these expescd at age 5. Vhe effect was more dividuals >40 yeurs old have revealed the cardiac changes expected with aging: arteriosclerosis heart disease with occasional cardiac decompensation, Auricular fibrillation has been noted in a few | people; rheumatic heart disease in only two. Peripheral vasular discases (thrombophlebitis, peripheral venous Giscase, hemorrhoids) appear to shawed similar trends. Subsequently, the extent of studies showed peripheral pulses to be exceptionally good, even in older people and in diabetics (achult) statures and weights, measured at age 21 — ar older, of subjects exposed to radiation al age 17 indicated that those exposed in Hirashima ie a altained a imean height markedly lower than nor. inal and what the devree of retardation diminished with increasing ave al exposure, being greatest in prominent is boys. Vhe preliminary tobulations af growth data ia the Marshallese children!649 be Jess common than in Americans. Oscillumetric the thyroid injury dacunented in the Marshallese Gee below), Nu !ueiic, metabolic, or nutritional forin of heart disease has been seen. tion that growth retardation rellegted prumarily ae 2. Arthritis ~ the results of diipaiied the roid fuacion. [eis an hetpated that when adult inal) anthropometric Many Marshallese > 40 vears of age complain lacasurements become available, fardher evalus: of joint svinptutas in the acts and legs and to a tion of the growth pattern of the Marshallese children (including further assessment ad the cllect of lesser extent in the lower back. Many, particularly the older ones, have complained also of vague muscle pains in the arms and legs. Some older thyroid hormone administradan) will be posible. G. DEGENERATIVE DISEASES * been given to signs of agiig and tothe incidence af cardiovascular discases, arthritis, and other dee generative disciases, 1. Cardiovascular Diseases Cardiovascular diseases appear to be no more prevalent anion the Marshallese thai in Aaericanoer other populations, and no dilcrence was found between their incidences in the exposed and Whesposed groups. Ely pertension appears to be sonebat bess prevalent amony the Marshallese Lit among Niierigana, Blood pressures >> 140,00 have been recorded in only about 9% of te people, and the increasing percentage of older people in the study groups does nod sccm ta have raised the incidence of ivpertcnsion. Mianof the younger people. particuharty females. have notably lower blood pressures (0-100/55-04), he generally lower blood pressures in the Marshatlese have been thoaght to be related to lower dictary salt) ins take but the wradually increasing use of im- ported foods of greater salt content has caused no apparcet increase in lvpertensioa, Serum sodiuns aud patassiiais levels have usually been in the nore mab range. Routing chest s rays aad ECG"s on ine De ae a ee ee plaints do not have definite bone ch anges. Arthritis sects no fore common in the exposed than in the wnex posed population. and ils veneral incidence does not dilfer greatly from tbat among Amerie cans. Rhcuntated arciritis has rarely been scen. Exaiminanoan of the sera for “rheumatic factor” . gave posidive results in only a few cases (3 of 194 tested in 1959)" 3. Nephrosclerosis Primary kidneydiseas - has not been noted frequently, but aephrasclerpsis has occasionally been seen complicating cardiovascul.u disease, 4. Aging Radiationin sublethal doses may reduce longevity in animals and man. loduction of malignant transformation is wel. documented and accounts fur most of the carly deaths, However, develop. ment of premature senescence with associated depenerative discases and imunodeticicncy, as a late elect of ex posure,is also believed to account for sone degree oflife shortening in animalts.4¢4" For humans, define proof of such eifects is lacking, the only ducumented life-shortening effect being related to malignancies“)! Jy the Japanese bomb survivors, the correlationof life-shortening with Fe ey aed ee ee Watashi: an ade . 1 site t . cd ratiated aniuiis have shown neresses bath in general aging phenomena and in such diseases; therefore, in these studies careful consideration has sary for cooking over open fires. NX rays show many of the above complaints to be assaciated with ostcuardiritic Changes; but any people with cou. See The aging process is accompanied by an ine creased incidence of devenerative diseases, andir- women develop marked kyphosis in the lower thoracic-lumbar region which may be related partly to the squatting or stooping position neces- a th, chikleen provided the hoists for the prescat assurnps tome 24 ” aa 4. t ae ‘*. STORER TSaPE ad re wor