Re: Genetic Effects of Radiation

[John Goldsmith <gjohn@bgumail.bgu.ac.il>]

Concerning Susan's speculation that the genetic studies following 
the Hiroshima and Nagasaki A-bomb explosions were based on smaller 
numbers of subjects due to difficulties of finding marraige partners,
Shigematsu et al. in their recent book "Effects of A-Bomb Radiation on
the  Human Body"( Harwood Academic, 1995) report (p.213) "With regard  to
fertility, in an analysis of delivery rates during 1948-53, Neel et al. 
found no difference between atomic bomb survivors and a control population.
In an analysis of family registers, Siegel also found no difference 
between the two populations with respect to eaither marital age or 
distance from the hypocenter."  References are given in the book. 
Data are also tabulated for 1951-55 for birth 
rates for women exposed within 2.0 km of the hypcenter and controls and
no differences between exposed populations and controls were found.
The data provide a negative answer to the speculation that births to exposed
women were fewer than to unexposed due to difficulty in finding a marital
partner.
                  Gjohn@bgumed.bgu.ac.il  <John Goldsmith>