44
A review of the medicalstatus of the people during the previous year revealed that few majorillnesses had occurred and no epidemics of infectious
diseases. No illnesses were reported in the exposed
group which mightbe related to radiation exposure. No deaths had occurred except in two infants. One baby born of unexposed parents died of
a congenital malformation (anencephaly). Only
a few miscarriages had occurred and the incidence
was nogreaterin the exposed womenthanin the
unexposed. Thus, the suggestive trend of increased numberof miscarriages andstillbirths in
the exposed womenreported for previous years
was not apparent during the past two years.
Physical examinations showednoacute illnesses
present nor any diseases which could bedirectly
associated with radiation effects. The incidence of
various diseases was generally the samein 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 aberrations. None of these cases showed anvevidence
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 year than noted in
the past. it is believed. However, these pigmented
lesions appeared quite benign. Theywill be scrutinized closely on future survevs. The incidence of
diabetes in both exposed and unexposed people
appeared to be higher than found in the United
States.
Dental examinations revealed a high incidence
of caries in the younger people and periodontoclasia in the older people. No difference was noted
between the exposed and unexposed groupin regard to dental!findings.
Careful examinationsfor the detection of such
late effects of radiation as cancer and leukemia re-
vealed no evidence of these malignancies in any of
the people, exposed or unexposed.
Growth and development data from 1958
through 1960 were reviewed for the children. These
data revealed a distinct tendency for the exposed
boys of ages <(12 to be shorter than the unexposed
males of comparable chronological ages. This was
prominentin the boys exposed before 6 years of
age, and most markedin those exposed at 12 to 18
months. A similar butless distinct trend was noted
for body weight amongthe exposed boys. These
trends were not noted amongthe exposedgirls.
However, skeletal maturation studies (roentgeno-
grams of left hand and wrist) showed trendssuggestive of inferior skeletal maturation in both male
and female exposed children compared with unexposed children, although the differences did not
reach thelevel of statistical significance. A high
degree of correlation was found between retarda-
tion in skeletal age and inferiority in statural
growth. Ofspecific interest was the groupof children now 8 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 smallerin stature at all ages then those of unexposed parents.
The most marked differences occurred at 1, 3. and
4+ vears of age, and in those born <2 years after
the fallout.
In order to investigate the possible effect of radi-
ation in inducing premature aging, variouscriteria
were measured or estimated during physical examtnations (visual ecultv, 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 greatly different in the exposed and unexposed age groups and
were similar to the measurements previouslyreported.’ However, the study is of interest with
regard to the measurementofbiological aging,
since the various criteria showed definite age dependenttrends, and, by combiningthe scores on a
percentage basis, an over-all biological age score
was determined.
Slit-lamp observations for cataracts were not
carried out on this survey, but previous surveys
had shownno evidence of induced opacities of the
lens.
Genetic studies have not been specifically conducted. Examinations of children of exposed
parents have revealed little in the way of congenital anomalies. One baby born of an exposed