46
RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION OF AREAS IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN FROM NUCLEAR TESTS
Table 45—GrossBeta Activity in Urine of Group I on 46th Day Post Detonation
ToTaL
VoLUME
Casz No,
2abre Gal)
Age <i yrs
nae
Beta
Activity
éjmy24 brs
120
150
185
40
280
80
455
Age > 16 yrs
aetay
“The drop in lymphocytes is early and pro-
found.
Bera
ASHE,
285
550
650
265
190
280
650
450
116
440
980
6a
1700
21
549
1683
1677
2460
1670
7
438
570
782
1450
405
0
8
1080
3220
1095
2170
580
1985
2260
1745
210
2450
0
52
‘2038
1353
2340
439
58t
1208
Values corrected for decay.
“Analysis of the internal contamination indi-
cates that the dose to the tissue of the body
was near, but, with exception of the dose to the
thyroid, did not exceed the maximum permis-
sible dose levels.
The activity fixed in the
body decreased rapidly as s function of time.
The contribution of the effects of internal contamination to the total radiation response observed appears to be small on the basis of the
estimated body burden of the radio-elements.
In view of the short half-life of the most abundantfission products in the situation, the possi-
bility that chronic irradiation effects will occur
is quite small... . ’’*
These data suggest a low relative hazard
from internally deposited radioisotopes since
the values for maximum permissible concen-
Little or no evidence of recovery may
be apparent several months after exposure, and
return to normal levels may not occur for
months or years.
455
810
355
930.
450
340
780
455
a
980
750
480
550
330
425
730
320
700
650
750
S10
980
685
855
300
200
230
965
465
340
670
165
Age 6-16 yra
Case No.
Toran
RETURN OF RONGELAPESE
trations are based on the concept that these
levels will be maintained indefinitely.
The report stated, “—The total white count
increases during thefirst 2 or more days and then
decreases below normal levels. —The count
becomes stabilized during the 7th or 8th week
at low levels, and minimum counts probably
occur at this time. A definite trend upward is
apparent in the 9th or 10th week; however
complete recovery may require several months
or more.
“The neutrophile count parallels the total
white blood cell count. Complete return to
normal values does not occur for several months
or more. Theinitial rise in total white count
is due to a neutrophilic leukocytosis.
“The platelet count, unlike the fluctuating
total leukocyte count, falls in a regular fashion
and reaches a low on the 30th day. Some
recovery is evident early; however, as with the
other elements, recovery may not be complete
several months after exposure. . . .”’*
47
At one year later the Marshallese were reexamined with the following conclusions:
*‘_Tn general, the Marshallese have recovered satisfactorily from the radiation injury
received during March 1954. Visible residual
effects are limited to a few areas of depigmentation and two small, distinct scars from radi-
ation burns, one of which will possibly require
plastic repair.
“Neutrophil values have returned to the
normal range of the control population. All
Table 46—Mean Body Burden of the Rongelap Group
RADIOISOTOPE
Sr...
Bait...
Rare Earth ‘Group.
Activity at| Activity at AcTIvITy at
Darsyue
1 Dart ue
(BaNeDis (USNRDL)}
0.19
0.021
0.03
o
0
0
1 Day* ye
(LASL)
1.6] 22
2.7| 0.34
1.2 fone eee
64] 1.2
0,018
0
ao
@
0.016 (ugm)
*Extrapolated from 82d day.
other members of the leukocyte population
and the platelets remain below the levels for
the control population; however, levels are
higher than at 6 months and, presumably, will
soon be in the normal range.” *
At two years the examination showed that,
“In general, the people of both exposed and
control groups appear to be in good health and
nutritional status.”
A 77-year old man showed a history of paresis
of the lower extremities. The symptoms suggested that, “These findings can best be
explained on the basis of a cerebrovascular
accident.” **
An 1li-year old boy was hos-
pitalized with acute rheumatic fever and
cardiac decompensation. “The diagnosis of
theumatic heart disease with mitral stenosis
and insufficiency was substantiated and at the
time of the examination, the boy was fully
active without evidence of decompensation.’’ *
A 46-year old man died on May 13, 1956, of
heart failure. It was concluded that, “With
the exception of the residual of skin lesions,
none of the clinical findings in the exposed
group could be attributed to the effects of
irradiation.”
In regard to skin lesions it was reported,
“Some residual lesions are present in the
Rongelap people... . The majority of all
show improvement. Almost all of the early
superficial lesions are completely healed at this
time without any apparent residual changes.
There appears to be no evidence of any
change which would suggest malignancy.” *
Urinalysis wes made about two years after
the March 1954 detonation, for people living
on Utirik and Likiep Islands, for the Rongelapeseliving on Majuro Island and for personnel
at HASL (Table 47).°% It is recognized that
these are limited data, but the values for the
HASLgroup show the general world-wide dis-
tribution of the fallout debris, and indicates
that the Sr” activities found in the Pacific
group are probably more the result of living in