oh ty + * » "ls 4 “i et wa he Ome ~ Maas 1 of ; + ,er a. ta a : a: os . :’ : 6. eh cate ta a tat 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