4
in the exposed group. It is not known whetherthis
finding,is of any significance in relation to their
radiation exposure. Slit-lamp observations showed
no opactics of the.lens characteristic of radiation
Dental surveys
red no‘Significant differences
in eithertaries @&te or incidence of péridontaldisease betweneee and unexposed-groups. The
poor.oral hygitpe, generally observed in the Mar-
shallese"hedtel
sual results, namely, highcaries
rate im tg¢fieagechildren, severe peridentaHesions
in aduflg.
Reavy calculus and loss of afvéolar
bone), aniedentulous mouths‘in the aged. Radiation exposure did not appear to Have affected developingdentitioniin the exposed children.
Late effects of radiation. Various,parametets usualfy
associated with aging were measured or estimated
on a 0 to 4+ scale (skin looseness, elasticity, and
senile changes; greying of the hair and balding;
accommoadatiog,, Visualacuity,afd afcus senilis;
hgaring; cariovascularchanges,including blood
pressureasiee-degrees-Fperip
“and retinal
arteghoscltrosie; Treuremuper function: and
hand strength). Comparison of these measurements in exposed and unexposed individuals of the
same age groups showed Bg apparent differettces.
A biological age score was@@fgulated for individfials
and groups by use omavegage perc
€.
Liféshortening e fetter radtatien Have
nolheen
apparent. As noted, the méteflity ratewaexbout
the Sarite iin the exposed as in the unexposed people.
Theonecase ofcancer that developedin.od exposed group occurred at 5 years aftercathiela
too soon:it is believed, to bear any particuli*telation to radiation exposure. Leukemia surveys including physical findings, studies of white cell
counts and types, alkaline phosphatase staining,
and basophil counts of 4000 white cells showed no
ykemia or leu sestendency.One
No apparent radiation-induced genetic changes
have been detected on routine physical examination
in the first-generation children of exposed parents.
If the suggestive evidence of increased miscarriages
andstillbirths in the exposed women istrue, this
mayrepresent a genetic effect of exposure.
BETA IRRADIAHON OF THE SKIN
It was impossible to get an accuagite estimate of
the radiation dose tethe skin, Befa Burns of the
skin and epH#atagjn appeared abe@ut:-2 weeks after
exposure, largely on ae of the body not covéred
by clothing. About
of the people had these
burns, and a smaller.qumber@eveloped spotty
epilation of the scalp. Most of the lestong were
superficial; ene) exhibiged.
Fdry.
scaly desqua matfo®, gaiee
little pain. Rapid ra
desquamation, and were more painful. A few
burns becamesecondarily infected and had to be
treated with antibiotics. Repigmentation of the lesions gradually took place in most instances, and
the skin appeared normal within a few weeks.
However, in about 15% of the people, deeper
lesions, particularly noted on the dorsum ofthe
feet, continued to show lack of repigmentation
with varying degrees of scarring and atrophyof
the skin. By 6 years the only residualeffects of beta
radiation of the skin were seen in 10 cases which
showed varying degrees of pigment aberrations,
scarring, and atrophy at the site of the former
burns. Numeroushistopathological studies have
_ been made,'** and the changes found have been
_ consistent with radiation damage. At no time have
changes been observed either grossly or microscopically indicative of malignant or premalignant
change. Spotty epiigsen,on
lived, regrowth o
page
after exposure andcoil
the heads wasshort
|
hair by six months. Nadeggrther,
Hen has been seen.
“Ss
paréngine aed Ps
in the exposed people. No radia#lon-induced
cataracts have been observed in any.oftheseappesed
people.
Genetic effects have not been specifically studied
because of the small numberof people involved.
: .din interesting observation wast € appearance
the
€ serafifinar
of the -cople‘beginning abeut Fielks APRpo.
sure. By 6 months, this pigmentation had largely
grown out with the nail and had disappeared in
most cases. The cause of this phenomenonhas not
been explained.
Je