}
ESTIMATED BODY BURDEN OF RONGELAP PEOPLE
AT TIME OF FALLOUT
Isotope
ese
Ba
Rare Earths
3ti cin thyroid gland)
Ru
4Sca
Fissile Material
Activity (uci)
1.6-2.2
0.34-2.7
0.12
6.4-11.2
0-0.013
0-0.019
0.0.16(ugm)
in 1957 a slight residual radioactive contaminacion of the island resulted
in the accumulation of detectable but low body burdens of
"“Sr.
No effects from these isotopes have been observed.
Cs,
zn and
LATER FINDINGS
ee veny
Several later findings, prior to the development of thyroid
abnormalities, have been noted, some of which may have been related
to their radiation exposure.
During the 15 years since the accident
the exposed people have remained generally in good health (excepc for
etapa
thyroid related abnormalities) with no greater incidence of illness
or degenerative diseases than that seen in the unexposed populations
examined.
Though the death rate has been somewhat higher in the exposed
peopie there has been no definite correlation of cause of death with
radiation exposure.
A somewhat greater percentage of older people in
che exposed group partly accounts for this discrepancy. Quantification
of a number of recognized aging parameters in order to arrive at
"biological age score" have failed to reveal any evidence for premature
aging in the exposed as compared with the unexposed people of the same age.
No teukemia has been seen,
The occurrence of 3 cases of cancer in
the exposed group (1 of the thyroid gland and 2 of che female yvenital
tract) presents a higher incidence tn the exposed group, but due to the
small numbers of people involved, final decision on this point must
await the results of future observations,
Based on birth rates, fereility has been about the same in the
exposed as compared with the unexposed population.
However about twice
the number of miscarriages and seillbirths occurred in the exposed women
during the first 4 years after exposure.
Fetal abnormalities did not
appear more numerous in the expased proup, though na specific senetie
‘studies have been cartied out. A porsisciny Low level of chromuscomal
aberrations of the type induced by radiation have been noted £10 years
post exposure.
Frequent slit iamp observations reveal no increase in
opacities of the lens characteristic of radiation exposure.
DEVELOPMENT OF THYROID ABNORMALITIES
Before discussing development of thyroid abnormalities a few words
should be said concerning the calculations of the dose to the thyroid,
Table IL shows the estimaces of the various isotopes that were present
foo
eM
Ser
roof
TABLE II
pee,
CONARDet al.
eo oe meee ee ee mee me ee
a ne me ON
328