Effects of fall-out radiation on Marshallese
27/1
than did the earlier comparison group of people, which was randomly selected
at Majuro Atoll.
2. FINDINGS
The latest findings are based on the annual medical survey carried out at
Rongelap in March 1959 at five years after exposure. About 100 exposed
people including their children and 200 unexposed people were examined.
Since the data are not completely analysed, the statements made concerning
this survey must be considered as preliminary in nature. The survey was
conducted by a 20-man medical team from various institutions in the United
States under the direction of Brookhaven National Laboratoryf.
The
examinations included medical histories, complete physical examinations, and
blood and other laboratory examinations. In addition body burdens are being
determined from spectrographs of gamma-ray activity of 175 Rongelap
individuals from numerous urine samples for radiochemical analyses.
2.1. Acute effects of gamma-irradiation
During the first 24 to 48 hours after exposure about two-thirds of the
Rongelap people experienced anorexia, nausea, and a few vomited and had
diarrhoea. Many also experienced itching and burningof the skin, and a few
complained of lachrymation and burning of the eyes. Following this they
remained asymptomatic until about two weeks after the accident, when
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Figure 2. Mean neutrophil and white blood counts of exposed Rongelap people from time
of exposure through five years’ post-exposure. Stars represent mean values of
comparison populations.
cutaneous lesions and loss of hair developed, due largely to beta-radiation of
the skin. It was apparent when the people were first examined, a few daysafter
exposure, that the lymphocytes were considerably depressed and that significant
doses of radiation had probably been received. The dose of radiation proved
+ The material presented in this report represents findings by a large numberof people
who have participated in past surveys.