SSegesys

RRS,

328

RADIATION STANDARDS, INCLUDING FALLOUT

Of the 264 persons measured,the followingisa listing of the num-

bers in each radium content group.
<0.001 microcurie.

a

0.001 to 0.01 microcurie.
0.01 to 0.1 microcurie.
0.1 to 1 microcurie______.--___--__--_...--

>1 microcurie

Peraons

—
--

23

-

_a-

36
102
62

41

A total of 164 persons were measured whose radium contents were
grouped in order of magnitude below and above the present occupational permissible level of 0.1 microcurie (uc). Of these, 151 were
studied radiographically. In the range 0.01 to 0.1 microcurie, 80 out
of 90 failed to show bonelesions, 8 had minimal, and 1 lesions of
moderate severity. None had advanced lesions or malignancies. Of
62 persons measured in the range of 0.1 to 1 microcurie, 61 were radiographed. Of these, only 25 had no bonelesions; 18 had minimal;
9 mild; 9 moderate; and 5 advanced lesions. In this radium content
range, three persons had malignant neoplasms.
Above 1 microcurie, 40 of 41 persons measured were radiographed.
Of the 40 persons, 28 had advanced bone lesions. Of these, 14 had
malignant neoplasms. Only 12 of the 40 persons had lesions of moderate or lesser severity.
An analysis of malignant neoplasms has been done both in the present group of persons reported and also in those other radium-bearing
patients whom members of our group have had the opportunity to
study to somelesser degree. A total of 24 persons developed malignant neoplasms out of approximately 300. In our group the lowest
terminal body content at which a malignancy was seen was 0.45 microcurie; the highest, 6.8 microcurie.
No myeloid leukemias have been seen in the patients currently under
study. A review of death certificates of former dial painters in the
Chicago area turned up twolisted as “splenic leukemia” in the early
1930’s. By good fortune we were able to find and study the original
blood smears made in 1931 on one of these two patients and are able
to confirm the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia. The other
“splenic leukemia” remains unconfirmed.
May I sav parenthetically that in the past when people have talked
about the radium dial painters, it has been stated that no leukemias
were seen. I think we must now say that we can confirm the presence
of one case of myeloid leukemia.
Representative Price. Were there any cancer cases found in the
radium dial painters?
Dr. Hasteruix. Yes,sir.
Representative Price. You cover that in your statement?
Dr. Hasrerirx. Yes, sir; there is a total of 17 malignancies.
Representative Pricr. But it is covered in your statement?
Dr. Hasrerrix. Yes, sir.
Whatdose-effect relationships can we tentatively draw from these
studies? And they are tentative and very rough estimates. In the
body content range between 1 and 10 microcuries we have a total of
41 persons with about 1,300 man-years irradiation experience. The
probability per man-year of exposure—14 malignancies in this group—
is thus about 1.06 times 10*. If we plot our only other point—that of
the 2,200 man-years irradiation experience in the 0.1 to 1.0 microcurie

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