Five persons in the exposed population died of
disease: (1) a 46-year-old man with hypertensive
heart disease which had been present at the time
of exposure, who died 2 years after the accident;
(2) a 78-year-old man who died, 3 years after exposure, of coronary heart disease complicating
diabetes; (3) a 35-year-old man whodied of acute
varicella, 4 years after exposure, who had received
only 69 rads, having been on Ailingnae at the time
of the fallout; (4) a 60-year-old woman whodied
of a cancer of the ovary at 5 years after exposure;
and (5) a 78-year-old woman whodied of traumatic
vertebral fractures at 8 years after exposure. There
was no apparentrelationship between anyof these
deaths and radiation exposure. Four deaths have
occurred in the comparison population. Thefive
deaths that have occurred in the exposed people
since exposure represent a mortality rate of 7.6 per
1000 population per annum, compared with 8.3
for the Marshall Islands as a whole.
Growth and development studies on the children
(height, weight, anthropometric measurements,
A cardiovascular survey of the adults (1959)’
showed no outstanding differences between the
exposed and unexposed groups. The people appeared to have less hypertension on the whole
than is noted in people in the continental United
States.
An arthritts survey (1959)' showed no greatdif-
ferences between the exposed and the unexposed
people, and about the sameincidenceas is seen in
American populations.
Ophthalmological surveys showed no remarkable
differences between the exposed and unexposed
groups except possibly a slightly greater number
of cases of pterygia, pingueculae, and corneal scars
in the exposed group. It is not known whetherthis
finding is of any significance in relation to their
radiation exposure. Slit-lamp observations showed
no opacities of the lens characteristic of radiation
exposure. As a whole, visual and accommodation
levels in the Marshallese appeared to be above the
average in the U.S. population.
Dental surveys’ showed nosignificant differences
radiographic studies for bone age) have revealed
that slight retardation in growth and development
in caries rate between exposed and unexposed
groups. However, the incidence and severity of
12 years of age at the time of exposure, particularly those 12 to 18 months of age at exposure.
Only slight immaturity was noted in the exposed
posed group.It is not known whether or notthis
of exposed parents wereslightly retarded and that
they hadslightly lower levels of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets, compared with malechil-
teenage children, severe peridontal lesions in
has occurred in the exposed boys who were under
female children.It was also noted that children born
dren of unexposed parents. However, since the latter children were on the average 4 monthsolder, the
data did not justify a conclusion that the difference in
stature was associated with the exposure ofthe parents.
It was difficult to evaluate the effects on fertility.
However, a review of the birth rate of the exposed
group over the past 8 years seems to indicate no
noticeable effect of their exposure on fertility. The
35 births represent a rate of 53 per 1000 popula-
tion per annum compared with 37.3 for the Marshall Islands (1957). The 25 births over a 5-year
period for the comparison population represent a
rate of 21.8 per 1000 population. A somewhat
peridontal disease was slightly greater in the ex-
finding is related to radiation effects. The poor
oral hygiene generally observed in the Marshallese
hadits usual results, namely, high caries rate in
adults (heavy calculus and loss of alveolar bone),
and edentulous mouths in the aged. Radiation exposure did not appear to have affected developing
dentition in the exposed children.
Late effects of radiation. Various parameters usually associated with aging were measuredor estimated on a 0 to 4+ scale (skin looseness, elasticity,
andsenile changes; greying of the hair and balding; accommodation, visual acuity, and arcus
senilis; hearing; cardiovascular changes including
blood pressure and degrees of peripheral andretinal arteriosclerosis; neuromuscular function: and
hand strength). Comparison of these measurements in exposed and unexposed individuals of
of vital statistics on the Marshallese and the small
the same age groups showed no apparent differences. A biological age score was calculated for
individuals and groups by use of an average percentage score. Life shortening effects of radiation have
not been apparent. As noted, the mortality rate
ily amenable to statistical analysis.
exposed people.
greater incidence of miscarriages and stillbirths was
noted in the exposed women during the first 4
years after exposure, but because of the paucity
numberof people involved, the data are not read-
was about the same in the exposed as in the un-