Louise Reiss facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louise Marie Zibold Reiss
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Louise Reiss in 2003
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| Born | February 23, 1920 |
| Died | January 1, 2011 (aged 90) |
| Education | Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania (currently Drexel University College of Medicine) |
| Known for | Baby Tooth Survey |
Louise Marie Zibold Reiss (February 23, 1920 – January 1, 2011) was an American doctor. She is famous for leading the Baby Tooth Survey. This project collected baby teeth from children in the St. Louis, Missouri area.
The survey ran for 12 years, from the 1950s to the 1960s. It found high levels of a dangerous substance called strontium-90 in children's teeth. Children born in 1963 had 50 times more strontium-90 than those born in 1950. This was before many nuclear tests happened.
These important findings helped convince U.S. President John F. Kennedy to sign the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. This treaty stopped most above-ground nuclear weapon tests. These tests had been releasing a lot of nuclear fallout into the air.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Louise Reiss was born in Queens, New York City, on February 23, 1920. When she was a child, she got polio, a serious disease. She first wanted to study art in college. However, when World War II started, she decided to study science instead.
She earned her medical degree from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. This school is now part of the Drexel University College of Medicine. She completed her medical training at Philadelphia General Hospital. There, she met her future husband, Eric Reiss, who was also a doctor.
The couple first moved to San Antonio, Texas. Later, they moved to St. Louis. This was because Eric Reiss got a job at the Washington University School of Medicine. Louise Reiss worked for the St. Louis city health department. She helped give children the polio vaccine.
The Baby Tooth Survey Project
In 1959, Louise and Eric Reiss joined a scientist named Barry Commoner. They created a group called the Greater St. Louis Citizens' Committee for Nuclear Information. This group started the Baby Tooth Survey. They worked with Saint Louis University and the Washington University School of Dental Medicine.
The goal was to see how nuclear fallout affected people's bodies. Louise Reiss led the project from 1959 to 1961. The research focused on finding strontium-90. This is a radioactive substance that can cause cancer. It was created by over 400 atomic tests done above ground before 1963.
Strontium-90 is similar to calcium. So, growing children absorb it from water and milk products. It then settles in their bones and teeth. Louise Reiss visited schools and groups to explain the project. She asked parents to have their children send in their lost baby teeth. In return, children got a button that said "I gave my tooth to science."
The team sent forms to schools for collecting teeth. At first, teeth were sent to the Reiss home, where they were sorted. In total, about 320,000 teeth were collected from children of different ages. The project ended in 1970.
Survey Results and Impact
The results of the survey were published in the journal Science on November 24, 1961. They showed high levels of radioactive substances in the collected teeth. President John F. Kennedy learned about the research. At the time, he was working on a treaty with the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union. This treaty aimed to control nuclear testing.
President Kennedy even called the Reiss home. Louise's son answered the phone. The person on the line said, "This is John Kennedy, can I talk to your mom?" Further analysis showed that children born in 1963 had absorbed 50 times more strontium-90. This was compared to children born ten years earlier.
Eric Reiss, Louise's husband, spoke to the United States Senate. This was when they were deciding whether to approve the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Later research showed that strontium-90 levels dropped by 50 percent in children born after the treaty. This proved the treaty made a big difference.
Later Life and Death
Louise Reiss lived in Pinecrest, Florida. She passed away at her home on January 1, 2011, at age 90. She had suffered a myocardial infarction (heart attack) two months earlier. She was survived by her son, Eric Reiss, two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
