his em ployment

with such contracicc.

Five persons in the exposed population died of
disease: (1) a 46-year-old man with hypertensive
heart disease which had been present at the time
of exposure, who died 2 years after the accident;
(2) a 78-year-old man who died, 3 years after exposure, of coronary heart disease complicating
diabetes; (3) a 35-year-old man who died of acute
varicella, 4 years after exposure, who had received
only 69 rads, having been on Ailingnae at the time
of the fallout; (4) a 60-year-old woman whodied
of a cancer of the ovary at 5 years after exposure;
and (5) a 78-year-old woman who died of traumauc

vertebral fractures at 8 years after exposure. There
was no apparentrelationship between any of these
deaths and radiation exposure. Four deaths have
occurred in the comparison population. The five
deaths that have occurred in the exposed people
since exposure represent a merta(:ty rate of 7.6 per
1000 population per annum, compared with 8.3
for the Marshall Islands as a whole.
Growth and development studs on the children

(height, weight, anthropometric measure ments,
radiographicstudies for bone age) have revealed
that slight retardation in growth anc development
has occurred in the exposed boys who were under
12 years of age at the time of exposure, particulariy those 12 to 18 months of age at exposure.
Onlyslight immaturity was noted in the exposed
female children. It was also noted that children bom
of exposed parents were slightly retarded and that
they had slightly lower levels of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets, compared with maie children of unexposed parents. However, since the latter children were on the average 4 months older,the
data did not justify a conclusion that the difference in
saturr was associated with the exposure ofthe parents.
tt was difficult to evaluate the effects on fertility.

However. a review of the birth rate of the exposed

group over the past 8 vears seems to indicate no

noticeable effect of their exposure on fertility. The
35 births represent a rate of 535 per 1000 popuiation per annum compared with 37.3 for the Mar-

shall Islands (1957). The 25 births over a 5-vear

penod for the comparison population represent a
rate of 21.8 per 1000 population. A somewhat
greater incidence of muscarriages and stillbirths was
noted in the exposed women dunng the first 4
years after exposure, but because of the paucity
of vital statistics on the Marshallese and the small

numberof people involved, the data are not readuy amenable to statistical analysis.

A cardwecascular survey of the adults (1959)

showed no outstanding differences between the
exposed and unexposed groups. The people appeared to have less hypertension on the whole
than # noted in people in the continental United
States.
An erthrtits survey (1959)' showed no great dif-

The one c

posed group

too soon, it is

tion to radia

cluding phyail

count and t

and seco

ferences between the exposed and the unexposed
people, and about the same incxdence as is seen in
American populations.
Ophthalmological surveys showed no remarkable
differences between the exposed and unexposed
groups except possibly a slightly greater number

evidence of|
child in the ire

in the exposed group. It is not known whether ths

radiation-inds
any of the exp
Genetuc effeg
because of the

of cases of pterygia, pinguecuiac, and corneal scars

finding is of any significance in relation to their

radiation exposure. Slit-lamp observations showed
no opacities of the lens characteristic of radiation
exposure. As a whole, visual and accommodation
levels in the Marshallese appeared to be above the
average in the U.S. population.
Dental surceys’ showed no significant differences
iN caries rate between exposed and unexposed
groups. However, the incidence and severity of
peridontal disease was slightly greater in the exposed group. It is not known whether or not this
finding is related to radiation effec:s. The poor
oral hygiene generally observed in the Marshallese
had its usual results, namely, high caries rate in

teenage children, severe peridonta! lesions in

adults (heavy calculus and foss of alveolar bone),
and edeniulous mouths in the aged. Radiation ex-

posure did not appear to have affected developing
dentition in the exposed children.
Late effects of radiation. Various parameters usuallv associated with agrme were measured or estimated on a 0 to 44 scale (skin looseness. elasticity,

and senile changes: ereying of the har and bald-

ing: accommodation, visual acuity, and arcus
seniiis: heamng; cardiovascular changes including
blood pressure and degrees of penpheral and retinal artenoscleross: neuromuscular function: and

hand streneth). Comparison of these measurements in exposed and unexposed individuals of
the same age groups showed no apparent differ-

ences. A biological age score was calculated for
individuals and groups by use of an average per-

centage score. Life shortening cflects of radiation have

not been apparent. As noted, the mortality rate
was about the same in the exposed as in the un-

exposed peopie.

vated basophil
cardiovascular §

general results
not shown am

degenerative du

No apparent

have been det
tion in the &

parents, with,

evidence of im

in the expose
of growth not
paren.

It was imp
the radiation

skin and epik
exposure, lary

by clothing.
burns, and a

epilation of |
superficial:

scaly desqua |
little pain. R
lowed. Some

quamaton.

became secor
with antibio

gradually to

skin appeare
ever, in abou
particularly:
unued to she
ing degrees a
6 years the o
of the skin +
varying degr

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