6
phatase studies, and basophil counts (4000 cells).

Blood was obtained for hemoglobin classification.
Sera were obtained for protein determinations
by proteinometer and coppersulfate techniques;
A-G ratios and electrophoretic studies in 37 peo-

ple; and cholesterol and creatinine determinations.

Eight irradiated and nine unirradiated people
were used in a study of immunological response
to tetanus toxoid. The primary stimulusof tetanus
toxoid had been given 242 monthspreviously. Sera
were obtained just prior to the second injection of
toxoid and then six days later. Subsequently,
tetanus toxin-antitoxin titrations of the sera were
obtained for the two groups in mice by the methods previously described.°®

Routine urine analyses were carried out on everyone.
Radiochemical analysts. Pooled urines were ob-

tained, plus a fewsufficiently large samples from
individuals, for radiochemical analyses from both
exposed and unexposed groups. Analyses for Cs!*"
and Sr®® were carried out at the Walter Reed
Army Institute of Research.

Whole-body gamma-ray spectroscopy. Four exposed
Rongelap people, two Utirik people, and a comparison Marshallese male accompanied the team
to the United States. Whole-body gamma spectroscopy for determining body burdens of gamma
emitters was carried out on them at the human
radiation detector at Argonne National Laboratory. The counts were made by placing theindividuals in a room with 8-in.-thick steel walls and
by the use of an 8-in. crystal and 256-channel
analyzer.*
RESULTS*
Interval History

During the past year the general health of the
people has been satisfactory according to Marshallese standards with no obvious change from
last year. No contagious diseases appeared since
the previous report except for a minor epidemic
of upper respiratory infections and an undiagnosed epidemic of acute gastroenteritis principally
affecting the children. The latter epidemic was
self-limited to two to three days. There were no

There had been one death among the exposed
population and two infant deaths.* The death
was that of a 46-year-old man who died of hypertensive heart disease. Details of this case were presented in the two-year survey report.” Oneinfant
death wasthestillbirth of a baby of irradiated
parentsafter a fall of the mother. The secondinfant death (motheronly in the irradiated group)
occurred after birth, apparently of a cord infection. Amongthe unirradiated Rongelap people
there had been two miscarriages. Two women

were pregnantin the irradiated group and four in
the unirradiated group.
During the past year, in the exposed group
several of the older people became more feeble but
had noserious complaints. The village pastor was
too weak to conduct services and complained of
headaches, possibly associated with cataractremoval the previous year. A 78-year-old man with
partial hemiplegia from a former cerebral acci-

dentstill needed a cane. The oldest inhabitant, a

womansaid to be over 100 years old, though
feeble, was quite active for her age. A 12-year-old
boy with rheumatic heart disease showed nofurther signs of decompensation but was unable to

keep up with other children in their games. A 25-

year-old man with leprosy showed some evidence
of slight healing of the indolent ulcers present on
his hands and feet. He did not appear as mentally
depressed as last year, presumably becauseof a
moretolerant attitude on the part of his fellow
people. A 78-year-old man with diabetes* hashis
disease controlled by diet. He was mostgratified
that his blindness had been partially corrected by
surgery and he was able to get around alone.

The people were remarkably free from psychosomatic complaints. Complaints could usually be
traced to a reasonable organic cause. Many complained of abdominal pain which appearedto be
secondaryto attacks of acute gastroenteritis. Such
attacks are not unusual, since there are no facil-

ities for preservation of food and the climate is

conducive to bacterial growth. Someof their-

radiated group complainedthat their hair had
been falling out excessively; however, this was not
substantiated on physical examination and quite

hospitalizations for majorillnesses or injuries.

*Unless otherwise stated, the findings are those on the Ron-

ee

on
on
cD

aae,

en

CF

gelap people.

*Since this survey, a death has occurred in a 78-vear-old Rongelap man in the exposed group. He was a diabetic of long
standing and died from what was diagnosed as coronary heart

disease.

Select target paragraph3