39
for all age groups. a relatively Tow figure compared with that for Japanese and American
socicues.
Thyroid Metabolism
Table 24 shows results of protein bound iodine,
total iodine, and butanol extractable iodine deter-
minations. The 12 samples obtained in 1959
showed values definitely lower than the 1958
values, although several readings were still somewhat high. It was thought that the high [958
levels must have been due to contaminated glassware in spite of the great care taken to maintain
strict cleanliness.
Glucosuria
On routine urine analysis during the 1959 survey one male andfour females(ail in the unexposed group) were found to have glucosuria; all
but one of these also had an elevated fasting blood
sugar level* (see Fable 25). These individuals
were considered to have mild diabetes mellitus.
Later during the year one of these cases ( #854, F,
*We are grateful to Dr WW Fesnel at Kwajalein for having
the blood sugar analyzed.
age 54) died of a genitourinary infection complicating diabetes even though she (along with the
other cases) had been placed on oral therapy with
Orinase {tolbutamid tablets). (It was later found
that these patients did not take the tablets consistenily.)
Table 26 compares the mortality from diabetes
inthe United States“! and the Marshall Islands.
The incidence appears higher tn the Marshall
Islands and on Rongelap Island (based on its
small population}. It should be noted that, since
only routine urine examinations were done on the
Rongelap people, the incidence of diabetes may
actually be higher. The greater incidence of deaths
due to diabetes in the Marshall Islands than in the
United States in 1956 and 1957°7 is staustically
significant (0.0 f > p >U.001).
Serum Vitamin 8 ,,
Analysis of the 15 serum samples obtained in
1959 again showed, as in 1958, vitamin B,. levels
slightly higher than normal. The mean value was
714 pug/mi, with a range of SI2 to 1500. A seatter-
gram oflevels for both years was plotted against
white blood count, since it has been shown that in
leukemia the white cells have a higher B,. binding
Table 23
Results of Complement Fixation Tests on Rongelap People, 1959, by Age and Sex
(Positive Reactions of Seruin Dihations 1-10)
HA 1
HA 2
Long
(Respiratory
CA
No.in
FluA
Flu B (Parainfluenza 3) (Parainfluenza i) (Parainfuenza 2) syncitual, CCA) Adeno
Mumps
‘cr,
age
eS
a
group No.
% No.
“%
No.
%
No.
%
Nu.
‘%
No.
‘fh
No
% No
%
LGV
(Psittacosis
group)
No
OF
(Q fever)
“%
No.
%
6
2
12
5
1
5
Females
0
1?
‘4
4+
61
20
3
47
[6
BO
+
17
9
200672
38
19
8
13
16
26
43
«(35
79
70
14
#2
30
26
4
i4
b
2
3
2
|
3
1
0
6
i
33
16
2
i2
]
10
67
=650
6
2
3
13
43
0
66
8
#3
5
8
5
8
10
b
+
6
3
34
249
29
i
il
it
9
109
Y252 3
353 5
14
29
l
1
3
8
5
18
lt
8
6
15
29
32.0CU6S
OS
16
5
10
]
2
4
41
Js?
72
16
I+
10
9
a
3
5
58
1
2
8
Males
i- 9
b-13
pn 40
HW
L2
21
17
1
4
6
otal
31
alab
Tb?
8
19
35
2
8
12
17
38
71
i]
18
14
92
86
§2
I}
22022
43
45
B+
0
19
17
$4
Bb
77
0
Females Plas Males
38
5
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BEST AVAILABLE COP
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