16
days; therefore, the data for the radiochemical
AMERICAN
~=—--- MARSHALLESE
gah
?
aN
analyses are presented in disintegrations per minute per milliliter (dpm/ml). Approximate calculations may be made based on an estimated daily
urinary output of about 600 ml. Urine samples
from exposed and unexposed Rongelap people
collected over a 2-week period showedthe former
to have a mean activity of 0.054 dpm/ml, or
roughly 7 dpm/24 hrin cesium-137 activity in the
latter. In contrast the Utirik samples showed a
mean value of 2.39 dpm/ml(roughly 1434 dpm/24
hr). Samples from several exposed Rongelapindividuals who showedhigheractivity shortly after
exposure also had high values (see Marshallese
No. 26, 40, 9, and 79). Individual Utirik samples
MIGRATION —————»
Figure 16. Blood proteins.
Serum cholesterol examinations* on exposed populations showed a mean value of 169.58 mg percent, and a mean value of 196.6"7 mgpercent in
the unexposed population. There were no abnormally high readingsin either group. Someofthe
values wereslightly low.
Serum creatinines* averaged 0.99+0.05 mgper-
cent in the exposed and 1.03£0.03 mg percentin
the unexposed group. There were no abnormal
readings.
Body burden of radioactive isotopes: Radiochemical
analysts of urine. The results available at present
for regular chemical analysesof urine** and wholebody gamma-ray spectroscopyt are presented in
Table 8. Figure 17 shows the gammaspectroscopy
tracings.{t It was difficult to ascertain the 24-hr
output in individual or pooled urine samples,
since the samples were collected over a period of
*Weare grateful to Dr. Donald D. Van Slyke and Dr.L.
Hankes of Brookhaven National Laboratory and Comdr. Dem-
ette (MC) USN of the Naval Medical Schoolfor their assistance
in carrying out the cholesterol and creatinine determinations.
**Weare grateful to Col. James Hartgering (MC) USA, Maj.
Kent Woodward (MC) USA, and Lt. Ariel Schrodt of the
Walter Reed Army Medical Research Institute for their assistance
in carrying out the radiochemical analyses of the urine.
tWe are indebted to M.J. Rose and Dr. C.E. Miller of
Argonne National Laboratory for doing the spectrographic
analyses,
{tThis figure is taken from Argonne Nattonal Laboratory Semannual Report, ANL 5755, January through June 1957.
were considerably higherin cesium activity. Note
that No. 2123 had 827 dpm/ml, which, though
markedly higher than any other samplestested,
is still calculated to be well below the tolerance
level.
Radiochemical analysis for Sr*° showed only
barely detectable levels, far below the tolerance
level.
Whole-body gamma spectroscopy. The results of the
whole-body gammaspectroscopy are shown in
Table 8 and Figure 17.'° It can be seen that the
exposed Rongelap people have higher cesium
levels than Americans, and the Utirik people have
levels still higher. However, the estimated body
burden of the Utirik people was 0.22 and 0.41 uC,
values well below the accepted tolerancelevel
(90 pC). Well-defined peaks for Zn** were found
on spectrographic analysis in all the Marshallese.
Note (Table 8 and Figure 17) that these levels are
muchhigherin the Utirik people.
Discussion
Three years have elapsedsince the accidental
exposure of the Marshallese people to radioactive
fallout; therefore, the possible late effects of irradiation are receiving more consideration. However, persisting evidence of acute or subacuteeffects merits careful consideration. Earlier findings
will be briefly reviewed in chronological sequence
in order to give a clearer picture of the present
status of the people. In this discussion the effects
of radiation with respect to whole-body penetrating effects, superficial irradiation of the skin, and
internal radiation from body burden of radioisotopes will be divided somewhatarbitrarily into