16
PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS
Adult Examinations
The general health and nutritionalstatusof the
people of Rongelap and Utirik Atolls weresatisfactory and about thesamein the exposed asin
the unexposed populations, with the exception of
thyroid abnormalities in the exposed Rongelap
population, whichwill be treated separately below
because of the importance of this development. As
noted in previous surveys, the variety and distribution of physical abnormalities (with the exception of thyroid nodules) did not appearto besignificantly different in the exposed and unexposed
populations. The varying incidence from yearto
year of such findings as cervicitis, prostatic hypertrophy, andarteriosclerosis probably to some extent reflects differences in clinical criteria ofjudg-
ment among the examiners. There was a marked
tendency for extensive dental caries in young
adults. Special ophthalmological andslit-lamp ebservations for lens opacities were not carried out
during the past 2 years. Physical abnormalities in
the adults are listed in Table 10.
Figure 7. Part of a physical examination.
Tabie 10
Physical Findings in Rongelap and Utirik Adults, 1965-1966
Rongelap exposed
(48 examined)
Rongelap unexposed
(81 examined)
Subject Nos.
%o
Subject Nos.
Anemia, anemic tendency*
12, 22,55,64,
70
11.0
Arteriosclerosis, penpheral, mild
58,59,78,79,
82
11.0
1,11,16,41,
60, 68
13.0
826, 829, 841, 843,
860, 865, 947,
964
856, 884,910,941,
948, 957, 961,
964, 970, 991
853, 859, 860, 878,
899, 908, 929,
947
916-
Arterioscierosis, peripheral, moderate
to severe
Asthma
Auricularfibrillation with myocardial
damage
Bradycardia
Cardiac enlargement**
Cervical erosion
Cervical lacerations
Congenital defects
Dislocation of hip
Prominent head of ulna
Bilateral shortening of 5th finger
Polydactylism
Dislocated wrist
Flexion deformity, fingers
Cyst, ovarian
Cystocele
80
2.1
27
1, 60, 76, 80
2.1
8.3
63, 74
49
4.3
2.1
41
14, 28
1,41, 75, 78
2.1
4.3
8.3
39
1, 18, 71, 74
2.1
83
Utink exposed
(71 examined)
Fo
99
12.4
9.9
1.2
858, 859, 917, 942,
947
6.2
829
1.2
833, 858, 882, 915
832, 836, 910, 914
938
49
826, 894
2.5
832
835
1.2
Subject Nos.
2128, 2246
2.8
‘
2146, 2148, 2194,
2244
5.6
2105, 2110, 2175,
2191, 2198,
2214
8.5
2162
2166
1.4
1.4
2139, 2161
2.8
1.2
1.2
*RBC: F <3.9 million; M <4.3 million. Hemoglobin: F <11.0g; M <13.0 g. Hematocrit: F <(35%; M <38%.
**Byx-ray and/or physical examinations.
Ge