16
PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS
Adult Examinations
The general health and nutritionalstatus of the
people of Rongelap and Utirik Atolls weresatisfactory and about the samein the exposedasin
the unexposed populations, with the exception of
thyroid abnormalities in the exposed Rongelap
population, which will be treated separately below
because of the importance of this development. As
noted in previous surveys, the variety and distri-
bution of physical abnormalities (with the exception of thyroid nodules) did not appearto besignificantly different in the exposed and unexposed
populations. The varying incidence from yearto
year of such findingsas cervicitis, prostatic hypertrophy, and arteriosclerosis probably to some ex-
tent reflects differences in clinical criteria ofjudgment among the examiners. There was a marked
tendency for extensive dental caries in young
adults. Special ophthalmological andslit-lamp observations for lens opacities were not carried out
during the past 2 years. Physical abnormalities in
the adults are listed in Table 10.
Figure 7. Part of a physical examination.
Table 10
Physical Findings in Rongelap and Utirik Adults, 1965-1966
Rongelap exposed
(48 examined)
Rongelap unexposed
(81 examined)
Subject Nos.
%
Subject Nos.
Anemia, anemic tendency*
12, 22, 55, 64,
11.0
826, 829, 841, 843,
Arteriosclerosis, peripheral, mild
38, 59, 78, 79,
82
11.0
1, 11, 16, 41,
60, 68
13,0
Arteriosclerosis, peripheral, moderate
to severe
70
860, 865, 947,
964
856, 884, 910, 941,
948, 957, 961,
964, 970, 991
853, 859, 860, 878,
899, 908, 929,
Utirik exposed
(71 examined)
%
9.9
Subject Nos.
2128, 2246
28
12.4
2146, 2148, 2194,
2244
3.6
9.9
2105, 2110, 2175,
2191, 2198,
8.5
947
Asthma
Auricular fibrillation with myocardial
damage
Bradycardia
Cardiac enlargement**
80
2.1
27
1, 60, 76, 80
2.1
8.3
Cervical erosion
Cervical lacerations
63, 74
49
4.3
2.1
+1
14, 28
1,41, 75, 78
2.1
4.3.
8.3
Congenital defects
Dislocation of hip
Prominent head of ulna
Bilateral shortening of 5th finger
Polydactylism
Dislocated wrist
Flexion deformity, fingers
Cyst, ovarian
Cystocele
39
1, 18, 71, 74
2.1
8.3
916
/
858, 859,917,942,
947
2214
1.2
.62
829
1.2
833, 858, 882, 915
832, 836, 910, 914
938
4.9
826, 894
2.5
832
835
%
1.2
2162
2166
L.4
1.4
2139, 2161
2.8
1.2
1.2
*RBC: F <3.9 million; M <4.3 million. Hemoglobin: F << 11.0 g; M <13.0 g. Hematocrit: F <<35%; M <38%.
**By x-ray and/or physical examinations.