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W. H. ADAMS: LATE MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES OF EXPOSURE TO RADIOACTIVE
of a history of radiation exposure. The lack of evidence for an association of autoimmunedisease
with radiation exposure is consistent with data obtained by the Radiation Effects Research
ip*
foundation in Japan.
In summary,at this point there is no evidence that the 1954 exposure has significantly
Candida
affected the immunestatus of the Marshallese or placed the exposed population at increased risk for
Negative
infection. However, the absence of such evidence on a group basis, attention to this possible risk
will continue.
2 (5.3%)**
0 (0.0%)
Thyroid Neoplasms
2 (2.9%)
The most obviouseffect of radiation injury on the exposed Marshallese has been thyroid
disease. Both overt and subclinical hypothyroidism have been identified; these events are referred
to elsewhere in this presentation. The other major thyroid abnormality has been nodule formation.
unexposed woman,
The reason for the predominance of thyroid disease in this population is that the radiation dose to
n.
the thyroid was muchgreater than the whole body dose. That discrepancy was the consequence of
ingestion of radioisotopes of iodine prior to removal of the people from the contaminated atoils in
March, 1954. The estimate of thyroid radiation dose has been recently revised (19), and a summary
of age-specific doses on Rongelap and Utitik is shown in Table 5.
;
Since 1963, when the first of the series of thyroid nodules was detected in the exposed
Fe groups
population at the time of the annual Brookhaven examinations, thyroid surgery has been necessary
P
to determine whether thyroid cancer was present. The specific diagnoses, as determined by an
ercen
elevated
4%
Table 5
4%
Revised thyroid internal dose estimates*
2%
Rongelap and Utink
UA.
itory of Grave's disease
Adult Male
are useful as a screening
Rongelap
Utirik
1000 tad
150
Adult female
1100
160
9-year-old
2000
300
l-year-old
5000
1400
Newborm
250
48
3 indicated no significant
U.S. study prevalence of
lence increases with age.
*From reference (19).
e Marshallese, regardless
281
5012002