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HTDS Guide > How the Study
Was Conducted > How Data Were Collected
HTDS Guide
| How the Study Was Conducted |
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How Data Were Collected
To estimate participants' radiation doses as precisely as possible,
participants were asked to provide detailed information about the
sources and amounts of foods and milk they consumed, and where they
lived during the years 1944 through 1957. The largest amounts of
iodine-131 were released from Hanford during those years, especially in
1945.
Of course, participants could not be expected to remember all the
details of their childhood years, so whenever possible the information
was obtained from someone with personal knowledge of the participant's
early life, often the participant's mother.
In addition, participants attended a medical clinic for a complete
diagnostic evaluation for thyroid disease. At the clinic, each
participant:
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Completed a personal interview regarding his/her
residential history, dietary history, past medical or occupational
radiation exposures, and any history of thyroid disease. |
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Received a thyroid ultrasound examination. |
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Provided a blood sample to test for thyroid
function and the presence of antibody markers for autoimmune
thyroiditis. Serum calcium was also measured to test for
hyperparathyroidism. |
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Received a physical examination of the thyroid by
two experienced thyroid physicians, each independently of the other. |
If the person had a history of thyroid disease, medical records
concerning that disease were also sought.
If any thyroid abnormality was found, the participant was advised to
see a health care provider for evaluation or treatment.
The research team estimated each participant's radiation dose to the
thyroid. To do this, scientists used computer software developed under
the Hanford Environmental Dose Reconstruction Project (HEDR) together
with the information provided by the HTDS participants.
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