers who performed an NM procedure at least once-as opposed to never. Risks of cataract were increased in the group who had performed a diagnostic (HR, 1.07; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.12) or therapeutic (HR, 1.10; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.17) NM procedure. Risks were higher for those who had first performed diagnostic NM procedures in the 1980s to early 2000s (HR, 1.30; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.58) and those who had performed therapeutic NM procedures in the 1970s (HR, 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.23) and in the 1980s to early 2000s (HR, 1.14; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.29). With the exception of a significantly increased risk associated with performing therapeutic NM procedures without shielding the radiation source in the 1980s (HR, 1.32; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.67), analyses revealed no association between cataract risk and specific radiation protection technique used. Conclusion: An increased risk of cataract was observed among U.S. radiologic technologists who had performed an NM procedure at least once. This association should be examined in future studies incorporating estimated lens doses. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cohort Studies Epidemiology Eye Health Personnel Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Radiation Safety Sense Organs Sense Organs / Injuries
• Keywords:
  Cohort Studies Eye Damage Eyes Health Care Workers Medical Personnel Nuclear Medicine Occupational Exposure Radiation Exposure Radiology
• ISSN:
  0033-8419
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Minnesota ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  286
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20064436
• Citation:
  Radiology 2018 Feb; 286(2):592-601
• Contact Point Address:
  Marie-Odile Bernier, Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850
• Email:
  marie-odile.bernier@irsn.fr
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Performing Organization:
  University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Radiology
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3076d34544f8e82f07bf0098b2a6097eee8b3c626f0ca999ba68a36af253d71db88a4beb33af4f176d31052a0cf7965a31e3c41a614f766af0e4662255c3b87e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222893/cdc_222893_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 261.14 KB ]