45

eachlight as it appeared. The total time necessary
to extinguish all the lights was measured. This test
involved both manual dexterity and mentalreaction time”? (see Figure 33). (4) Hand Strength. The
spring tension of the hand grip was measured in
kilograms with a Smedly hand dynamometer."
The maximum squeezestrength in the dominant
handin 3 tries was recorded.

Correlation of Data. In orderto place all the
data on a commonbasis for comparison and com-

bination, the data were converted to a percentage
basis for each criterion. In the case of the measured data, values associated with least aging were
taken as 0% (sometimesthe highest reading, as
with handstrength; sometimes the lowest, as with

hearing loss), and conversely the values showing

Miscellaneous Tests. (1) Body Potassium Levels
(*°K). Since loss of muscle mass occurs with aging

most aging were taken as 100%. The estimated cri-

muscle mass, it has been shown that body levels of

The data were examined on an individual basis as

spectrographic analyses were carried out in the
Marshallese in a lead-shielded structure. In this
way ‘°K levels were obtained and presented as

were madelargely by using meansfor each decade

and total body potassium is closely related to

potassium decrease with age.**'’* Whole-body

K/kg body weight. The accuracy of these data
could have been improved by obtaining more precise determinations of lean body mass, such as by

measurement of body water.’* The valueslisted
are averages of the 1961 and 1965 determinations.
(2) Blood Serum Cholesterol Levels. These were ob-

terla with values of 0, 1+,2+,3+,and4+ were
presented as 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%, respectively.

well as on a population basis, and comparisons
age group. Except whereindicated, the data used
were collected during the 11- and 12-year surveys.

An analysis of variance was used to determine

differences amongthefactors of sex, age, and radiation levels.* These data were programmed and

analyzed on a high speed digital computer.** For
each criterion, the combined score over sex and

radiation level was correlated with age. A curve of

tained in 1957 on sera sent to the United States.**
*Mr. Keith Thompson of Brookhaven National Laboratory

*S.H. Stoelting Co., Chicago, Hi.

**The analyses were done at the National Institutes of Health

by Dr. J.H. Bragdon and Mr. J.C. Lauter.

did the statistical analvses of these data.

**The Control Data Corporation 6600, at Brookhaven Na-

uonai Laboratory.

Table 22

Correlation of Criteria With Age and Radiation Exposure
Correlation
with age
(r value)

Correlation with radiation
Percent

Grayness
Arcussenilis

0.87
0.83

+17.0
0.0

Accommodation

0.81

—14.1

Skin retraction
Skin looseness
Vibratory sense (M + F}
Visual acuity
Hearingloss
Handgrip (M + F)
Reaction time (M + F)(light extinctiontest)
Systolic blood pressure
Potassium (M + F)
Cholesterol
Neuromuscular function (M + F) (handtally)
Combined scoret

*N.S. - notsignificant at 5%level.

0.74
0.70
0.70**
0.69
0.67
0.67**
0.64**
0.55
0.41**
0.39
0.36**
0.99

+ 7.3
+ 1.6
— 1.4(M),
+ 14.0
+ 7.9
+13.8(M),
— 2.0(M),
—11.5
— 14.6(M),
—17.2
+ 3.2(M),
+ 7.0

**7 values for males and females averaged.

Significance* ( p)
N.S. (0.70)
N.S. (1.00)
N.S. (0.11)

+ 24.6(F)
+ 13.8(F)
—10.5(F)
+ 10.6(F)
+1.1(F)

N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
NS.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.

(0.68)
(0.82)
(0.90, 0.20)
(0.59)
(0.40)
(0.15, 0.18)
(0.88, 0.55)
(0.30)
(0.17, 0.22)
(0.05)
(0.85, 0.95)

N.S. (0,27)

*Weighted accordingto r value.

Select target paragraph3