Baby teeth used for radiation studies

St. Louis -- U.S. researchers say thousands of baby teeth collected around St. Louis in the 1950s and '60s will be used to study radiation exposure.

Scientists said the teeth were collected as part of a study on the radioactive fallout from nuclear bomb tests, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

The newspaper said the findings played a roll a 1963 ban on atmospheric tests of nuclear weapons.

The New York-based Radiation and Public Health Project said researchers will identify 200 healthy tooth donors and 100 tooth donors who later developed cancer. The baby teeth will be tested for the radioactive chemical strontium 90, which is found in bomb fallout and nuclear reactors, the Post-Dispatch said.