est
68
FALLOUT EFFECTS—MARSHALL ISLANDERS
1. More definitive studies are needed on the comparative effectiveness of
I-131, short-lived iodine isotopes, and x rays in producing thyroid abnormalities. These studies should be done with large animals having thyroids nearer
the size of human glands.
2. More data are needed on low-dose effects of x rays and radioiodines on
the thyroid, including more data on effects from diagnostic use of I-131 and
other radioisotopes.
3. Further information is desirable on other possible radionuclides that might
be concentrated in the thyroid from fallout.
4. In view of the preponderance of thyroid abnormalities in the Marshallese
children and in two exposed in utero, further data would be desirable on thyroid
weight and function in children and human fetuses.
It is obvious that regular examinations of the exposed Marshallese must con-
tinue throughouttheir lifetime.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In addition to those people cited in the footnotes, many others, too numerous
‘to mention here, have contributed to or participated in the examinations of
the Marshallese over the past 28 years. Only a few of the organizations and
people that have been so essential to the program can be listed here. Among
these are Brookhaven National Laboratory (Drs. E. P. Cronkite, V. P. Bond,
W. Adams,present director of the Marshallese studies, K. Knudsen, H. Pratt,
D. C. Borg, and R. B. Aronson; and Messrs. W. Scott and P. Heotis, Ms. M.
Dienes, and many others); the Department of Energy (Washington, Nevada,
and Pacific Area Offices); the Departmentof the Interior, Government of the
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Government of the Marshall Islands
and the Kwajalin Missile Range in the Marshall Islands; and the Marshallese
practitioners and technicians. Most ofall, we are grateful to the people of the
Marshall Islands, the subjects of these examinations, for their cooperation and
friendship over the years.
REFERENCES
1. Ackerman, L. V., and Rosai, J. (1974): Surgical Pathology, pp. 316-319, C. V. Mosby, St.
Louis.
2. Albert, R. E., and Omran, A. R. (1968): Follow-up study of patients treated by x-ray epilation
for tinea capitis. Arch. Environ. Health, 17:899-918.
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3. Beach, S. A., and Dolphin, G. W. (1962): A study of the relationship between x-ray dose
delivered to the thyroids of children and the subsequent development of malignant tumors.
Phys. Med. Biol. 6:583-598.
4. Becker, D. V., McConahey, W. M., Dobyns, B. M., Tompkins, E., Sheline, G. E., and Workman,
J. B. (1971): The results of the thyrotoxicosis therapy follow-up study. In: Further Advances
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