mulative percentage of neutrophils, lymphocvtes,
and platelets at various times. From these datait
appears that hemopoietic recovery in the exposed
groups was incomplete during the first 15 years
after exposure. Since that timethe levels in the exposed group have been about the sameasin the
unexposed group. On the basis of RBC, hematocrit, and hemoglobin determinations, erythropoi-
T
T
T
7
Siri BV =091 +0.090 (TBW)
RCV =0.08 +-0.0474 (TBW)
BV
=0.647+0.115 (TBW)
BV
3=0.5337 +0.0767(TBW)
Moore | RCV=0 158 +0.05296 (TBW)
Marshallese { RCV = ~0.1749 +.0.0441(TBW)
Caucasians
in Pacific
Volume, liters
this contention.
T
Regression lines
etic function has been about the same in the ex-
posed and in the comparison population. Thelag
in recovery of leukocytes and platelets may represent residual bone marrow injury. The results of
bone marrow and chromosomestudies and the development of a case of leukemia tend to support
T
{ BV
=1 2101 +0.0792 (TBW)
RCV =0.19947 +0.0419 (TBW),
Bk
4
53k
4
th
4
3 [
4
be
—
3. Bone Marrow
Although bone marrow examinations at 6
monthspost exposure showed no gross abnormal-
ities, smears on four exposed Rongelap people 10
years later showed alteration in the myeloiderythroid ratio in three of them, manifested by an
increased numberofred cell precursors. In addition to hyperplasia. the findings included abnormalities of chromatin material with double nuclei
and an increased numberof mitotic figures in the
normoblastic series (see Figures 14 and 15).11 Occasionaily, bilobed lymphocytes have been noted
in the peripheral blood of some exposed people.
4. Other Hematological Findings
Total blood volumeand red cell volume were
studied 10 vears after exposure.!!* No differences
were found between exposed and unexposed Rongelap groups, but it was noted that blood volume
andred cell volume tended to be reduced in many
Marshailese compared with Americans?9(see Figure 16).12 Several other hematological observations,not related to radiation exposure, were noted.
Eosinophilia >5% in more than half the people
has been a consistent finding. This could be accounted for only-partly on the basis ofintestinal
parasitism and maybe related also to numerous
fungus infections of the skin and other chronic infections. Other findings possibly related to chronic
infections are above-normal sedimentation rates
and high gammaglobulin levels (both tending to
increase with age). Varying degrees of anemia
have been seen occasionally, particularly in wo-
“These studies were done by Dr. L.M. Mever, Veterans Adminstration Hospital, Brooklyn, N.Y., and Dr. W.E. Sin, University of California at Berkeley.
2
Le
W. Siri
*.
RED CELL VOLUME
of
seseeee Marshallese
. ita
z*”
0
4
10
F, Moore
L
=
—-— Caucasians
L
i
in Pacific
20
30
40
Total body water, liters
ri
50
60
Figure 16.
menof childbearing age. Price Jones sizing of red
cells in these cases showeda slight microcytic tendency.§ Iron deficiency apparently was not the cause
since serum iron usually was in the normal range.§
Reticulocyte counts have not been significantly
increased in either the exposed or unexposed population. Macrocytic anemia has not been seen.
Vitamin By levels have been unusually high in
the Marshallese§; the cause of this is unknown but
does not appearto berelated to liver disease or
leukemia. Thesickling trait has not been seen in
the Marshallese examined.
D. SUBSEQUENT COURSE OF SKIN LESIONS
The residual skin lesions noted in the Rongelap
and Ailingnae people since the initial lesions are
listed in Table 13. During thefirst year manyof
the healed areas, particularly on the back of the
neck, showed a roughening (rugosity) and bluishblack pigmentation, which becameless noticeable
with time (see Figures 17 and 18). Deeper lesions
exhibited early residual scarring andlackofpig-