"There does appear to be a statistical evidence suggestive of slight impairment of growth and development as measured by a comparison of height and weight in the control and exposed children. You cannot look at these children and pick out any abnormalities. "I would like to comment on this rather emphatically, because of the headlines that I saw a few minutes ago. There is no gross stunting of the growth. It can only be detected by a careful statistical anlaysis of the data, by taking measurements of height and weight.” (p. 51) The seven year report repeated the same information as the earlier two year report, adding that studies were not vet completed to determine the ages of certain children. The eight year report dealt extensively with growth retardation noting several cases where growth was "significantly" retarded. This report also noted that “It was interesting that the boys born soon after the fallout had more retarded skeletal ages than those born more recently." (p. 21) The section concluded that the differences "were not statistically significant and the data available at this time would not support any conclusion concerning factors related to the retardation of skeletal maturity in these boys." more conservative (p. 21) [emphasis added]. in nature. The nine and ten year report was It noted: "The slight retardation of growth in the male children who were exposed when (less than) five years of age as compared with unexposed males of the same age suggests that radiation may be a causal factor although possible mechanisms are not clear." Perhaps, due to the not amazing but unsuspected development of thyroid nodules in the Rongelapese during the tenth examination (1964), a little attention was given immediately to growth development. The next report dealing with the eleventh and twelfth examinations (1965 and 1966) however, considered this area extensively. in During the 1965 survey, because of the development of thyroid nodules 19 help induce regression of Py d it was decided to give thyroid hormone Co pesn- the nodules and to also stimulate growth in the lle Pree 8 many of the exposed people,