Are African-American nuclear workers at lower mortality risk than Caucasians?

Abstract

This study investigated disparities in worker mortality across race at the Savannah River site (SRS) nuclear facility in Aiken, South Carolina. Standardized mortality ratios were calculated stratified by race (Caucasian, African-American) and gender for specific causes of death, and by race, gender, duration of employment, and follow-up for overall mortality. Race-specific standardized mortality ratios for African-American male workers generally were lower than those for Caucasian male workers, although both groups showed strong healthy worker effects. Nevertheless, African-American male workers generally had higher absolute mortality rates. Understanding why SRS African-American male workers are substantially healthier than their reference population as compared with Caucasian male workers but are less healthy in absolute terms than the SRS Caucasian male workers may provide clues for prevention or intervention. Further, the standardized mortality ratios at the SRS were lower than at the Hanford and Oak Ridge nuclear facilities, which warrants investigation.