10
Table 1
Location of Rongelap People
Exposed
_
Majuro
Kwajalein
Rongelap
Eniaetok
Other atoils
Aduit
Children
3
6
1
3
5
12
1
13
30
37
Rongelap
exposed (116
people, 1961;
Rongelap
includes
unexposed childrenof
(220 people,
exposed
Age, yr
1961)
adults)
Median
age, yr
1
0
52
Percent Distribution of Population by Age Groups
<15
15-24
25-44
45-64
>65
7
24
23
Table 2
Marshall
Islands
US.
(1961) (1960)
45.4%
12.3
23.6
14.1
4.5
50.0%
13.8
17.2
10.3
8.6
43.1%
14.4
20.0
14.6
7.4
28.7%
13.8
27.1
20.8
9.6
—s«19.5
14.5
18.0
29.5
cal analyses was also examined for sugar in the
case of 199 Rongelapese.'**
Urine Analyses
Urine total iodides and creatinine levels were
obtained on 10 casual urine samples of Rongelapese who had previously shown slight elevation of
their protein bound iodine (PBI) levels. Total
iodine and creatinine were determined.
Routine urine analyses were carried out on the
majority of people. This included determinations
of protein and hypergiucosuria by reagent paper
strips. **
*The Clinical Laboratory of the South Nassau Com-
munities Hospital carried out these analyses.
** Combistix, Ames Company,Inc., Elkhart, Indiana.
Children
3
25
26
0
0
Adult
4
9
33
8
2
Total
Unexposed
Children
of exposed parents
59
109
Total
23
67
75
216
120
348
15
27
Radionuclide Body Burden Evaluation
Since results of the last survey indicated that
Cs'#" levels in the Rongelap people had about
reached equilibrium and that Zn* levels were dropping, it was considered that gamma spectroscopy
with the 21-ton whole-body counter would not be
necessary again for several years. Therefore, no
gamma spectrographic analyses were done during
this survey. However, thirty-five 24-hr urine samples and one pool sample (12 liters) were collected for radiochemical analysis for Sr®. In addition, samples of rib and vertebrae taken at autopsy
from the 78-yr-old woman who had died were
brought back for Sr®* analysis; also 4 coconut crabs
collected at Rongelap.**
Results and Discussion
The census of Rongelap people in March 1962
was 348, of which 82 were in the exposed group
(including 4 children exposed in utero at the time
of the accident), 37 were children of exposed par-
ents, and 229 were unexposed people; Table |
shows their locations. In Table 2 the population
is broken down according to percent distribution in
various age groups and compared with that of the
Marshall Islands as a whole for 1961 and of the
U.S. for 1960. The table also shows the median
age. The lower median age of the Marshailese
**We are grateful to Dr. E. P. Hardy, Jr. and Dr.
J. Harley of the Health and Safety Laboratory of the New
York Operations Office of the AEC for performing these
analyses.