Clinical guidelines and tools are provided as a resource for health care providers.
Many of the health conditions of radiation-exposed patients are compensable by the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) program. The guidelines describe the exposure categories, diseases, tests, medical procedures and documentation required.
Categories of Exposure
Uranium Mine Worker
A person who operated or otherwise worked for at least one year, or can establish radon exposure equivalent to 40 working level months, in above-ground or underground uranium mines in specified states (AZ, CO, ID, OR, ND, NM, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY) during the period beginning January 1, 1942 and ending December 31, 1971.
Uranium Mill Worker
A person who was employed for at least one year as a uranium mill worker in specified states (AZ, CO, ID, OR, ND, NM, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY) during the period beginning January 1, 1942 and ending December 31, 1971.
Uranium Ore Transporter
A person who was employed for at least one year as a transporter of uranium ore or vanadium-uranium ore from a uranium mine or uranium mill located in a specified states (AZ, CO, ID, OR, ND, NM, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY) during the period beginning January 1, 1942 and ending December 31, 1971.
Downwinder
A person who was exposed to fallout from the atmospheric detonation of nuclear devices at the Nevada Test Site due to their physical presence in
- Arizona counties: Apache, Coconino, Gila, a portion of Mohave County (north of the Grand Canyon), Navajo, or Yavapai
- Nevada counties: Eureka, Lander, Lincoln, Nye, White Pine, and portions of Clark
- Utah counties: Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sevier, Washington or Wayne
for a period of at least two years (24 consecutive or cumulative months) during the period beginning on January 21, 1951, and ending on October 31, 1958; or was physically present at any place within the affected area for the entire, continuous period beginning on June 30, 1962, and ending on July 31, 1962.
On-site Participant
A person who participated onsite within the boundaries of the Nevada, Pacific, Trinity or South Atlantic test sites during the time of atmospheric nuclear testing from 1945 to 1962.