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JTable 1. Exposure data
“Rongelap
Ailinginae
i
| i Ltt
Rongerik U.S. Personnel
Total
Exposed
Arrival Time
Fallout Hours
Evacuation
Hours
67
4-6
50-5]
375 mr/hr at 7 days
1.90
18
4-6
58
100 mr/hr at 9 days
1,10
28
6.8
285-34
Utirik
167
22
55-78
Marshallese Control
117
American Control
105
rves in phantom
a radiationand
‘fission products
al nuclear detoitof 3 cm dbse.
2 to their metal
-d and put on
npr
0.78
0.11
one would need comparison groups to determine
the magnitude and significance of short- and long1erm changesin blood counts, There were no historical or pre-exposure blood counts on any of the
Marshallese or on the American military personnel. Accordingly, age-matched nonexposed
Marshallese and American military personnel were
set up as shownin Table I.
Figure 4 shows the changes in averagetotal
leukocytes and neutrophil counts as a function of
time after exposure. The comparison population is
shown by stars at the times when they were
counted. The open circles show the total leukocyte count and the solid circles the neutrophil
count. During the first two to three weeks, there
was no significant diminution in the granulocyte
count. Commencing about 30 days after exposure
there was a slow diminution to a nadir at about
42 days after exposure. There was then a slow.
steady increase in the granulocyte countto roughly
that of the comparison population by two years
remainedatthis level for six months. About two to
three years after exposure. the lymphocyte count
had returned to that of the comparison population.
Figure 6 shows the seria] changes in
platelet counts. From day 8 to approximately
day 30 there was a steady diminution in the
average platelet counts to about 100.000 per
mm. Thereafter there was an increase to near
that of the comparison group by 40-50 days.
Although the platelet counts returned to
roughly 200,000 in males and females the
counts remained consistently belowthat of the
comparison population for seven years.
Another way of looking at the hematologic
effects is to plot the cumulative percent of the
blood counts as a function of time and blood
counts. This is shown in Figures 7 and 8 for
neutrophils and platelets. Group I Rongelap and
Group IT Ailinginae data showthat the cumuJative neutrophi] counts at time of maximum
depression are significantly shifted to the left
4
4
g
oa
S
<a
=
wi
2
4
4
4
4
:
TT
ETT
TTT TOT
BE
6
TIME
AFTER EXPOSURE
Fig. 4. Total leukocyte and neutrophil counts in
Marshallese exposed on Rongelap. The comparison
population is represented by stars.
SObZH IS
lymphocyte count was roughly 2000 per mm? and
TTT
.
Q
4
g
5 oll
oat tp Rh
~ O08
Mm a0 scot 6 i 234 5 6 7 8 9 16
DAYS
mo
YEARS
n beginning of
ton tO evacua‘Ngelap.
280 mr/hr at 9 days
40 mr/hrat 8 days
after the exposure. Figure 5 showsthat the average
— AT 51 HOURS 4
:
Total Gamma Dose
in Air (Gy)
clothes, the beta dose to the skin was substantially
less. Upon arrival on March 8, it was clear that
30
Dose Rate
4b
vv
w
—
w
wt
2
l
L
i
°C ea
{tt
be
—
lL
i
a
.
L
40.56 2ET 2 34 5 6 7
DAYS
MO
YEARS
TIME AFTER EXPOSURE
i
L
2
BS IO
Fig. §. Absolute lymphocyte count in Marshallese
exposed on Rongelap compared to the comparison
nonexposed population of Marshallese.