NON-EXPOSED
N = 68

EXPOSED

[|
FS
FA

No hearing loss

[|

Normal

Unilateral loss

FA

1 Abnormal

%:

Bilateral loss

fF

2 Abnormal

‘
i
s.

Figure 1. Occurrence of unilateral and bilateral hearing loss in children of radioactive-falloutexposed and nonexposed parents.

Figure 2. Tympanogram results for children
with hearingloss.

A second group of Marshallese that
had not been exposedto the fallout has
been observed as a control group to help
identify any unforeseen risks resulting
from the fallout. In addition, examina-

METHODS
In all, 131 project children were exam-

SPN ae EE

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PROJECT FOCUSES ON

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N = 66

RADIATION-EXPOSURE VICTIMS
The mandate of the Brookhaven medical
project is to diagnose andtreat radiationrelated illnesses in a group of Marshallese living on Rongelap and Utirik
atolls who wereaccidentally exposed to
radioactive fallout of the Bravo nuclear
bomb test at Bikini atoll on March 1,
1954. Total body exposure was estimated at 190 rads of absorbed external gamma radiation at Rongelap, 110 rads at
Ailingnae, and 11 rads on Utirik.? The
original group included residents of
those islands. The project examines and
treats 1200 to 1400 persons each year.
Voluntary examinations have been given
by the Brookhaven medical team overa
30-year span.

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among children with a family history of
nuclear exposure versus those without.

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the MD-1 produces a probe tone of 226
Hz at 85 dB SPL. The compliance range
is from 0.00 cc to 5.00 cc, with an air

pressure range of +200 mm to - 400
mm H,O via an automatic pump. The
results are displayed digitally. In the au-

diometer mode, the MD-1 can produce

pure tones of 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz,
4000 Hz and 6000 Hz with an intensity

range of OdB to 100 dB HLatall frequen-

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children of both exposed and nonexposed

parents are seen. Previous studies
documented elements of increased medical risk, primarily to the thyroid, for the
exposed population.’ Social disruption,
changesin nutritional and feeding practices, and other factors with potential
impact on health might contribute to
undue risk for some or ali of these
Marshallese children.
The study reported here offers data
about monaural and binaural hearing
loss and middle-ear status among children of the Marshall Islands as documented by audiometry and tympanometry. It also presents an analysis of the
contribution of demographic variables.
One study focus wasthe possibility of in-

creased risk for ear/hearing problems

“Your SATISEACTIONIs

|

tions and medical care are offered to

many other persons not in those two
groups, on the basis of humanitarian
need; and each year some 400 to 500

ined, both on the island of Ebeye and

on the medical ship during its stay in
Majuro. The team performed otoscopic
examination of the ears, removed ob-

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22 THE HEARING. JOURNAL/AUGUST 1989
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The Litanur I] medical ship in transit to an outer-island screening visit.

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N = 63

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