CUGSZ
The Medical Research Center
Harvey W. Lyon,* D.D.S., Ph.D.,
Bethesda, Md.,
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Robert A. Conard,} M.D.,
Upton, N.Y.,
Upton, L. L, New York
Kenneth F. Glassford,£
Great Lakes, Ill.
AOLE26
Long-term intraoral findings in humans after exposure
to total-body irradiation from sudden radioactive fallout.
I. Five year postdetonation studies
Significant quantities of radivactive fall-
out precipitated on Rongertk atoll,
Rongelap atoll, Ailingnae and Uterik in
the Marshall Islands after detonation of
a 15 megaton thermonuclear test device
at the Bikini Proving Grounds in February 1954, As a result, 239 Marshallese
were accidentally exposed to total-body
irradiation ranging from 14.to 175 R.
Five years later, dental examinations
were conducted in conjunction with
medical examinations to investigate the
morphological effects of the exposure.
The initial dental survey reported here
showed
no
significant
differences
in
caries rate or prevalence of periodontal
disease in irradiated and non-irradiated
groups. However, the degree of periodontal destruction was more extensive in the
Rongelapese who received the heaviest
exposure to radioactive fallout (175 R).
Specific data pertaining to these effects
on hard andsoft oral tissues are even less
available. Sequelae of locally applied ion-
izing radiation to human oraltissues are
well known; however, limitations to long-
term intraoral observations in total-bodyirradiated patients are determined only
by the numberof survivors. Three population groups offer opportunity for further
study: inhabitants of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki, certain Marshall Island populations and laboratory personnel involved
in nuclear criticality reactions.
This report describes those intraoral
clinical findings obtained in March 1959
by a combined medicodental survey team
on groups of Marshallese people five
years after exposure to total body irradia-
tion from sudden, significant quantities
of radioactive fallout.
BACKGROUND
Initial exposure occurred after detonation of a 15 megaton thermonuclear test
Information concerning long-term mor-
phological effects from total body irradiation in humans is relatively scant.
.
device at the Bikini Proving Grounds in
February 1954. Because of an unusual
shift in winds, varying quantities of fall-
out matter were deposited on and in
Reprinted from The Journal of the American Dental
Association, Volume 68, pages 49/31 to 56/38, January 1964,
All expressions of opinion and all statements of
supposed facts are published on the authority of the
writer over whose signature they appear and are not
to be regarded as expressing the views of the American
Dental Association unless such statements or opinions
have been adopted by the Association.
REPOSITORY BNL RECORDS
coutection MARSHALL ISLANDS
BOX No.
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