Health and Safety: DOE's Epidemiological Data Base Has Limited Value for Research
RCED-95-126
Published: Jun 06, 1995. Publicly Released: Jul 11, 1995.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Energy's (DOE) epidemiological database, focusing on: (1) whether the database functions as a comprehensive repository of epidemiological data about DOE workers and the communities surrounding DOE facilities; (2) whether the system is accessible to outside researchers; and (3) DOE future plans for the system.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the National Academy of Sciences committee, and representatives of the research community, should determine whether the Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource (CEDR) is the most practical and cost-effective means of providing epidemiological data for research on health effects. The assessment should cover the costs, benefits, and time frames for including more comprehensive data on health effects in the database, as well as alternative means of making these data available to outside researchers. |
Closed – Implemented
DOE's statement of action indicates agreement in principle with the recommendation and lists several ongoing informal efforts to evaluate CEDR's effectiveness. In the last 2 years, DOE has made several technological changes to CEDR that provide a more user-friendly environment, and its monthly reports show a continued effort to improve CEDR's effectiveness. However, DOE has not made a formal assessment of CEDR's cost effectiveness or utility as a research tool, nor does it appear that it intends to do such a formal assessment. CEDR will continue to provide the results of epidemiologic studies already completed, without the addition of more comprehensive data on health effects. Responsibility for CEDR is now shared between the Office of Epidemiologic Studies and the Office of Information Management. DOE budgets and spends about $500,000 per year maintaining and upgrading CEDR.
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| Department of Energy | If the Secretary of Energy determines that CEDR is not the most practical and cost-effective means of compiling epidemiological data, DOE should determine whether continued funding is appropriate. |
Closed – Implemented
DOE spends about $500,000 per year to update and maintain the epidemiologic data CEDR contains. Even though DOE has not made a formal assessment of CEDR's practicality and cost-effectiveness, the management of CEDR is now shared with DOE's Office of Information Management, which oversees all the information systems for the Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety & Health (ES&H). This should help ensure that decisions concerning CEDR are made in conjunction with the other databases developed and maintained within the ES&H.
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Data integrityDiseasesHealth hazardsHealth research programsDemographyInformation systemsOccupational health and safety programsRadiation exposure hazardsStatistical dataWorking conditions