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GROWTH STATUS OF CHILDREN EXPOSED TO FALLOUT
RADIATION ON MARSHALL ISLANDS
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W.W. Sutow, M.D., R. A. Conard, M.D. and K. M.Griffith, M.D.
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston, Texas, and the
Upton, L, L, New York
dentally exposed to fallout radiation from
hematological, clinical, and other data
from these surveys have been published.*-*°
(see Table I). The inhabitants were sub-
through 1963, of those who were in the
jected to whole body gamma radiation,
irradiation of the skin (largely from beta
particles in the fallout), and radiation from
internal absorption of radionuclides following ingestion of contaminated food and
water. About two days after the accident,
the entire populations of the three atolls
-
pediatric age group (less than 20 years of
age) at the time of exposure.
RADIATION EXPOSURE DATA
Table I shows the various island groups,
distances from Bikini, and estimated whole
body doses. On Rongelap atoll, 64 people
lap and Ailingnae people were transferred
Utirik atoll, farthest from Bikini, received
the smallest dose of about 14 r. The inte-
levels on Rongelap were considered low
ment readings at the time of evacuation,
to Majuro Atoll, several hundred miles to
the south. By June, 1957, the radioactivity
One hundred and fifty-seven inhabitants of
grated dosage calculations were rather
complicated and involved survey instru-
enough for the people to be moved back to” film badge readingsof a group of Americans on a nearby contaminated island,
rover 824-8 73
BOX No.
growth and developmentstudies, for 1958
were carried out. After several months, the
Utirik group was returnedto its homeisland
where radioactivity was considered to be
low enoughfor safe habitation. The Ronge-
PUBLICATIONS
This report summarizes the findings from
received the calculated gamma dose in air
of 175 r. Eighteen other Rongelap inhabitants who had been on the neighboring
Ailingnae atoll were exposed to about 69r.
were evacuated by plane and ship to Kwajalein Atoll where complete examinations
IAL DEPT.
MED
Since the exposure, annual medical followup examinations have been conducted
on these people. Detailed accounts of the
the experimental detonation of a large
thermonuclear device over Bikini Atoll. An
unpredicted shift in wind at the time of
detonation caused deposition of significant
amounts of fallout on these nearbyislands
aesetae
conection LIARS HALL SLAS..
RECOROS
BNL
REPOSITORY
exposed on Utirik developed alopecia, epilation, or other radiation symptoms.
the island.
Most of the people exposed on Rongelap
experienced anorexia and nausea within the
first 24 to 48 hours after exposure. Vomiting
and diarrhea occurred in a few. Cutaneous
lesions and alopecia developed about two
weeks later in most of the exposed subjects.
Leukopenia (white blood count less than
5,000) and thrombocytopenia (platelet
count less than 100,000) were seen in a
number (see Table IT). None of the people
estimation of the time and extentoffallout,
fallout decay, etc.1: An accurate estimate of
the beta radiation dose to the skin from
radioactive material in contact with the
dermal surface could not be made, but the
development of skin lesions indicated that
it must have been roughly 10,000 to 15,000
rads (largely low-energy beta).
_ Radiochemical analysis of urine samples
from exposed persons showed some degree
(Submitted November 18, 1964; revision accepted for publication March 31, 1965.)
ADDRESS: (W.W.S.) University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and TumorInstitute, Texas Medical
Center, Houston, Texas; (R.A.C.) Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, Long Island, New York.
This work was supported by the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission.
721
LY 509
Pepiatrics, Vol. 36, No. 5, November 1963
tet ete —
n March 1, 1954, inhabitants of three
O atolls (Rongelap, Ailingnae, and
Utirik) of the Marshall Islands were acci-
ee
- Brookhaven Nationa! Lab
oratory
The Medical Research
Center
Medical Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, Long Island, New York