Long-term effects of prenatal x-ray of human females: growth and development

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Am. J. Epidemiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6077704

Meyer, M B; Tonascia, J

Experimental studies and studies of survivors of in-utero exposure to atomic bomb blasts have shown significant stunting of growth and mental retardation following these exposures. Central nervous system damage following very low dosage of x-ray at around the time of birth has also been observed in experimental animals. This long term followup study of 1458 human females exposed in-utero to diagnostic x-rays and of 1458 matched unexposed controls studied in Baltimore, Maryland, included measurements of height, weight, and school achievement. Women who had been exposed to x-rays in-utero were significantly shorter in their mid-twenties than were their matched, unexposed controls, even after adjustment for other social and economic factors. However, additional followup revealed that mothers of exposed women were also shorter than the control mothers. Short stature appeared to be a selective factor for x-ray during pregnancy (mostly pelvimetry, 1947 to 1952). Mothers' and daughters' heights were similarly correlated among exposed and controlled mother-daughter pairs, suggesting that the height differences between exposed daughters and their controls were due to these selective factors rather than to any direct effect of radiation on growth. Exposed women reported poorer school achievement than control women. However, except for a higher proportion of exposed women leaving school because of pregnancy, these measurements were no longer significantly different when rates were simultaneously adjusted for socioeconomic differences between exposed and control women.

• Research Organization: Johns Hopskins Univ. School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD
• OSTI ID: 6077704
• Journal Information: Am. J. Epidemiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Epidemiol.; (United States) Vol. 114:3; ISSN AJEPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
A-BOMB SURVIVORS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EXPLOSIONS
FEMALE GENITALS
FEMALES
FERTILITY
FETUSES
GYNECOLOGY
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
LOW DOSE IRRADIATION
MAMMALS
MAN
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
ORGANS
POPULATIONS
PREGNANCY
PRENATAL EXPOSURE
PRENATAL IRRADIATION
PRIMATES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
REPRODUCTION
REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
SOCIOLOGY
STERILITY
VERTEBRATES
WOMEN
X RADIATION