indication of any disturbance tn their over-all ‘metabolism. “The weight changes are sunimarized
in Table 2.3. 1 would be expected that within a period of six weeks, individuals below 16 years
and particularly (hose below 8 years would gain some weight. The fact that most of them: lost
weight may indicate that they received a dose of radiation suffletent to interfere with normal!
metabolism. In spite of their relatively inactive Hfe and hearty appetites, most ol the adults
also lost weight which may indicate some interference with their normal metabolism. ‘There is
little difference in observed weights between the Rongelap and Allinginae groups. Tt appears
that the difference in doses received by the two groups did not differentially atfect their body
weight. Whether the failure to gain welght was connected with radtation or changes in environ-
Table 2.90
WEIGHT CHANGES, RONGELAP AND AILINGINAB GROUPS
Age Categories
Below 7 years)
Below 16 years
Above 16 years
Rongelap Group
Number observed
Number that praned
{7
2d
36
4
a
14
weight
Average gain (1b)
5
Spread of gain (tb
3
0.5--10.0
0.5 - 10.0
3
9
Number that lost
3.5
[-11.5
21
weight
Average toss (Ib)
2
Spread of toss dh)
0.5
Per cent of group
2
5.5
0.5- 5.5
GT
4
Ob
BO
8
58
that lost weight
Ailinginae Group
Number observed
Number that gained
weight
7
0
~
Average gain (Lb)
2.7
Spread of gain (1b)
Number that lost
weight
Average loss (Ib)
Spread of loss (tb)
ous
3
2-4
6
6
2
0.5--3
Per cent of group
that lost weight
2
U.5-4.0
88
67
ment is open to question. Unfortunately, the weight of the individuals from Utirik was not systematically followed and no satisfactory control exists to aid in interpreting the loss in weight
of the Rongelap-Allinginae group.
2.7
THE EFFECTS ON PREGNANCY
Four women in the Rongelap group were pregnant when brought to Kwajalein. Two were in
the first trimester, one in the second trimester, and one in the third trimester. None of these
women had abnormal symptoms referable to pregnancy, and as far as can be determined pregnancy continved in a normal fashion. In the Ailinginae grovp, one woman was in the second
trimester. No abnormality was detected. Fetal movements were unaffected in the individual
in the third trimester. The hematologic changes of the pregnant women are listed in Table 2.4.
Two individuals in the first trimester had marked depression of pla:elets but at no time was
31