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DENVER, Feb 28, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Federal officials say radiation exposure is behind more of the cancer among ex-workers at a closed Colorado nuclear weapons plant than first thought.
Radiation is the cause of 29 percent of the cancers among former Rock Flats workers, the Rocky Mountain News reported Monday.
Roberta Mosier, deputy director a program that compensates sick workers, said they expected to find workplace radiation as the cause in only 1 percent to 10 percent of the cancer cases.
Nationwide, 20 to 25 percent of the cancers among atom bomb workers are being tied to radiation exposure on the job, she said. The new figures mean more workers are being paid under the program, which was set up by Congress in 2000.
Former Rocky Flats workers believe the figures are still too low and they say many more would qualify if records on radiation exposure were accurate.
Copyright 2005 by United Press International.
