Perinatal Loss and Neurological Abnormalities Among Children of the Atomic Bomb

Brief Communication: Effects of Diagnostic Irradiation During Pregnancy on Head Circumference at Birth

“…In 1984, Otake and Schull analyzed the Japanese A-bomb survivors on in-utero exposure again, using a redefined sample, and found that mental retardation occurred primarily when exposure was between 8 and 15 weeks of gestational age. The lowest dose at which small head size was found among those exposed under 18 weeks of gestational age was 0.1-0.19 Gy in air in Hiroshima (Yamazaki & Schull, 1990).…”

“…Absorbed dose necessary to produce significant reduction in head circumference was as low as 0.1 to 0.19 Gy (Yamazaki & Schull, 1990). It is unclear what effects lower levels of in utero exposure to radiation have on head circumference at birth.…”

Environmental factors associated with a spectrum of neurodevelopmental deficits

“…severe disability can result from MeHg exposure. in utero exposure to "background" levels through general food supply Patandin et al, 1999Lanting et al, 1998Koopman-Esseboom et al, 1996Huisman et al, 1995Winneke et al, 1998 Pesticides hypothesized effects include deficits in stamina, balance, coordination, short term verbal memory, reaction time inhalation and ingestion of organophosphate pesticides no effects based on Bayley Scales and FTII breast-feeding exposure to DDE Rogan andGladen, 1991 Darvill et al, 2000 decreases in stamina, gross and fine hand-eye coordination, 30 minute memory, and the ability to draw a person in utero exposure Guillette et al, 1998 Ionizing radiation lowered mean IQ; speech-language disorders; emotional disorders in utero thyroid exposure from Chernobyl accident Kolominsky, 1999 small head circumference; decline in average school performance; severe mental retardation** in utero exposure to atomic bomb Schull and Otake, 1999* Kimler, 1998* Otake and Schull, 1998* Yamazaki and Schull, 1990 Environmental tobacco smoke Maternal Behavioral Factors Tobacco use small effect on balance at 5 years of age; poorer auditory function and global intelligence; decreased verbal IQ and verbal comprehension; babbling abilities at 8 months; childhood behavior problems at 4-5 years of age; adult male criminal outcome in utero exposure Wasseman et al, Trasti et al, 1999Brennan et al, 1999Koren 1999* Fried et al, 1998Obel et al, 1998Drews et al, 1996Eskenazi and Trupin, 1995Fried, 1989Fried and Watkinson, 1988 Alcohol use fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), fetal alcohol effects, alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder; "social" drinking associated with lower verbal comprehension and spoken language scores at 13 months of age; slight detrimental effect on motor development from breastfeeding exposure in utero exposure; AAP, 2000* post-natal exposure from breastfeeding Sampson et al, 2000Feng, 1993* Roeleveld et al, 1992Little et al, 1989…”

“…The unique susceptibility of the central nervous system to ionizing radiation exposure has been demonstrated through studies of survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the meltdown of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986 [Yamazaki and Schull, 1990;Schull et al, 1990;Otake and Schull, 1998;Kolominsky, 1999]. Brain injury resulting in microcephaly and mental retardation occurred in infants born to mothers who were within 2000 meters of the site of the detonation of the bomb.…”

“…Brain injury resulting in microcephaly and mental retardation occurred in infants born to mothers who were within 2000 meters of the site of the detonation of the bomb. Uncertainty remains as to the dose response function and the possibility of a threshold level of exposure [Yamazaki and Schull, 1990].…”