FMMP Advisory Committee members Robert Wones, MD,
Melba Guard, Peter Ifland, Edwa Yocum, Carol Schrorr, Paul DeMarco.

Medical history on this population is extremely well characterized, verified, and all cancer diagnoses have been validated with medical records. Extensive disease risk factor information has been collected, and for most information, prior to disease diagnosis. (Links on the left hand side of this page direct you to extensive descriptions of the data and codes.) The FMMP has repeat measures on blood, serum and urine analytes on all participants, and a Medical Heritage program designed to allow standardization of the data for time dependent changes.

This cohort is appropriate to use for studies that are not related to radiation or uranium exposure. Much of the cohort never received exposure beyond the background exposure received by the general population. Extensive uranium dose reconstruction using methods developed by the CDC demonstrate that over 60% of the cohort had such minimal exposure to uranium and radon that their cumulative ionizing radiation exposure was less than 3.2% over lifetime background levels. For the US population, background ionizing radiation exposure is estimated to be 3.6 mSv per year or 288 mSv lifetime (80 years), but the range of individual exposure estimates is wide, depending primarily on geographic location (1-10 mSv per year). The maximum estimate of yearly exposure beyond background for this 60% sub-cohort is only 5.5 mSv, very small compared to the yearly individual dose variation. Lifetime cumulative exposure from the FMPC for this unexposed sub-group ranges from 0.0 to 0.45 Sv. For the other 40% of the cohort, cumulative lifetime exposure from FMPC ranges (approximately) from 450 mSv (0.45 Sv) to over 3660 mSv (3.66 Sv).

Data and Specimen Sharing

Individuals and groups interested in using the FMMP database and samples for health-related research may apply for Access to Data and/or Frozen Biologic Specimens. If approved by the Fernald Trustee, with the advice of the FMMP Citizen’s Advisory Committee, data files from the FMMP database or archived samples (frozen whole blood, serum, plasma and urine) may be distributed to qualified researchers.

Any individual or group desiring access to the FMMP database or archived samples for purposes of analysis must first submit an application to the FMMP Project Director, Dr. Robert Wones, who, in turn, will first obtain input from the Fernald Citizens’ Advisory Committee, and then will present the application to the Fernald Trustee with the recommendation of the Fernald Citizens’ Advisory Committee and his recommendation. Pdf files of the FMMP Access to Data and Specimens Policy are below.

• FMMP Access to Data and Specimens Policy(Adobe PDF file)



• FMMP Access to Data and Specimens Application Form(MS Word file)*note you must save this form locally to your desktop computer before filling it out.

Findings of Research Studies:

• CANCER INCIDENCE in Participants of the Fernald Medical Monitoring Program (Adobe PDF file)



• Health Effects in Community Residents Near a Uranium Plant at Fernald, Ohio, USA.(Adobe PDF file)



• The Benefits of Community Medical Monitoring at Nuclear Weapons Production Sites: Lessons from Fernald(Adobe PDF file)



• The Medical Heritage Concept: a Model for Assuring Comparable Laboratory Results in Long-term Longitudinal Studies. (Adobe PDF file)



• Do persons living near a uranium processing site have evidence of increased somatic cell gene mutations? A first study.(Adobe PDF file)



• Intercorrelations and sources of variability in three mutagenicity assays: a population-based study.(Adobe PDF file)



• Sources of variability in the human lymphocyte micronucleus assay: a population-based study.(Adobe PDF file)

Continuing Participation is Important for Future Research:
Future research studies (epidemiological studies) will 1) track changes in health status over time and 2) explore the relationship between exposure to materials released from the Fernald Feed Materials Production Center (FMPC) and health effects. To achieve these research objectives, it is important for us to continuously update information on the health status of program participants. We obtain this information by three different means: 1) medical examinations provided by the program; 2)yearly questionnaires mailed to program participants; and 3) when necessary, from outside medical records obtained with permission of the participant. When a participant dies, we record the medical cause of death as noted on the death certificate. We either obtain a copy of the death certificate from the family or access the information Through the National Death Index.

A very important function of the yearly questionnaire is update changes in health status which occur between examinations. This yearly contact helps us to be better prepared for the next examination. If the participant elects not to have an examination, the information from the yearly questionnaire gives us information on new medical problems, and allows us to follow-up on important diagnoses such as new cases of cancer. The yearly questionnaire also helps us keep current on our contact information for each participant (name, address, phone number, last name changes).

As we become aware of changes in the health status of the program participants, we may request their permission to obtain appropriate medical records (such as biopsy reports, hospital discharge summaries, or reports of CT scans). All of the data described above will form the basis for subsequent epidemiological studies as envisioned in the Fernald Settlement Agreement.