JO
platelet counts were done. The hematocrit levels
wereslightly increased overlevels of 3 years ago, possibly indicating a better state of nutrition. None of
the mean counts were very different from those of
the unexposed comparison population (1965 counts)
except for leukocytes, which were somewhathigher
in the Utirik péople. Appendix 10 showslevels of
blood elements at various times since exposure.
Children of Exposed Parents
Children of exposed parents born sincethefallout showed levels of peripheral blood elements
about the sameas those of children of unexposed
parents of the sameage range.
Leukemia Survey
No evidence of preleukemia or leukemic state
was detected in any of the people examined, either
501
T
1
T
_
FEMALES 1965
_
-
4
-
4
45—
4
1
~
%
—
HEMATOCRIT
from the blood picture or from physical examination. Counts of 4000 white cells for percent baso-
™
q
ee
ad
*
+
*
40—
ar)
e
e
4
°
e
_
e
e
_
-
:4
4
4
—-ee
e
4
°
i
r
30!
20
L
30
40
|
50
60
L
70
|
80
—_
90
AGE (YEARS)
Figure 63. Hematocrit values of Rongelap exposed females plotted against age. Solid line represents meanlevel
of unexposed female population, 1965.
507
ad
77
e
e
a
!
phils (1.13%) noted in other Rongelapese. He has
developed marked hypothyroidism during the past
2 years but showsno evidence of incipient leukemia.
—
=
°
phils revealed no abnormally high levels (see Appendix 13). Subject No. 3, a 13-year-old boy, continues to show about twice the number of baso-
*
r—
Statistical Analysis of Rongelap Blood Data
In the last report’ a factorial analysis of variance
of Rongelap blood data over the previous + years
indicated that the slight depression of blood-elements (leukocytes and platelets} of the exposed
population over this period was highly significant.
However, a similar analysis of the 1965 hemato-
logical data showsthatat this time there was no
significant difference (at the 5% level) of platelets,
leukocytes, neutrophils, or lymphocytes between
the exposed and unexposed Rongelap population.*
This was also true for the Ailingnae population.
I
T
—
MALES 1965
HEMATOCRIT %
a4
4
s
The significantly greater platelet level in this
group is unexplained. There was evidencethat the
leukocyte and platelet levels of the youngest age
group in all populations were higher than in adults.
No sex differences could be demonstrated in any
of the 1965 data. The percentdifference in blood
levels between exposed and unexposed groupsis
presented in Table 24 and Figure 65. It can be
seen that at 11 years there is no substantial difference between the groups.
4
CHROMOSOMESTUDIES
-
30
;
l
20
30
{
40
1
1
50
60
AGE (YEARS)
L
70
;
|
80
90
Figure 64. Hematocrit values of Rongelap exposed males
plotted against age. Solid line represents mean level of
unexposed male population, 1965.
Since chromosomeaberrations have been demonstrated in cultured blood cells from various
groups of people exposed to radiation, even years
after exposure, it was of interest to see whether any
such aberrations were present in the people of
*Weare grateful to Mr. Keith Thompson of Brookhaven National Laboratory for the statistical analvsis of these data.