Why is it that the #RDA doctors do not examine the children of the e.tio..e
Ubicik r:roun?
One of the questions concermed the fact
that
the children of the ex-
posed islanders have not been included in the regular exemination list,
This was done because large groups of children of radiation-exposed parents
nave bean studied in Japan.
Since
thease studies,
including examinations
of Tiarshallese children of exposed parents, revealed no distinct senetic
etfects, it was Felt that regular examinations of the Marshallese children
born of exposed parents was not necessary.
of the foremost human geneticists, Dr.
Toquote form a letter from one
J. V. Neel,
Professor of Human
Genetics at the University of Michigan: "... there is no evidence that
genetic change was induced in children born of the exposed Marshallese
any more than there is unequivocal evidence of damage in the children
born of the exposed Japanese."
He pointed out, however, that there are
some 15-20 dominantly inherited syndromes that might possibly be related
to radiation exposure.
Even if one of these occurred,
sible to say it was due to radiation.
child would develop such a syndrome,
posed Marshallese did,
it would be impos-
It is most unlikely that any Marshallese
Nevertheless, if any child of an ex-
they would receive special treatment.
A program
CFa
Ph
ari
co
for examination of all children on Utirik is discussed. later in this: Letter.
eeetd
Oo,