possibly was related to their previous dramatic experience with epilation.
The Marshallese appeared to have very little
neurosis or psychosis. One young manin the un-
irradiated group had been diagnosed as having
schizophrenia butorily occasionally did he cause
trouble.
Theliving conditions of the people weresatisfactory. They were furnished sufficient food and
their quarters were comfortable.
The second phase of the survey at Uurik Island
showed that the general health of the Utirik people appeared to have been good duringthe previous three years. There had been five deaths in the
group. The causes of the deaths could not be ascertained because of the inexperience of the health
aides. As with manyotherreports of death in the
Marshallese records, the cause “old age” was
about all that could be obtained.
Physical Findings
The people both in the exposed and in the unexposed groups appearedto be generally in good
physical condition and in a satisfactory state of
nutrition. In Table 1 are listed the average values
with standard deviations of height and weightof
individuals from age 20 to 50 (including the Utirik
group). A somewhatgreater weightof the Unrik
femaleis significant ( Utirik versus unirradiated
Rongelap, P<0.05). The cause for this difference
is not apparent. The low standard deviation of
heights for both sexes suggests considerable homogeneity in these populations. Height and weight
in the children will be described below under
growth and developmentstudies.
In Table 2 are listed the major diagnoses forall
these groups. In general, no diseases appear to be
associated with radiation exposure in the Rongelap
people. Major diseases are as prevalentin the unirradiated groupas in the irradiated group. No
increase in degenerative diseases and no malignancy in the irradiated Rongelap people was evident. Extensive dental caries was present in all
the Marshallese, related largely to poor oral
hygiene.
The incidence of congenital abnormalities
(Table 2) seems unusually high. The exact nature
of the abnormalities is listed in Table 3. Only in
the case of congenital shortening of the fifth
metacarpal was a definite familial pattern apparent. With only these four cases, however, the
Table |
Mean Height and Weight in Adults (20 to 50 years old)
Height, in.
Weight, |b
Males
Rongelap
Unexposed Rongelap
Uurik
63.442.8
64.1418
63.9+2.1
137+15.8
140=22.9
137+19.5
Females
Rongelap
Unexposed Rongelap
Uunk
S9.521.5
60.02.2
39.641.7
11418
Ltlt24
13221
manner of inheritance was not clear except that
it is not a simple Mendelian dominant. Of general
interest was the absence of peptic ulcer. The
director of the hospital at Majurofelt that peptuc
ulcer was almost unknown in the Marshallese.
Compared to an incidence throughoutlife in the
American populace estimated at 6%, this is an unusual finding. Perhaps the tranquillife without
responsibilities and without the pressures of modern living exerts a favorable influencein this regard. Landis the only real wealth in these islands,
and a complex system of matrilineal inheritance
engendersfeelings of security, since every Mar-
shallese is assured rights to enough land to provide
adequate food.’ Electrocardiograms were taken
on individuals for whom it appeared indicated
and on all persons over the age of 40. Results
showed an unsuspected stereotvpe amongtracings
other than those called abnormal - more so than
one would expect to see in as random a sampling
in the U.S.; and a general age appearanceof the
normal tracings younger than expected. From the
magnitude and direction of the T vector one
would expect most of these people to be 30 to 40
years of age, and noneof them seemed elderlv.*
The young appearanceof the ECG’sis in contrast
to the physical impression that these peopie age
quickly.
Growth and Development
Longitudinal studies of anthropometric data
have not been completely analyzed and will not
be presented at this time. Cross-sectionaldata for
height, weight, and bone developmentarepre*Dr. Robert Grant of the National Institutes of Health generously interpreted the tracings.