Molecular epidemiology pilot for NDA former Sellafield worker samples
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Proof of concept molecular epidemiology study for Nuclear Decommissioning Authority former Sellafield worker (BNFL) blood samples and data
IRAS ID
293066
Contact name
Elizabeth Ainsbury
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UKHSA
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Ionising radiation protection must be based on the state of the art in terms of scientific research in order to ensure radiation workers are sufficiently protected, while ionising radiation is used for the benefit of society. Biological samples from the former British Nuclear Fuel Ltd (BNFL) Sellafield workers radiation research programme are currently held in storage by Newcastle University Biomedicine Biobank (NBB). PHE would now like to carry out new research on these samples, bringing together epidemiological (population health effect study) and radiobiological techniques to explore a number of issues in radiation protection that are very difficult to address using either field in isolation.
Studies of the effect of radiation exposure on health effects typically focus on the total dose an individual has received. However, there is increasing evidence that the rate at which the dose is received is also an important factor. In addition, current evidence for radiation protection is based on group studies, but it is possible that there is variation in the biological response in individuals. Finally, it is known that health effects associated with radiation exposure are also influenced by various lifestyle factors, including smoking and BMI. These factors can also have an effect on some of the biomarker responses.
The worker samples will be assessed for a range of biomarkers known to be linked to radiation exposure, dose rate and individual responses, and the results linked to cancer incidence and mortality data held in the BNFL epidemiological database and Occupational Health records, including data on various factors including smoking. If this study is successful, it will pave the way for a larger programme of work to further develop the use of biomarkers to understand these issues in relation to the health effects of exposure to radiation, supporting radiation protection for current UK radiation workers.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/NW/0069
Date of REC Opinion
25 Feb 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion