Rongelap. During that year the health aide was
group are compared with those in the unexposed
group in Tables 3 and +. Since any radiation-in-
visited frequently-fom4spper respiratoryinfections
(nearly everyone had at least one cold during the
year). Gastroenteritis was also a frequent complaint.
duced genetic imperfections that might result in
nonviable offspring might be present in the germ
plasm of the father as well as the mother, two un-
“REVIEW OF DATA ON MORTALITY
~AND PREGNANCY TERMINATION
OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS
in 1954 were excluded from the list because they
had been conceived before the accident.
Table 3 and Figure 10 show the yearly incidence of live births and miscarriages and the sex
of babies born of women of child-bearing age in
the exposed and unexposed groups. Under the
categoryof miscarriages are included stillbirths
and babies dving a few hours after birth. It was
unfortunate that in most cases it was not possible
for physicians to inspect the products of miscarriage. Figure 10, a plot of the percentage incidence
of miscarriage in the two groups, indicates thatit
is somewhat greater in the exposed group. The
Mortality
The four deaths that have occurred in the exposed Rongelap people during the past 6 years
give an annual rate of 8.1 per 1000 population.
The Marshall Islands annual rate is reported as
6.8 per 1900. The unexposed Rongelap population has had four deaths also, which gives a rate of
8.3 per LO00. These figures do not include fetal
and infant mortality. The people of Utirik Island,
who received about 14r of radiation in the 1954
data on pregnancy terminations, summarized in >
accident, have shown a death rate of about !Oto11
Table +, also show an increased incidence of miscarriage in the exposed group.
°
The birth rate in the Marshall Islands in 1957
was 37.3 per 1000 population. The 24 live births
per 1000 population. Their population has varied
between 160 and 213 people since the event.
Pregnancy Terminations
During 1958 six miscarriages and stillbirths
were recorded in the exposed group, but none was
T
reported in this group for 1959. Only one wasreported for each of these years in the unexposed
lOO Ff
women. Pregnancy terminations in the exposed
T
\
4
~--+- EXPOSED
\
UNEXPOSED
\
To
Exposed
Women giving birth to living
children
Women with miscarriages* but
no live births
Women with no recorded
pregnancies
Women with 1 or more
miscarriages
Women with ? or more
miscarriages
Pregnancies terminating in
miscarriages
%
Unexposed
\
\
\
\
60
4
3/5
\
50 +
.
\
40 F-
\
\
/
\
64
66
18
11
18
99
41
28
t4
il
35
23
*Includes children dying first few hours after birth.
20 -
\
,
W
|
|
/
f
f
4
\
“
4
4
\
/7. e/a
4
\ 6/14
\
2/6 /
\
30 +
19
4
MISC / TOTAL’ PREGNANCIES
\
70
PERCENT
®
\
gob
Summary of Pregnancy Termination Data,
Rongelap Exposed (1954-1959)
and Rongelap Unexposed (1956-1959)
T
‘
90 +
Table 4
T
1/1
2/8
1/4
\\
|
\
\
146
45
\
\
.
o
\
Oo
i954
'
i
55
EXPOSURE
56
57
YEAR
58
L
59
Vor
60
Figure 10. Incidence of miscarriages and stillbirths in
exposed Rongelap women. Stillbirths include babies
living only a fewhours after birth. Data on unexposed
women are incomplete prior to 1956.
Sy
nee
Tg
Ter
meet
~~,
exposed women mated to exposed men are included in the exposed group. Four children born
¥