32

Neutropuits. The neutrophil levels increased
slightly at the time of the 9 and 10-year surveys in
both exposed and comparison populations. At 9
years the neutrophil levels were about 5% lowerin
the exposed than in the comparison group,butat
10 years they were about 20% lower. Neutrophil
levels are shown in Figures 23 through 29. The
neutrophil deficit was greater in the exposed

group whoreceived 175 rads are designated as
“Rongelap exposed,” the Rongelap people who
received a smaller exposure of 69 radsas “‘Ailingnae
exposed,” and the larger unexposed comparison
population of Rongelap as “unexposed.” Because
of the small numberof people in the Ailingnae
group, their data were not treated as fully as those

for the Rongelap groups, andarebriefly summa-

rized in a separate paragraph. The Utirik data

younger age groups (<40 years). The exposed

older age groups ( >40 years) did not share the
deficit as muchas has been notedin the past(Figures 26 through 29).
Lympuocytes. Lymphocyte levels were slightly
higher in the exposed and unexposed groups dur-

are summarizedseparately also. Because of certain

differences noted in age and sex groups between
the exposed and the unexposed, in addition to the
comparisons of mean levels for entire groups,
comparisons are also madeof age and sex groups.
Ages 9 to 15, 16 to 40, and >40 years for each sex
are compared.

ing the 9 and 10-year surveys. In contrast to the

8-year survey results, the lymphocyte meanlevels
showedlittle difference between the exposed and
unexposed groups during the 9 and 10-year surveys; however, some individual lymphocyte counts
were lowerin the exposed group. Lymphocytelevels are shownin Figures 24, 25, and 30 through 34.
7

T

t

T

oT

3S
3

oo
oO
T

on

oO
T

|

|

Bey

oO
7

CUMULATIVE (%)

|
| (26-30 Days)

(31-59 DAYS)

=

1

(31-59 Days)
E1359

qT

oO
0

Mostof the difference was due to lower neutrophil
levels in the exposed group (see Figure 23).
LEUKOCYTES AND NEUTROPHILS x i073

T

Sy

Mean

slightly lower leukocytes than the unexposed
(—4%) at 9 years, and at 10 years, lower by 9%.

T

oO

Leukocytes.

levels of leukocytes in both exposed and comparison populationsat 9 years post exposure wereincreased over the 8-year levels, and the 10-year
levels were higher than thosefor either of the two
preceding years. The exposed group had only

y

* EXPOSED, 9 YEARS POST EXPOSURE
4 UNEXPOSED
® EXPOSED, TIME OF MAXIMUM DEPRESSION

ny

Rongelap Population.

T

I

The hematological data are summarized in

Tables 18 and 19 and in Figures 23 through 49.
In Appendices1, 2, and 3 are presented summaries
of the mean blood counts of the exposed populations and of the various comparison populations
since exposure in March 1954. In Appendices 4
and 5 arelisted the individual blood counts for
1963 and 1964. In Appendix 6 basophil counts
are presented.

J
ot 4
260 40 60 80

0

NEUTROPHILS x 10>

20

40

60

20

LYMPHOCYTES xi0"?

40

60

PLATELETSx10

Figure 24. Cumulative percent distribution curvesfor
neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets, 1963.

v

T

T

T

T

5
ul
- OAYS!
F Qo [L789
x

\

a
NEUTROPHILS

tippy tbat
a

24

40

DAYS

S672

6 |

MO

ft tf
23

4

TIME AFTER EXPOSURE

bt

5

6

YEARS

tt

FF

8

39

10

Figure 23. Mean neutrophil and white blood counts of
exposed Rongelap people from time of exposure through
10 years post exposure. Stars represent mean values of

comparison population.

I0Ge0l3
—_

\

i 80
2
60

T

T

TT

TT

T

TT

TT

* EXPOSED, TEN YEARS POST EXPOSURE
4 CONTROL
2 EXPOSED, TIME OF MAXIMUM DEPRESSION
“ DaYs}
(26-30 DAYS]
(31-59

T

\

I

0

3
= 40
3
o

1

20

|

| a

]

|
L

tL

20

40

he

69

A

i

89

NEUTS x 1073

_—l

20

on

40

LYMPHS x 1073

|

0

1

1

20

1

—L

40

60

PLATELETS x107*

Figure 25. Cumulative percent distribution curves
for neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets, 1964.

Select target paragraph3