272
R. A. Conard
to be sub-lethal, since no deaths occurred which could be directly related to
radiation exposure. However, it is probable that the dose was in the high
sub-lethal range, judging by the degree of haemopoietic depression that
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Figure 3. Mean lymphocyte counts of exposed people from time of exposure throughtive
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Figure +. Mean platelet counts of exposed Rongelap people from timeof exposure through
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developed. In addition radiochemical analyses of the urine also showed that
definite amounts of radioactive material had also been absorbed internally.
The changes during the past five years in the mean peripheral blood levels
of the more heavily exposed group of 6+ Rongelap people receiving approximately 175 r of whole-body radiation are shown in figures 2, 3 and +. The
white blood cell levels of the exposed group were depressed to about half the