44
A review of the medicalstatus of the people dur-
ing the previous year revealed that few majorill-
nesses had occurred and no epidemicsofinfectious
diseases. No illnesses were reported in the exposed
group which might be related to radiation exposure. No deaths had occurred except in twoin-
fants, One babvborn of unexposed parents died of
a congenital malformation | anencephalv). Onlv
a few miscarriages had occurred and the incidence
was no greater in the exposed womenthan in the
unexposed. Thus, the suggestive trend of in-
creased number of miscarriages and stillbirths in
the exposed women reported for previous vears
was not apparent during the past two vears.
Physical examinations showed no acuteillnesses
present nor any diseases which could bedirectly
associated with radiation effects. The incidence of
various diseases was generally the same in the ex-
posed and unexposed groups. It was noted that
several of the older people, particularly in the exposed group. were becoming quite feeble and
helpless.
Residual skin changes in areas previously show-
ing lesions from fallout were present with certainty
in about 10 people. The changes noted were
principally atrophy, scarring, and pigment aber-
rations. None of these cases showed anyevidence
of chronic radiation dermatitis or malignant
change. The appearance of pigmented maculae
and moles in previously irradiated areas of the
skin was more common this vear than noted in
the past, it is believed. However, these pigmented
lesions appeared quite benign. They will be scru-
tinized closely on future surveys. The incidence of
diabetes in both exposed and unexposed people
appearedto be higher than found in the United
States.
prominent in the boys exposed before 6 vears of
age, and most marked in those exposed at 12 to 18
months. A similar butless distinct trend was noted
for body weight among the exposed bovs. These
trends were not noted among the exposed girls.
However, skeletal maturation studies (roentgeno-
grams ofleft hand and wrist) showed trendssug-
gesuve ofinferior skeletal maturation in both male
and female exposed children compared with unex-
posed children. although the differences did not
reach the level ofstatistical significance. A high
degree of correlation was found between retarda-
tion in skeletal age and inferiority in statural
growth. Ofspecific interest was the group of children now8 years old who had been exposed to
fallout at ages 12 to 18 months; this group showed
the most marked retardation in physical and
skeletal growth.
Similar studies comparing growth and development in children of exposed parents and in children of unexposed parents showed that the male
offspring of exposed parents were smaller in stat-_
ure at all ages then those of unexposed parents.
The most marked differences occurred at 1, 3, and
+ years of age, and in those born <2 yearsafter
the fallout.
In order to investigate the possible effect of radi-
ation in inducing premature aging, various criteria
were measuredor estimated during physical examinations (visual acuity, accommodation. arcus
senilis, graying of hair, balding, skin looseness,
skin elasticity, senile skin changes, blood pressure,
peripheral arteriosclerosis, and neuromuscular
function). No apparent effect of radiation was
noted, since measurements were not greatlydiffer-
ent in the exposed and unexposed age groups and
Dental examinations revealed a high incidence
of caries in the younger people and periodonto-
were similar to the measurements previously reported.” However, the study is of interest with
regard to the measurement of biological aging,
between the exposed and unexposed groupin re-
pendenttrends, and, by combiningthe scores on a
clasia in the older people. No difference was noted
since the various criteria showed definite age de-
gard to dental findings.
Careful examinations for the detection of such
late effects of radiation as cancer and leukemia revealed no evidence of these malignancies in any of
was determined.
Slit-lamp observations for cataracts were not
carried out on this survey, but previous surveys
percentage basis, an over-all biological age score
the people, exposed or unexposed.
had shownnoevidenceofinduced opacities of the
data revealed a distinct tendencyfor the exposed
Genetic studies have not been specifically conducted. Examinations of children of exposed
parents have revealed little in the wayof con-
Growth and development data from 1958
through 1960 were reviewedfor the children. These
boys of ages <12 to be shorter than the unexposed
males of comparable chronological ages. This was
lens.
genital anomalies. One baby born of an exposed