Volume 67
Effects of tonizing radiation
Number +
leaviy Exposed to radiation Trom the atom
In another study or Japanese arcmic comb
a
661
the cecurrence of deveionpmentcal abnorma!-
iues among children rece} ing 3irr. aciation in
utero.” Oz the offspring of 11 pregnant
wornen who were exposed during
typesSee! uding
ams lcuxemia and
trimester of pregnancy to the atomic bomb
in Hiroshima at distances less than 1,200 M.
trom the hypocenter, seven had microcephaly
and mental retardation.“* In Nagasaki, the
related to
47°e@
ast
reecuency Was Tot
or sex. This finding, how-
ever, has not been substantiated. o4,
36
The development of bone tumors following
jrradiation with Goses in excess of 3,0G0 ris
well documentec.*” An increas @ in Jeeguency
Oi Osivochondromas over the expe tea number
of cases
has
also
been observec”
in
children treated with several hundred r for
taymic enlargement. Bone tumors have asso
been observed in watch dial painters irom
Ceposition of radium. Radiogenic
1 mMicrnal
bone neovasms from Sr® deposition Rave
been experimentally produced in animals and
presumabiy could occur in man.** Malignant
culnors of the lung anc the skin are aso
known io be related to radiation exposure.
Cancer of the lung has been associated wna
high atmospheric conten: of radium and
particularly of radon, The risk of radiuminduced cancer of the skin is generally considered to be less than that of many other
types o7 tumors.%7
Growth and development. Severai analyses
oi the growth data on Hiroshima and Nagaaki children subjected to atomic bomp ir-
radiauion have suggested a retardation of
end the exposed groun.°® %9 6°
eterious eect seemed more prominent among boys than girls and among
those exposed at younger ages.°% °° Inter.
pretation of the results is complicated since
the chiidren suffered psychic and physicai
trauma as wel as nutridonal disturbances
and diseases. A similar trend in retardation
o. growth and development has been noted
in a study of 3% Marshall Island native
chidren who were exvosed to whole body
irradiation or 69 to 175 r from radioactive
fallout." Highiy suggestive differences were
noted, particularly between male children
exposed at 12 to 18 months of age and the
unexnosed comparison group.
Clinical experience has long emphasized
the
first
over-ail morbidity and mortality were high
among babies born to 30 mothers who were
exposed during pregnancy and who manitested major raGiation symptoms as com-
pared io those among babies born to 68
mothers exposed withiz 2.000 Mi. but without histories of major symptoms and to in-
fants born to 113 “contro!” mothers. Four of
’
2
survivors, a higher incidence of cancer oF ai
tae 16 surviving children of motwsers with
meal
major symptoms were m Mmiaay
Cerective.”*
Experimentaudy, many types 07 malformations
nave been proaucea in the anima. fetus by
irradiation.7 84 69
Life shortening. Sucrvering of the fe span
and premature senescence have been established in mammals receiving acute or chronic
irradiation.?* & 6. 68 Tr has nov been conclusively demonstrated that a similar Hie
shortening effect occurs in human beings
xposed to radiation,’ although morialir
statistics rom retrospective surveys have been
interpreted to snow cecreased longevity of
American radiologists incomparison with
other physicians and with the general mate
populauon.?? % 7? The Atomic Bomb Cuzs-
Commission—National Insitute of
(Japan) Study ot Life Span or A-
Somb Survivors has under surveillance a
sample of aporoximately 100,000 persons.*?
Analyses of these data may provide some Emm
answers in reference to the reiative lve span
of those exposed to radiation during chilc-
hood and infancy, a.c.ough results thus far
have not reveaied any positive correlation.
Chromosome changes. Porsistent chromosomal aberrations have been noted in ta e
ioutocytes of human beings who received
whoie or partial body irradiation#?*® Diag.
nostic radiation ranges in ieveis of 12 zo 35 4,
and even in levels as low as 1 to 12 r, have
been associated with postradiation aberra-
tions.** The clinical significance, however, of