mortality from leukemia among these men, then, either was a chance
aberration or argues that the mean radiation doses at SMOKY (but not
at the other test series) were several times the doses recorded by

the film badges that were used.

4.

No evidence was found that any cancer other than leukemia occurred
excessively among former SMOKY participants.

5.

Mortality from cancer in all groups of participants was, in general,
found to be less than the number expected at population death rates,
and mortality from other disease was much less than expected, a
consequence of selection for good health by the physical screening
employed for active duty servicemen.

6.

Although there were significant excesses of leukemia among SMOKY
participants and of prostate cancer among REDWING participants, no
form of cancer was found to be increased in more than one test
series.
Since many independent comparisons of cancer rates were
made, the two "significant" excesses may well have resulted from
chance.

7.

The total body of evidence reviewed does not convincingly either
affirm or deny that the higher than statistically expected incidence
of leukemia among SMOKY participants (or of prostate cancer among
REDWING participants) is the result of radiation exposure incident to
the tests. However, when the data from all the tests are considered,
there is no consistent or statistically significant evidence for an
increase in leukemia or other malignant disease in nuclear test
participants.

8.4.2

Study of Multiple Myeloma Among Hiroshima/Nagasaki Veterans.
The DNA Director requested the NRC to undertake the multiple myeloma

study in response to allegations by various veteran groups that the disease
was occurring with increased frequency among participants in the U.S. postwar
occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.

The effort began with formation

of a panel of experts from various medical and scientific disciplines.

On 13

and 14 May 1981, a workshop was held at the National Academy of Sciences to
review the available data in order to advise DNA concerning the feasibility
and desirability of performing epidemiologic studies of the Hiroshima and
Nagasaki occupation forces.
While invitations to participate were sent to a number of veteran organizations, only representatives of the Committee for U.S. Veterans of Hiroshima
and Nagasaki and the National Veterans Law Center accepted.

Representatives

of the American Veterans Committee and the Disabled American Veterans were
present as observers.

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