Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site
In 1952, the Rocky Flats Plant began operating to manufacture parts needed for nuclear weapon production. The plant was located near Denver, Colorado. The plant operated until 1994, when it was shut down permanently for environmental and safety concerns. Since then, the site has been remediated, and most of the land is now a wildlife refuge.1
Fact sheets
Nuclear workers from the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site have been included in many NIOSH studies. Below are fact sheets that summarize some of the study findings for workers.
Lung fibrosis in plutonium workers (November 2002)
Publications from NIOSH studies done at Rocky Flats
Evaluation of data for DOE site remediation workers. (2000) Final Report) 47 pgs.
Publications from grant-funded studies done at Rocky Flats
Newman LS, Mroz MM, Ruttenber AJ [2005] Lung fibrosis in plutonium workers. RADIAT RES 164 (2): 123-131 AUG 2005
Beryllium disease natural history and exposure-response. (2002)
Lung fibrosis in plutonium workers. (2002) Revised Final Report; 19 pgs.
Wilkinson GS, Tietjen GL, Wiggs LD, Galke WA, Acquavella JF, Reyes M, Voelz GL, Maxweiler RJ [1987]. Mortality among plutonium and other radiation workers at a plutonium weapons facility. Am J Epidemiol 125(2): 231-250.
Gilbert ES, Cragle DL, Wiggs LD [1993]. Update analyses of combined mortality data on workers at the Hanford Site, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant. Radiation Res 136:408-421.
Related websites
Rocky Flats Site: Office of Legacy Management
Medical screening programs available to workers
Building Trades National Medical Screening Program
To learn more, call 1-800-866-9663
References:
1. DOE (U.S. Department of Energy) Rocky Flats Site Fact Sheet. (2009)