f
“
-18-
.
By three days the lymphocytes dropred to 50% of the controls.
The percent
drop in the children less than 5 years of age was greater than that of the people
greater than 5 years.
The lymphocyte count reaained at approximately the same level
through the exposure period,
At 6 months, twelve months, two years and three years
the level though increasing had not quite reached that of the control population.
Platelets
The maximum depression in platelets was obtained approximately 28 to 30 days
after exposure in contrast to laboratory animals that attain their minimumvalues
between the 10th and 15th days after exposure,
In this case the children under 10
years of age had a greater percentage drop then those who were older,
The platelets
began to recover after the 30th day attained a maximm about the 45th day.
There
was then a seconcary drop with a leveling off for the remainder of the post exposure
period and at 6 months, 12 months, two years and three years slow recovery was still
umder way.
The levels of the population were approaching the controls but have not
yet reached it.
In all of the hematologic studies mentioned above it is stated that
the present levels are not equal to that of the controlled population.
However I
wish to emphasize that the current levels of the blood cells of all types is more
than adequate to take care of the infeotions and the various troubles of everyday
existence,
This statistical expression of a inadequate recovery probebly represents
the residual radiation injury that is of considerable interest to study but does
not appeer tobe overtly harmful to the individuals,
One can be reasonably confident
in this because they are not faring less well in resistance to disease than are the
Marshallese who were nonexposed and living in the same area.
INTERNAL ABSORPTION OF RADIONUCLIDES
During the two days before evacuation, the Rongelap people lived under conditions
of extrese contamination without any concerted efforts to protect thenselves against
the dangers of internal contamination,
These individuals drank contaminated water,
and ate their natural foodstuffs which were contsrinated externally,
Their hands
POE ARCHIVEs
et