Epidemiological Study of Korean Radiation Workers (KRWS)

Health Effects Associated With Occupational Radiation Exposure Among Korean Radiation Workers (Korean Radiation Workers Study)

Health risks of radiation exposure in the moderate-to-high dose range have been well established. However, the risk remains unclear at low-dose ranges with protracted low-dose rate exposure, which is typical of occupational exposure. The purpose of this study is to construct a cohort of Korean radiation workers and to assess health effects associated with occupational radiation exposure. The study population is expected to be about 190,000 Korean radiation workers who have been registered with the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission since 1984. The national dose registry, the national cancer registry, the national vital statistics registry, and the national health insurance data are collected based on the Nuclear Safety Act. Through the linkage of those collected data, we will evaluate radiation-induced health risks including cancer and non-cancer diseases.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Radiation Effects; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced; Occupational Exposure to Radiation; Leukemia, Radiation-Induced
• Intervention / Treatment: Radiation: Occupational radiation exposure

Detailed Description

The study population of this study is approximately 190000 Korean radiation workers registered with the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission since 1984. Diagnostic medical radiation workers were not included in the study population. The national dose registry, the national cancer registry, the national vital statistics registry, and the national health insurance data for radiation workers are collected retrospectively or prospectively based on the Nuclear Safety Act. Through the linkage of those collected data, we will evaluate radiation-induced health risks including cancer and non-cancer diseases. This data collection will be continued at 5-year intervals to update information on existing study participants and recruit newly hired workers if possible.

Age- and sex-specific standardized incidence and mortality ratios will be calculated for overall comparisons of cancer and non-cancer disease risks with general population. For dose-response assessment, excess relative risk (per Gy) and excess absolute risk (per Gy) will be estimated with adjustments for age and potential confounders, such as lifestyle factors and socioeconomic status.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 196379

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Songwon Seo, Ph.D.; Phone Number: +82-2-3399-5891; Email: seo@kirams.re.kr
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Dalnim Lee, Ph.D.; Phone Number: +82-2-3399-5892; Email: leemoon@kirams.re.kr

Study Locations

• Korea, Republic of
  • Nowon-gu
    • Seoul, Nowon-gu, Korea, Republic of, 01812
      • Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 15 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Korean radiation workers in the national dose registry

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Korean radiation workers in the national dose registry (except for diagnostic medical radiation workers)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unidentified personal identification numbers
• Foreigner

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Korean radiation workers; The study population is Korean radiation workers exposed to ionizing radiation in workplaces. Diagnostic medical radiation workers were not included in the study population.	Radiation: Occupational radiation exposure; Ionizing radiation in workplaces

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Radiation-induced cancer risk	Cancer risk associated with occupational radiation exposure	year 4
Radiation-induced cancer risk	Cancer risk associated with occupational radiation exposure	year 9

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Radiation-induced non-cancer risk	Non-cancer disease risk associated with occupational radiation exposure	year 4
Radiation-induced non-cancer risk	Non-cancer disease risk associated with occupational radiation exposure	year 9

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Seo S, Lim WY, Lee DN, Kim JU, Cha ES, Bang YJ, Lee WJ, Park S, Jin YW. Assessing the health effects associated with occupational radiation exposure in Korean radiation workers: protocol for a prospective cohort study. BMJ Open. 2018 Mar 30;8(3):e017359. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017359.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 18, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2022
• Study Completion (Anticipated): March 31, 2031

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 9, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 13, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): May 19, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 25, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 24, 2023
• Last Verified: April 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Cohort study; Ionizing radiation; Radiation workers; Radiation-Induced diseases
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Wounds and Injuries; Leukemia; Radiation Injuries; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced; Leukemia, Radiation-Induced
• Other Study ID Numbers: 50091

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No