fer aseeS Figure 6. Children participating in gamesattimeof feast. studies consisted of a brief interval history, routine physical examination, roentgenogramsoftheleft hand andwrist, and body measurements. In 1967 and 1969, all children in the exposed and control categories as well as children born to exposed and unexposed parents were examined.In 1968, only the children in the Rongelap and Ailingnae exposed groups were seen. In 1969, Utirik exposed persons under20 years ofage were included. During these examinations, special attention was directed to the palpatory findings in the thyroid glands. The significant findings for each of the three years are summarized in Table 8. Thyroid-related abnormalities are discussed in a subsequentsection of this report. The pattern and intensity of the recorded abnormalities reflected primarily the expected fluctuations related to such factors as age, weather, habits, activities, community health problems, and normal developmentalvariations. With the exception of thyroid lesions and growth retardation, no correlation between pediatric findings and exposureto fallout radiation could be suggested. The data on physical growth of children (measured primarily in terms of stature and body weight) examinedin 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1969 are tabulated in Appendix |. Growth data from prior examinations have already been published.!° Statistical analyses have been done on the data obtained through 1967. The results showed no marked deviationsfrom the trends noted previously.!2-14 Comparison of median statures and weights by age showednostatistically significant differences between the exposed and control groupsfor either boys (Figures 7 and 8) orgirls (Figures 9 and 10). However, separate analysis of the group of children under6 years of age at time of exposure to fallout radiation shows a significant retardation in statural growth persisting among the boys (Figure 11) but not amongthegirls (Fig- ure 12). The growth curves for stature and body weight of children born to exposed parent(s) showed no significant difference from those of children born to unexposed parents (Figures 13 and 14). Theanalysis of skeletal age data through 1967 also showednostatistically significant difference between the exposed andcontrol groupsofchildren (Figures 15 and 16). Skeletal ages were estimated from roentgenogramsofthe left hand and wrist by the technique of Greulich and Pyle.!5