Frontiers of Radiation Therapy and Oncology Editor: Jerome M. Vaeth, San Francisco, Calif. S. Karger, Basel (Printed in Switzerland) [30] na eye 40188 7 SEPARATUM Front. Radiation Ther. Onc., vol. 6, pp. 486—498 (Karger, Basel and University Park Press, Baltimore 1972) Effects of Ionizing Radiations on Aging and Life Shortening in Human Populations R. A. CONARD Brookhaven National Laboratory, Associated Universities, Inc., Upton, N.Y. Introduction In this presentation someofthe findings in irradiated human populations which maybe related to aging and life shortening are reviewed. Dr. CasARETT has ably described these changes in animals and Dr. Uptonin his excellent presentation has described radiation carcinogenesis. Knowledge oflate effects of radiation exposure in humanbeingsis scanty and is derived largely from studies of the Japanese people exposed to the atomic bombirradiation, the Marshallese exposed to fallout, patients exposed to diagnostic and therapeutic irradiation, occupational exposure such as physicians and x-ray technicians, radium dial painters, uranium miners, etc. The development of neoplasia is the moststriking late effect of exposure while the development ofthe less specific changes, many of which are similar to those associated with the aging process, are muchless clear-cut. The role of irradiation in the induction of malignant transformationis well established, and accounts for most of the life-shortening effects observed. The organortissue affected is largely dependent on the type of exposure. Penetrating irradiation of large portions of the body are associated with leukemia and, to a lesser extent, with other malignancies as noted in the Japanese exposed to the atomic bomb, medicalspecialists using irradiation, and patients treated for ankylosing spondylitis. Most malignant tumors, however, have occurred in persons following internal absorption of radioisotopes which are usually selectively absorbed by target organs. Examples are cancer of the bonein the case of radium dial painters, cancer of the lung in uranium miners, liver cancer in patients treated with Thorotrast and thyroid tumors from radioiodine absorption. mepositony Oo RECORDS cottection MARSHALL +h £3.74 cud 144] JUTAULO _ ISLANDS BoxNo, MEDICAL DEPT. FOLDER The Medica] Research Ce nter Brookhaven National La boratory Upton, L, L, New York PUBLICATIONS