65
hypothyroidism in the two most growth-retarded
boys with subsequent growth response to thyroid
hormone treatment. Thyroid function tests in
cases with thyroid abnormalities also indicated
reduced thyroid function in some other children.
Preliminary indications are that thyroid hormone
treatmentinstituted in the exposed population in
September 1965 is having a beneficialeffectin reducing thyroid nodules and stimulating growth of
children. The importance of these thyroid developments in the Marshallese is discussed.
OTHER STUDIES
Hematological studies show that the leukocyte and
Nal (TI) crystal in a portable shadow-shield type
of counter. The Rongelap residents exposed in
1954 and the unexposed residents were indistinguishable by this method, both groups showing
elevated '?*Cs body burdens of 10 to 20 nCi, kg
body weight, or slightly less than 1 Ci total body
burden and about “ooo this much for °°Co body
burdens. These levels are about the same as
or slightly lower than those reported previouslyfor
the 1961 survey. Urine specimens werealso analyzed radiochemically for °’Sr and '°'Cs. The “Sr
levels remain nearly the same as those found in
1961. In a comparison of the **’Cs excretion rate
with the body burdens, a mean fractional] excretion rate of 0.00553/day was found.
platelet levels of the peripheral blood of the ex-
posed Rongelap people seem to have recovered to
levels equal to those of the unexposed population.
The blood levels of the Utirik population showed
no obvious abnormalities and weresimilar to those
previously noted.
Chromosome studies of white cells of 51 peripheral
blood cultures showed a lowincidence of 2-hit
aberrations in the exposed people which was quite
significant in view of the absence of any such aberrations in the comparison population.
Blood volume andred blood cell volume studies showed
that people of Rongelap have significantly reduced levels as compared with Americans. Cau-
Acknowledgments
The cooperation of many agencies and persons
was necessary to carry out these surveys successfully. The authors are deeply grateful for valuable
assistance to manyindividuals too numerous to
name. Weareparticularly grateful to the people
of Rongelap and Utirik Atolls for their cooperation in these examinations.
Manyofficials of the Atomic Energy Commission, particularly Dr. Charles L. Dunham and Dr
Aging studies have been repeated with the addi-
H.D. Brunerandtheirstaff of the Division ofBiology and Medicine, and Mr. W.A.Bonnetand Mr.
Neil Rassmussen of the Honolulu Operations Of-
light extinction test, body potassium levels, and
ments and in supporting the surveys in every wav
statistical analysis. Curves of response for each
aging parameter and an over-all biological age
score curve are presented. Nosignificant increase
in aging effects in the exposed population compared with the unexposed population could be de-
Wearegratefulto the officials of the Department of the Interior, particularly Mrs. Ruth Van
Cleeve and the officials of the Trust Territors
of the Pacific Islands, including High Commussioners Mr. W.M. Goding and Mr. W.R. Noor-
casiansliving in the Marshall Islands did not generally show this phenomenon.
tion of several new parameters (vibratory sense,
blood serum cholesterol) and with more refined
tected. The over-all correlation of the biological
age scores with chronological age was good. It was
concluded that the tests employed may not have
been sensitive enough to detect subtle effects of
aging at this exposurelevel.
ESTIMATION OF INTERNAL BODY BURDENS
OF RADIONUCLIDES
In the 1965 survey whole-body counting was
done on 179 people with an 11'4-in.-diameter
fice, were most helpful in coordination of arrangepossible.
wood; the Acting Director of Medical Services,
Dr. L.A. Howe; the District Administrator for the
Marshall Islands, Mr. Dwight Heine, and his .\s-
sistant, Mr. Danny Akimoto; the Director ofthe
Majuro Hospital, Dr. John Iaman, and members
of his staff; the Trust Territory Representative at
Kwajalein, Mr. R. McKay, and Dr. Ezra Riklon
at the Ebeye Hospital; all were most helpful.
The Pacific Missile Range Facility at Kwajalein
wasof great assistance in furnishing necessaryair-
lifts and materials. Mr. Frank Granich and others