23
slightly shorter and weighed slightly less than unexposed children of the sameage.
In utero effects, pregnancy, andfertility. Pregnancies
are believed to have been in the normal range for
the Marshailese with regard to number, course,
and termination. No-abnormalities were observed
in the babies irradiated in utero.
Psychic effects. Little or no effect on the psyche
related to their radiation exposure or displacement has been observed in the Rongelap people.
Hematological effects. Lymphocytes andplatelets
(mean population counts) continueto lag in complete recovery when compared with the unexposed group. There was also a downwardtrend of
leukocytes compared with examinations a year
ago. However, the unexposed comparison population had similarly lower levels compared with
previous comparison groups. Hematocrits were
low by our standards in exposed as well as unexposed people. The low values are believed to be
related to widespread parasitism and chronic infections (skin and caries). These diseases may also
be related to the high total serum proteins (average of about 8.0 g) with high gammaglobulin fraction noted in most of the Marshallese.
unexposed Marshallese. From these observations
it would appear that someofthe higher estimates
of radiation induced aging in the humanbeingare
too high.
Degenerative diseases. No increase in degenerative
diseases was notedin the irradiated people com-
pared with the unexposed populations.
Carcinogenesis and leukemia. No cancerorleukemia was seen. Examination of blood smears failed
to reveal any consistent decrease of alkaline phosphatase activity of neutrophils or increase in basophils indicative of early leukemia.
Ophthalmological effects. No loss of visual acuity
or appearance of opacities of the lens that could
be related to radiation effects was seen.
Genetic effects. Genetic studies have not been
carried out. However, no anomalies have been
noted in the 13 babies born of irradiated parents
since exposure.
Beta Lesions
Gross and microscopic studies of residual skin
lesions revealed no premalignant or malignant
changes.
Beta Lesions
Internal Radiation
Fifteen residual beta lesions showed varying degrees of mild atrophy, scarring, and pigment aberration. No chronic radiation dermatitis was
noted.
A twofold greater incidence of pingueculae and
pterygia was noted in the posed group.It is not
known whetherradiation exposure to the eyes
might have enhanced the developmentof such
abnormalities.
Radiochemical analyses of urine samples and
whole-body gamma spectroscopy for Cs'%" revealed levels of this isotope several times higher
than found in Americans, but far below accepted
tolerance levels. Because of subsequent world-wide
fallout, determination of the residue of the original
exposure wasdifficult to differentiate from later
absorption. Sr** levels as of a year ago were far
below tolerance levels. The body burdenofisotopes had dwindled rapidly over the three years
since exposure and is not considered to present
any long-term hazard.
The Rongelap people were moved backto their
homeisland in June 1957. The levels of contamination onthe island are reduced sufficiently
to allow safe habitation.
internai Radiation
Noacute or subacuteeffects have occurred from
internal deposition of fallout isotopes because of
the low body burdens of radionuclides absorbed.
LATE EFFECTS
Penetrating Radiation
Premature aging and shortening of life span. One
death (at the time of this survey) or 1.5% incidence compares favorably with 5 deaths or 3.0%
mortality in the Utirik people (who received
about 14 r). In general the exposed people did not
appearolder or seem to have aged faster than the
FUTURE PLANS
Future examinations of the Marshallese people
will include studies of the subsiding acute and subacute effects; long-term effects of radiation on the
human being; and valuable ecological radiation
studies of the people related to the soil-food-hu-