16 LS eure AMERICAN H \ j | 40.6% i. ™— —-~- MARSHALLESE oy Woh i i} | I I i ! \ t | on # i ee days; therefore, the data for the radiochemical analyses are presented in disintegrations per minute per milliliter (dpm/ml). Approximate calculations may be made based onan estimateddaily urinary output of about 600 ml. Urine samples from exposed and unexposed Rongelap people collected over a 2-week period showed the former to have a mean activity of 0.054 dpm/ml, or roughly 7 dpm/24 hr in cesium-137 activity in the latter. In contrast the Utirik samples showed a meanvalueof 2.39 dpm/ml(roughly 1434 dpm/24 hr). Samples from several exposed Rongelapindividuals who showed higheractivity shortly after ] | I I exposurealso had high values (see Marshallese No. 26, 40, 9, and 79). Individual Utirik samples \ _f 3.0 % ! 65.4% he MIGRATION ——-——» Figure 16. Blood proteins. Serum cholesterol examinations* on exposed populations showed a mean value of 169.5+8 mgpercent, and a mean value of 196.67 mgpercentin the unexposed population. There were no abnormally high readingsin either group. Someofthe values wereslightly low. Serum creatinines* averaged 0.99+0.05 mg percent in the exposed and 1.030.03 mg percent in the unexposed group. There were no abnormal readings. Body burden of radioactive isotopes: Radiochemical analysis of urine. The results available at present for regular chemicalanalysesof urine** and wholebody gamma-ray spectroscopyf are presented in Table 8. Figure 17 shows the gammaspectroscopy tracings.t+ It was difficult to ascertain the 24-hr were considerably higherin cesium activity. Note that No. 2123 had 827 dpm/ml, which, though markedly higher than any other samplestested, is still calculated to be well below the tolerance level. Radiochemical analysis for Sr°° showed only barely detectable levels, far below the tolerance level. Whole-body gamma spectroscopy. The results of the whole-body gammaspectroscopy are shown in Table 8 and Figure 17.'° It can be seen that the exposed Rongelap people have higher cesium levels than Americans, and the Utirik people have levels still higher. However, the estimated body burden of the Utirik people was 0.22 and 0.41 wC, values well below the accepted tolerance level (90 pC). Well-defined peaks for Zn*’ were found on spectrographic analysis in all the Marshallese. Note (Table 8 and Figure 17) that these levels are muchhigherin the Utirik people. Discussion output in individual or pooled urine samples, since the samples were collected over a period of Three years have elapsed since the accidental exposure of the Marshallese people to radioactive *We are grateful to Dr. Donald D. Van Slyke and Dr.L. Hankesof Brookhaven National Laboratory and Comdr. Dem- radiation are receiving more consideration. However, persisting evidence of acute or subacuteeffects merits careful consideration. Earlier findings will be briefly reviewed in chronological sequence in order to give a clearer picture of the present status of the people. In this discussion the effects of radiation with respect to whole-body penetrating effects, superficial irradiation of the skin, and ette (MC) USN of the Naval Medical Schoolfor their assistance in carrying out the cholesterol and creatinine determinations. **We are grateful to Col. James Hartgering (MC) USA, Maj. Kent Woodward (MC) USA, and Lt. Ariel Schrodt of the Walter Reed Army Medical Research Institute for their assistance in carrying out the radiochemical analyses of the urine. tWe are indebted to M.J. Rose and Dr. C.E. Miller of Argonne National Laboratory for doing the spectrographic analyses. ttThis figure is taken from Argenne National Laboratory Semiannual Report, ANL 5755, January through June 1957. fallout; therefore, the possible late effects ofir- internal radiation from body burden ofradio- isotopes will be divided somewhatarbitrarily into