2g
(adult) statures and weights, measured at age 21
or older, of subjects exposed to radiation at age
< 17 indicated that those exposed in Hiroshima
attained a mean height markedly lower than normal and that the degreeof retardation diminished
with increasing age at exposure, being greatest in
those exposed at age <5. The effect was more
prominent in boys. The preliminary tabulations
of growth data in the Marshallese children!6-45
showed similar trends. Subsequently, the extent of
the thyroid injury documented in the Marshallese
dividuals >40 years old have revealed the cardiac
changes expectedwith aging: arteriosclerosis heart
disease withoctasionad Eardiac decongigensation.
Auricular-@jprillagon
‘bas beer rot
in a few
people; rheumatic4heart diseasej “ality“Ewo.
Peripheral vascélar diseases ( thrémbBophteBitis,
peripheral venous disease, hemorrhoids) appear te
be less common than in Americans. Oscillometet
studies showed peripheral.pulses to be éxtep-
tionally good. even in older people andin diabetics
children provided the basis for the present assump-
(see below). No luetic, metabolic, or nutritional
form of heart disease has beenSeen,
the results of impaired thyroid function. It is an-
2. Arthritis
measurements become available, further evaluation of the growth pattern of the Marshallese children (including further assessment of the effect of
ofjoint symptomsin the arms and legs andtoa
lesser extent in the
T back*Many, particularly
tion that growth retardation reflected primarily
ticipated that when adult (final) anthropometric
thyroid hormone administration) will be possible.
Bowe
=
et -
+
Many Marfhallse.>40 yeats of agecomplain
the older anes, Have complgined also of vague
muscige- pains in the arms and legs.Some older
women develop marked. kyphosis in“the lower
radiated animals have shown increases both in
general aging phenomena and in such diseases;
therefore, in these studies careful consideration has
been givento signs of aging andto the incidence
of cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, and other de-
generative diseases.
1. Cardiovascular Diseases
Cardiovascular diseases appear to be no more
prevalent amongthe Marshallese than in Americans or other populations, and no difference was
found between their incidences in the exposed and
unexposed groups. Hypertension appears to be
somewhatless prevalent among the Marshallese
than among Americans. Blood pressures > 140/90
have been recordedin only about 9% of the people,
and the increasing percentage of older people in
the study groups does not seem to haveraised the
incidence of hypertension. Many of the younger
people, particularly females, have notably lower
blood pressures (90-100/55-65). The generally
lower blood pressures in the Marshallese have been
thought to be related to lower dietary salt intake,7-#6 but the gradually increasing use of imported foods of greater salt content has caused no
apparent increase in hypertension. Serum sodium
and potassium levels have usually been in the normal range. Routine chest x rays and ECG’s on in-
cegignsehich may-beaelated
gave positive results in only a few cases{3 of 184
tested in 1959).8
3. Nephrosclerosis
«
Bal
Sg.
~~ . a’
.
7
& °. ee
oo
Primary kidney disease has notbeen noted fréquently, but nephrosclerosis has occasionally been
seen complicating cardiovascular disease.
_-_.=
4. Aging
agit
The aging process is accompanied by anincreased incidence of degenerative diseases, andir-
thoracic-lumb.
partly to the baseee
&? Kooping position necessary for cooking over openfires. X rays show many
of the above complaints to be associated with
osteoarthritic changes; but many people with complaints do not have definite bone changes. Arthritis
seems no more commonin the exposed thanin the
unexposed population, andits general incidence
does not differ greatly from that among Americans. Rheumatoid arthritis has rarely been seen.
Examination of #he seratttes,*:
peesfactor”
=
aS
G. DEGENERATIVE DISEASES
Radiation in sublethal doses may reduce longev®
ity in animals and man. Induction of malignant
transformation is well documented and accounts
for most of the early deaths. However, develop-
ment of premature senescence with associated degenerative diseases and immunodeficiency, as a
late effect of exposure, is also believed to accountfor
some degree oflife shortening in animals.47-49 For
humans, definite proofof such effects is lacking,
the only documentedlife-shortening effect being
related to malignancies.5°51 In the Japanese bomb
survivors, the correlation of life-shortening with