Blood volume studies with °'Cr-labeled sodium
chromate showeda significant reduction in red
among theolder group. This creates certain difficulties in interpreting someofthestudies to be outlined.
Islands for more than | year mayalso haveslightly
lowered values. Tritiated water has been used to
establish the relationship of blood volumeto lean
body mass. Further studies on blood volume determinations are presentedlater.
limit the procedures and methods that can be used.
cell mass and/or plasma volume. However, there
is some indication that Americans living in the
OTHER BACKGROUND !NFORMATION
As mentioned in previous reports, several diffi-
culties were associated with carrying out the ex-
aminations as well as interpreting the findings.
1. The language barrier made examinations
difficult, since very little English is spoken by the
Marshallese. However, there were sufficient En-
glish-speaking Marshallese to assist the medical
team in most instances.
2. The lack of vital statistics or demographic
data on the Marshallese imposes a serious difficulty in interpretation and evaluation of the medical data. Trust Territory officials are attempting
to improve registration of such data.
3. There is uncertainty on the part of some of
the Marshallese as to their exact ages, particularly
4. The conditions of field examinations naturally
COMPARISON POPULATIONS
During the first 2 years, two separate groups of
Marshallese people were used for comparison,
each comparablein size with the exposed Rongelap group and matchedfor age and sex. However,
both groups were found to be unstable, with a
large attrition rate over the 2 years, which made
them unsatisfactory. At the time of the 3-year survey, it was found that during the preceding [2
months the Rongelap population at Majuro Atoll
had doubled because of the influx of relatives who
had come back from otherislands to live with
them. These people had been away from Rongelap
Atoll at the time of the accidental exposure. This
group matched reasonably well for age and sex
and was of comparable size. Since the return of ~
the people to Rongelap, however, this group has
about doubled in size. Table 2 shows the various
Marshallese populations that have been examined
since 1954.
Table 2
Marshallese Populations Examined Since 1954
Group
Original number
in group
Number
living (1966)
Frequency
of exams
Subyect
Nos.
Exposed
Rongelap*
Ailingnae**
Uurik
67
19
157
58
15
133
Annual
Annual
3-4 years
I- 8h
L- ah
2101-2257
99
37
Li5
L68f
Annual since 1957
1955-1956
1954 only
801-1073
1000-1082
700- BOO
60
104
Annual
Annual
Unexposed
Rongelap
Rita
Majuro
Children Conceived After the Fallout
Of exposed parent(s)
Of unexposed parents
*Includes 3 zn” utero children.
** Includes | in utero child.
63tt
B7- | vl
BO1-1074
+Individuals have been added since 1957 when this group wasfirst availuble
7tLive births.