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significant,
foods,
(3) The diet is iodine sufficient with no known goitrogenic
In addition, it would be unusual to have such a high incidence of
iodine deficiency goiter in the younger age group.
(4) The correlation of
thyroid pathology of the type reported here is well documented in animal and
clinical studies, (16-26)
The calculated average doses of radiation to the
thyroid in the Marshallese appears to be somewhat low in relation to the
incidence of thyroid pathology noted,
exposed must have been marked,
However, variability of dose among the
A thyroid etiology for growth retardation noted
in boys in the exposed group is strongly suggested by the finding of definite
hypothyroidism in two of the most retarded boys in the exposed group.
Growth
response to thyroid hormone will test this hypothesis,
All of the more heavily exposed group, including the more recently
discovered cases, have been started on prophylactic thyroid hormone treatment,
in an attempt to prevent the development of further nodules and possibly
induce regression of existing nodules.
The rational for this appears to be
sound, 62/729)
|
The significance of the thyroid findings are twofold,
First, in regard
to radioactive fallout (close-in type), wwe are forced to modify our previous
attitude in regard to the problem of internal absorption.
Based on the fact
that the Marshallese exposed to fallout had shown no detectible acute effects
and until recently no late effects from absorption of fallout nuclides, the
internal problem had been thought to be negligible compared with the external
whole body gamma radiation,
As a result of the present findings it will be
necessary to revise upwards the seriousness of the internal hazard associated
with fallout,
Sogou |
Secondly, it has become increasingly evident that late effects