title: Effects of radiation on the longitudinal trends of hemoglobin levels in the Japanese atomic bomb survivors.
abstract: The late effects of radiation on the hematopoietic system have not been fully evaluated. We examined the long-term effects of radiation exposure on hemoglobin levels in the Japanese atomic bomb survivors over a 40-year period from 1958 to 1998. Compared to the unexposed survivors, the mean hemoglobin levels for those exposed to a bone marrow dose of 1 Gy were significantly reduced by 0.10 g/dl (95% CI: 0.04 to 0.16) or 0.67% at 40 years of age (P < 0.0001) and by 0.24 g/dl (95% CI: 0.08 to 0.40) or 1.8% at 80 years of age. Radiation effects are greater for smokers than for nonsmokers at age less than 35 years (P < 0.01), although cigarette smoking was associated with increased hemoglobin levels. Sex and birth cohort differences in radiation effects were not found after adjusting for smoking. The radiation-induced reduction in hemoglobin levels could not be explained by the presence of certain anemia-associated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Statistics, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: F Lennie
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Tan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tominaga
authors.forename: Saeko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009689:Nuclear Warfare; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D017741:Survivors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins