24
SKELETAL AGE {MONTHS}
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SKELETAL AGE ASSESSMENTS :
BOYS 1957-1965
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SKELETAL AGE ASSESSMENTS
:
GIRLS 1957 - 1965
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Figure 18.
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CHRONCLOGICAL AGE (MONTHS?)
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CHRONOLOGICAL AGE (MONTHS)
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THYROID FINDINGS
During the past 3 years, the development of
thyroid abnormalities in a significant numberof
the peopie exposed on Rongelap, and in one from
Figure 19.
exposed on Rongelap: 150 rads (from direct mea-
surement of urinary ‘*'I),?* 100 rads (by indirect
measurements on pigs removed from Rongelap
plus Marshallese urinary excretion data),** and
160 rads (based on recent recalculationsof early
the Ailingnae group, has resulted in extensive thyroid studies and surgical intervention in some
data’’ - see Appendix 2). The last recalculations
were based on analysis of pooled urine samples
cases of nodules of the thyroid gland have been
after the detonation; an estimate of the one-day
cases. The examination and therapyofthe first 6
described.'°:*?-** Since then, the numberofcases
of nodules and hypothyroidism has increased to
18, and the newcases are described below.
The Radiation Dose to the Thyroid Glonds
mainly from adult Rongelap people taken 15 days
thyroid contentof '*"I was 11.2 wCi (5.6 to 22.4
pCi), assuming that 0.1% (0.005 to 0.2%) of the
maximum thyroid burden (not corrected for phys-
ical decay) was excreted in the urine on the 15th
day. The dose of 160 rads to the adult thyroid was
The dose to the thyroid gland from1Fadioactive "-> calculated from oral intake and inhalation of the
iodine is determined by its uptake by the gland, its
various iodine isotopes, considering their fission
half-life in the gland,the size of the land;and the --- yield, the average energy deposited in the thyroid
relative proportion ofthe several radivisotopes:of
gland perdisintegration, and the time of absorpiodine involved. Therelative distribution of radiotion. The dose to the thyroid glands of children
iodinesin fallout depends on the type of explosion
but in general is well kffewn. In addition to '*'J,
the isotopes '*°I, '*I, and to a less extent '**I con-
<4 years old was then calculated by means of
these factors with consideration of pulmonary
function andthe thyroid size of a child that age.”
tributed significantly to the thyroid dose. The only
direct data available on the Rongelappeople are
The mainsource of iodine ingestion was considered to be water, and since it was being rationed
taken 15 days and longerafter the fallout. Three
separate estimates have been made of the dose
from radioiodinesto the thyroid glands of adults
children drank the same amountof wateras adults
and therefore had the same thyroid burden of
radioiodines. The small size of the childhood thy-
radiochemical analyses of pooled urine samples
at the timeofthe fallout, it was assumed thatthe