30
Table 13
Peripheral Blood Cultures
Diploid numbers
Total
Subject No. counts
10
11
14
27
41
50
58
69
79
80
10
59
24
26
30
27
69
32
19
19
16
22
32
36
37
t
1
1
1
i
1
39
40
2
2
i
1
reached the highest levels yet recorded. The general anemic tendency in the people is no longer as
pronounced. Perhaps a better diet (increased
amounts of fruits and vegetables) may partly account for this change.
Comparison of hematological data in the exposed and unexposed groups demonstrates a deficit in total leukocytes and absolute neutrophils
and lymphocytes which is even slightly more pronounced this year than last year. Platelet levels
in the exposed group show slightly less deficit this
year than in the past. As noted previously, this
deficit in leukocytes and platelets is more apparent
in the younger and older groups. Erythrocyte
counts and hematocrit and hemoglobin levels were
again found to be about the same in the exposed
as in the unexposed group.
In view of these ndings in the peripheral blood
and the evidence of slight persisting bone marrow
abnormalities, it does not seem unreasonable to
assume that there is some residual effect of the
radiation exposure on hematopoiesis.
The finding of slightly lower leukocyte levels
in the male and female children of exposed parents is difficult to evaluate.
OTHER LABORATORY STUDIES
41
42
43
dd
45
46
47
48
2
7
3
2
1
4
4
33(56%)
20 (80%)
22 (84%)
18(60%)
25 (92% )
51(74%)
29 (91%)
18 (95% }
5
1
1
5
1
1
ft
6
2
2
4
1
4
1]
1
1
1
i
1
I
15 (79%)
8 (50%)
67
pp
1
1
1
13 of 20 unexposed and 30 of 51 exposed people,
the final chromosome smears unfortunately yielded
countable metaphases in only 10 preparations in
the exposed group. The difficulty in obtaining good
smears is believed to have been related to the high
temperature and humidity of the [slands, which
interfered with rapid drying of the smears. This
was particularly disappointing since excellent
smears had been obtained in preliminary perfection of the technique under laboratory conditions
at BNL. Similar difficulties with chromosome
spreads and poor staining were encountered in 9
direct bone marrow metaphase studies. Neverthefess, small numbers of dicentrics were noted in
some of these preparations along with abnormal
diploid numbers (see Tables 13 and 14). These
preliminary findings suggest that persistent damage to blood ceils occurred in these people. In view
of the importance of these studies, a concerted
effort will be made on the next survey to obtain a
large number of satisfactory preparations from
peripheral blood and also from cultures of the skin
in areas previously involved with beta burns. It is
believed that the difficulties encountered in the
field in making the chromosome smears can be
corrected by using a hot air dryer on the next survey.
Routine Urine Analyses
Chromesome Studies
Although moderate to good growth of peripheral blood cultures was obtained in samples from
Routine urine analyses were carried out on the
majority of the people. Ten of the samples were
positive for sugar. Several of these showed only