We found an epiic of juvenile hypothyroidism among a population of se-defied "donwinders" living near the Hanford nuclear facility located in southeast Washington State. The episode followed massive releases of 13L Self-reported data on 60 cases of juvenile hypothyroidism (<20 years of age) among a group of 801 Hanford downwinders are presented, as well as data concerning the thyroid status of approximately 160,000 children eTosed to radioiodine before 10 years of age as a result of the 26

A community-based health survey for the time period between 1944 and 1995 was collected from 801 individuals who had lived downwind of the U.S. plutonium production facility located in Hanford, Washington. The results of the survey revealed high incidences of all cancers, including thyroid cancer. There were greater than expected numbers of central nervous system tumors and cancers that invaded the female reproductive system (e.g., cancers of the uterus, ovary, cervix, and breast). The authors argue that the greater-than-expected numbers found cannot be accounted for by selection bias alone. Comparisons of crude incidence rates, as well as of occurrence ratios between pairs of cancer types among Downwinders and reasonably similar populations, suggested that the excess neoplasms may be associated with radioactive contamination of food, water, soil, and/or air. In addition, a synergistic effect may exist with agricultural toxins. Previously neglected biophysical and physiological properties of internally lodged, long-lived 129I may be a significant etiological factor in the development of thyroid diseases, including cancer, and other malignancies in exposed populations.

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Sixty cases of thyrotoxicosis (including hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease, and toxic goiter), an unexpectedly large number compared with general population data, were reported in a voluntary health survey that included a period of approximately 50 yr, with 801 self-defined "Downwinders" who had lived near the Hanford, Washington, nuclear facility. In another self-selected group of medical patients (n = 423) who were examined over the same time period, only 2 cases of thyrotoxicosis were identified. Evidence is presented that suggests that the effects of bias from self-selection likely did not account for the magnitude of the apparent excess of thyrotoxicosis cases in the present study population. The findings are consistent with those of other studies, as well as with the hypothesis of an association of thyrotoxicosis with exposures to radioiodine.

No abstract