724
genetically
GROWTH AND RADIATION
inherited
characteristics
of
blood components and_urine.
The routine anthropometric measurements consisted of stature, body weight,
sitting height, head circumference, head
width, head length, chest circumference,
calf circumference, bisacromial diameter,
and bicristal diameter. Weight was deter-
mined on a Fairbanks scale, beam balance.
Stature was measured on a fixed wall scale
using a right-angle square. Circumferences
were determined bya flexible steel tape and
diameters by Swan Tool spreadingcalipers.
Techniques conformed basically to those
used internationally in physical anthropo-
metry.*® The growth data used in this anal-
groups were plotted in terms of group me-
dians. Descriptive differences reported as
between groups were differences between
medians. Significance of differences between groups, unless otherwise specified,
was determined by the Kruskal-Wallis oneway analysis of variance.”°
Height and weight data on unexposed
children born before the fallout showed the
expected pattern of pubertal growth spurt
occurring earlier in girls than in boys and
the eventual superiority in size of boys at
maturity. Among the exposed children,
there was a distinct tendency for boys exposed at ages 1 through 5 to be shorter
than unexposed boys of the sameage(Fig.
ysis were obtained by a single observer 1). Although the differences werestatistic(W.W.S.) except in 1960 when only the ally significant at the 5% confidence level
heights and weights were determined on
exposed children (by R.A.C.).
Evaluation of sexual maturation was done
during the physical examination using standards described by Greulich et al.'* and
STATURAL GROWTH '958-1963
rT
Tok
seous development was carried out by a
single evaiuator (W. W.S.) using the technique of Greulich and Pyle.”
culations of any meaningful measure of
variability), all data analysis was done by
non-parametric
statistical
methods.
All
measures of central tendency were medians,
and all graphic presentations comparing
@
tT
bt
tt
fo
u—« EXPOSED
@~-o CONTROL
@® BIRTH YEAR GROUP
( AGE AT EXPOSURE)
—-_
&>
——
jaa
7
in
7
get
130--
#,
Go
the fallout but not exposed to radiation; (c)
those born to exposed parents subsequent to
the fallout; and (d) those born to unexposed parents subsequent to the fallout.
Because some of the distributions encountered in these data did not approximate
normality or even symmetry of distribution,
and because many of the groups were too
small to justify making assumptions about
the parameters of the populations from
which the samples were drawn (and in
many instances too small to permit cal-
}
160
HEIGHT {em)
The pediatric study population was di-
vided into four groups: (a) those exposed
to radiation, including 4 children in utero at
the time of exposure; (b) those born before
ft
Bors
Reynolds and Wines.’7:!® Assessment of os-
RESULTS
iT
110
+
100
905
4
6
Lttteprertt
8
10
AGE (YEARS)
12
4
t
16
Fic. 1. Statural growth of boys, 1958 through
1963. Longitudinal growth curves showing median
statures of groups of boys exposed at various ages,
e.g., in utero (u) 3 boys; 12 to 24 months (1) 5
boys; 3 through 5 years (3-5) 4 boys; 6 through
8 years (6-8) 3 boys; and 12 through 13 years
(12-13) 2 boys; indicate definite and continuing
retardation in statural growth of boys exposed at
ages 5 years or younger and particularly 12 to 24
months of age.
“OC
Oe