platelet counts were done. The hematocrit levels
were slightly increased overlevels of3 years ago, possibly indicating a better state ofnutrition. None of
Children of Exposed Parents
the unexposed comparison population (1965 counts)
exceptfor leukocytes, which were somewhathigher
in the Utirik people. Appendix 10 showslevels of
parents of the same age range.
the mean counts were very different from those of
blood elements at various times since exposure.
Children of exposed parents born since thefallout showed levels of peripheral blood elements
about the sameas thoseof children of unexposed
Leukemia Survey
Noevidence ofpreleukemia or leukemic state
was detected in anyof the people examined, either
30
TT
rr
rs
|
from the blood picture or from physical examina-
T
TOOT
FEMALES 1965
tion. Counts of 4000 white cells for percent baso-
phils revealed no abnormally high levels (see Ap-
45
pendix 13). Subject No. 3, a 13-year-old boy, contines to show about twice the numberof baso-
=
phils (1.13%) noted in other Rongelapese. He has
HEMATOCRIT %
developed marked hypothyroidism during the past
2 years but showsno evidenceofincipient leukemia.
Statistical Analysis of Rongelap Blood Data
In the last report’® a factorial analysis ofvariance
of Rongelap blood data over the previous 4 years
indicated that theslight depression of blood ele-
ments (leukocytes and platelets) of the exposed
population over this period was highly significant.
30
20
30
40
50
60
AGE (YEARS)
70
aL
60
However, a similar analysis of the 1965 hemato30
Figure 63. Hematocrit values of Rongelap exposedfemales plotted against age. Solid line represents mean level
of unexposed female population, 1965.
$0)
1
T
T
r
T
presented ig Table 24 and Figure 65. It can be
seen that at 11 years there is no substantial difference between the groups.
i
i
to
HEMATOCRIT So
ru
4
ft
at
MALES 1965
logical data showsthat at this time there was no
significant difference (at the 5% level) ofplatelets,
leukocytes, neutrophils, or lymphocytes between
the exposed and unexposed Rongelap population.*
This wasalso true for the Ailingnae population.
The significantly greater platelet level in this
group is unexplained. There was evidence that the
leukocyte and platelet levels of the youngest age
groupin all populations were higher than in adults.
Nosex differences could be demonstrated in any
of the 1965 data. The percent difference in blood
levels between exposed and unexposed groupsis
CHROMOSOMESTUDIES
—
a
—
sol
_
{od
20
30
40
1
#+§$0
#60
AGE (YEARS)
L
#70
—
4248
90
Figure 64. Hematocrit values of Rongelap exposed males
plotted against age. Solid line represents mean level of
unexposed male population, 1965.
Since chromosomeaberrations have been demonstrated in cultured blood cells from various
groups of people exposed to radiation, even years
after exposure, it was of interest to see whether any
such aberrations were present in the people of
—
“Weare grateful to Mr. Keith Thompson of Brookhaven National Laboratory for the statistical analysis of these data.