A Review of the Dose Reconstruction Program of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency

From 1945 through 1962, the US atmospheric nuclear weapons testing program involved hundreds of thousands of military and civilian personnel, and some of them were exposed to ionizing radiation. Veterans' groups have since been concerned that their members' health was affected by radiation exposure associated with participation in nuclear tests and have pressured Congress for disability compensation. Several pieces of legislation have been passed to compensate both military and civilian personnel for such health effects. Veterans' concerns about the accuracy of reconstructed doses prompted Congress to have the General Accounting Office (GAO) review the dose reconstruction program used to estimate exposure. The GAO study concluded that dose reconstruction is a valid method of estimating radiation dose and could be used as the basis of compensation. It also recommended an independent review of the dose reconstruction program. The result of that recommendation was a congressional mandate that the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), a part of the Department of Defense, ask the National Research Council to conduct an independent review of the dose reconstruction program. In response to that request, the National Research Council established the Committee to Review the Dose Reconstruction Program of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency in the Board on Radiation Effects Research (BRER). The committee randomly selected sample records of doses that had been reconstructed by DTRA and carefully evaluated them. The committee's report describes its findings and provides responses to many of the questions that have been raised by the veterans. In response to concerns about military personnel and civilian exposure to radiation from the US atmospheric nuclear weapons testing program of 1945-62, Congress charged an independent committee to review the Dose Reconstruction Program. This report details the testing program and the committee's review process, and offers recommendations for improving dose reconstruction and the overall veterans compensation program. Appendices include documents reviewed, names of hearing experts, names of veterans whose files were reviewed, analyses of participant exposure, and a glossary. The cover photo shows soldiers watching an atomic bomb detonation in 1951 in Nevada. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Committee To Review The Dose Reconstruction Program Of The Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Board On Radiation Effects Research, Division On Earth And Life Studies, National Research Council Of The National Academies. This Study Was Supported By Contract Dtra01-01-c-0012 Between The National Academy Of Sciences And The Defense Threat Reduction Agency--t.p. Verso. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Also Issued Online. Mode Of Access: World Wide Web.