Background
As with any workplace, DOE has a variety of hazards, some more unique than others. These hazards and their associated outcomes have the potential to impact both the health of individuals – workers and surrounding communities – as well as DOE operations. The Atomic Energy Act of 1957 — Section 8(a) requires research and development activities to be conducted to support adequate health protection during mission operations.
Strategic Goal
To appropriately characterize and facilitate management of human health outcomes associated with the United States Department of Energy’s operations.
Strategic Vision
Protection of human health and wellbeing as well as enablement of the United States Department of Energy mission through a data-driven and responsive approach.
Current Study Portfolio
EHSS-13 is responsible for nine major health study programs that cover physical, chemical, and biological hazards which requires a diverse range of expertise including scientific management, epidemiology, health physics and radiation science, and international/health policy. All programs rely heavily on interpretation and implementation of current and emerging health policy and five programs integrate components with international implications.
- Beryllium Associated Worker Registry (BAWR)
- Emergency Response Resources
- Comprehensive Epidemiology Data Resource
- Public Health Risk Assessment
- Japan Program
- Marshall Islands Program
- Million Person Study
- Strategic Research Program
- US Transuranium and Uranium Registries
Many of these programs involve critical long-term epidemiological studies that have formed and will continue to shape the basis of radiological health protection across the globe. Information from these programs is used to protect and promote the health of DOE workers, their families, and residents of neighboring communities, and to share the information and data with the public and the larger health and safety community.
Important aspects of these portfolios are the identification of priority research areas, coordination and collaboration across the DOE complex as well as other organizations and government agencies, leveraging historical data trends to assess current occupational practices and guide future work, providing expert guidance and technical assistance, and communication and dissemination of health effects information.
In addition to the peer-reviewed publications, technical documents, and reports that result from EHSS-13 studies, many documents related to EHSS-13 activities are available or can be requested from DOE OpenNet resource.
DOE Openness: Human Radiation Experiments
The Office of Human Radiation Experiments, established in March 1994, leads the Department of Energy's efforts to tell the agency's Cold War story of radiation research using human subjects. We have undertaken an intensive effort to identify and catalog relevant historical documents from DOE's 3.2 million cubic feet of records scattered across the country. Internet access to these resources is a key part of making DOE more open and responsive to the American public.
For Additional Information Contact:
Dr. S. Robin Elgart
Director of the Office of Domestic and International Health Studies