a fo we}

Re

2

Lymphocytes. Uhe mean level of the lymphocyte counts (Table 21 and Figure 35) in 1939
showed a slight increase over the 1958 values. The
mean levels were about the same in the exposed
and unexposed populations. A scattergram (Figure

— dL

1074

-l

*

35

PLATELETS

e UNEXPOSED

36) of the age distribution of the lymphocyte
counts in the exposed group for the first time

showed about an equal distribution in the exposed
population of counts above and belowthe mean

levels of the unexposed people. The cumulative
percentage distribution curves of the exposed and
unexposed (Figure 37) showed close approxima-

‘
30
40
AGE (¥R}

50

60

tion. The 1960 absolute lymphocyte countsalso

70

showed a decrease corresponding to the WBC de-

a
Q

iG

1
20

Figure 39. Individual platelet counts of exposed males
plotted against age, 1959. Solid line represents mean level
of comparison male population.

~

crease, the mean dropping from 4000 in 1959 to
2700 in 1960.
Eosinophils and Monocytes. Eosinophil and

monocyte counts showed a slight increase in 1959

over the 1958 levels and wereslightly greater in
percentage of the population had eosinophif

eo

50

4

a5 -

4

40

{_

a

counts >5% of the total white count (1959, 44% of

exposed population and 39% of unexposed; 1960,

46% of exposed, no data on unexposed). Thelevels
of eosinophils and monocytes in 1960 were not
very different from the 1959 levels. (Basophils are
discussed below in connection with leukemia.)

o

.

38

°

.

.

t

Ne

.

-

wn 30k
—

m 25

_4

ond

a

e

*

|

o

.

15

10

oO

l
10

L
20

\
30

!
40
AGE

L
50

!
60

the males and — 11.3% for the females). Age distribution scattergramsfor the individual platelet
counts in both males and females of the exposed

¢4

e

4

L
70

population showed more counts below than above

|
80

the unexposed mean curve (Figures 39 and 40).

(YR)

Figure 40. Individual platelet counts of exposed females
plotted against age, 1959. Solid line represents mean level
of comparison female population.

PERIOO

100

|

CUMULATIVE, PERCENT

COUNTS

a

(DAYS 26.30)

80 /-

60

Oo SYRS POST EXPOSURE
& COMPARISON POPULATION
4

+
5

i3

21

29
37
45
PLATELETS x10 *

53

él

Figure 41. Cumulative distribution curve,
Rongelap platelets, 1959,

Mean platelet counts in 1959 (Table

21 and Figure 38) were slightly lower than in 1958
in both the exposed and unexposed populations.
The mean deficit in platelets in the exposed population was about the sameas last year (— 9.3% for

4

ad
—_
‘ad

20.

Platelets.

UNEXPOSED

69

This was also borne out by comparison of the
cumulative percentage distribution curves for the
exposedand unexposed populations: the latter

showed continued displacement to theleft (Figure

41). The significance of the continued platelet depression in the exposed population ts also indicated by the finding of levels < 250,000 in 37% of
the exposed group but in only 24% of the unexposed.
Erythropoetic Function.
Because of technical
difficulties, the hematocrit levels were not considered reliable for the 1959 survey. Samples containing ethvlenediaminetetraacetic acid as an
anticoagulant appeared to have a lower hematocrit than untreated venous or finger stick blood.

~~

the exposed population. As noted in 1958, a large

TTT

6 ay

35

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