SHORTENING OF LIFE IN THE OFFSPRING OF MALE MICE EXPOSED TO NEUTRON RADIATION FROM AN ATOMIC BOMB

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Abstract
Length of life in the offspring of male mice exposed to moderate doses of neutron radiation from a nuclear detonation is shortened by 0.61 day for each rep received by the father over the dose range tested. This figure excludes death before weaning age. The 95% confidence limits are 0.14 and 1.07 days per rep. Extrapolating to a proportional shortening of life in man gives 20 days per rep received by the father as the point estimate and 5 and 35 days as the 95% confidence limits. Offspring were obtained from matings made from 19-23 days after irradiation and therefore represent the effect of irradiation on germ cells in a post-spermatogonial and sensitive stage of garnetogenesis. It is probable that irradiation of spermatogonia (the stage that is important from the point of view of human hazards) would give a somewhat smaller effect. The present data show an effect on the offspring as great as the shortening of life in the exposed individuals themselves. It seems likely that, even when allowance is made for the conditions of human radiation exposure, shortening of life in immediate descendants will be of sufficient magnitude to warrant serious consideration as a genetic hazard in man.

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