TABLE 2.2-—-Gross Beta Activity in Urine of the Rongelap Group*
(46 days postdetonation)
Age and
case No.
Total 24-hr
volume (ml)
Beta Activity
(dis/min/24 hr)
Age and
case No.
<5 yr
2
3
5
Total 24-hr
volume (ml)
Beta Activity
(dis/min/24 hr)
455
810
355
634
1700
201
>16 yr
120
150
155
712
894
313
4
7
9
23
40
223
10
980
549
33
260
0
11
450
1583
54
80
385
13
340
1677
69
455
301
14
780
2460
18
455
1670
30
960
438
37
480
Mean
6-15 yr
165
404
29
34
47
750
77
570
20
265
1900
24
550
9
40
550
1450
792
26
650
1032
46
330
495
35
255
0
49
425
0
36
190
236
52
780
0
33
280
1100
55
320
1080
47
650
1705
56
700
3220
67
450
674
57
550
1095
12
110
507
58
750
2170
75
76
440
380
0
1180
439
758
60
62
63
66
810
980
635
855
580
1985
2260
1715
68
71
300
290
2010
1450
%3
230
0
78
965
52
79
465
2038
80
540
1353
82
670
2140
581
1208
Mean
Mean
*Values corrected for decay.
nation of the American group concerning radiation hazards probably was also a factor in reducing the amount of contamination which they received.
The variation of gross activity among the individuals in any of the three groups is quite
large (Tables 2.2 and 2.3). This is chiefly the result of variations in the quantity of water and
both the kind and quantity of food ingested. The degree of exposure of the individual to airborne
activity is also a factor in determining the individual degree of contamination. While there
were large variations among individuals, the day-to-day levels of activity for each individual
werefairly consistent.
Further information on the source of individual variations was obtained by grouping the
individuals from Rongelap and Ailinginae according to age (Tables 2.2, 2.3). Although the
activity excreted per unit volume of urine is about the same for both children and adults, the
mean activity of the urine excreted in 24 hr by children under 15 years of age was significantly
lower than that excreted by adults. The available data do not indicate definitely whether the
lower total excretion indicates a smaller total body burden in the children resulting from
lower inhalation and ingestion or whether it represents a higher degree of fixation of the
radioelements by growing bone.
16