J8-21-1994 12:21
5162825311
BNL-MED,. DEPT.
P. 023
<2]Fertility
Effects of radiation exposure on fertility is difficult to as spss in the
Mershaliese.
If there has been any effoct on fertility it must havo
an very short
lived since pregnancies are occurring normally and at rate similar to pther groups
of Marshallese.
Pregnancy
There las been no apparent effects of radiation on the course of pregnancy
in the Marshaliese.
Since the delivery of the four women who were pr fanant at the
time of the event, there have been twelve pregnancies which have term inated,
Ten
of these tarminated normally, one terminated jn a stillbirth and one maby died
several hours after birth apparently of an infection of the cord.
vital statistics makes this data difficult to interpret.
Ti m lack of
However it
oes not
appear that this incidence cf still births is greater than that of otfher comparable
native groups in the mid Pacifie aroa,.
Fffectr_on the Fetus
The three babies irradiated ireutero bave not shntwm any abnoft malities such
as Was abservel in a me of the Japanese tables irradiated in-utero ([ or ezuinie
microcephaly).
Growth and Develonnont
On each resurvey the expose! and control children have heen fh xtehed for age
and sex.
Measurements on growth am development have been carried qut.
measuraments have been incomplintely analysed as yet.
Anthropometric
Since the nme rs of children
arc smal) the data is not easily subjected.to statistical snalysis.
Hovever there
does appear to be avidence susgestive of a slight impairment of gropth and development as moasured by comparison of height and veight in the control i exposed children.
No abnormalities of the eyes have been observed.
Shortening of Life Span
Inmimais the evidence for shortening of life span is quit
good.
It is