aA 4b PG
457
(SA
Medical Findings in Marshallese People ~
Exposed to Fallout Radiation
Results From a Ten-Year Study
Robert A. Conard, MD, and Avobat: Hicking
with the exposed group to their home island and
have served as a comparison population.
Initial Findings
During the first 24 to 48 hours about two thirds
of the Riugelap people experienced anorexia and
nausea, a few vomited and had diarrhea, and many
complained of irritation of the skin and eyes.
anes? symptoms, however, subsided within a few
ays.
Depression of lymphocytes and neutrophils to
about half and the piaielets to about one third the
levels of the unexposed population occurred during
the first six weeks follewing exposure, followe:l
by gradual but incomplete recovery. The depression of blood elements was insufficient to result
in infections or bleeding, and the radiation dose
that they had sustained fortunately proved to be
sublethal. No specific therapy was necessary. A
slight ioss in weight was noted in more than half
of the people during the first six weeks, but the.
possible effects of ch-~ge of environment could not be ruled out.
Beta radiation burns of the skin and enilation of
the scalp were widespread, particularly in the
m.. ‘avily exposed group. Most otf the lesiens
were superficial }.. some showed deeper ulceration. Most .f them healed within a few weeks
witt omly sight residual changes and regrowth of
hair was complete by six months
Avingnae
LR Marchsilnce
Rongerik
Utirik
Faliout
Observed
Heavy
(snow- like)
bdnatennt
(mist Itke)
28 Americans
Moderate
cmist irhe}
157 Mar-oaalieca Nane
Gamma
Dose
Extent of
(Rada)
175
Shin Lessons
Extensive
ve
Less extensive
78
Slight
7
fee Shen tess
oO epilation
"Also exposed waie 23 “Japanese fishermen who received a sublethal
dose
From
the
(31-58 Oars)
1960 -
re so
|
|
Reprint requeaia to Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton.
;
nwo.
s
NY fiervn - Py Conard.
JAMA. Mav 10
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Na &
T
\
80+
Medical Research Center, Brookhaven National
Laboratory, Lipton. NY (Dr. Conard), and the Department of
Moarcdennt ©
rik
iefiatory ot the Pacitic Islands, Saspan,
Mirtuo jainnds (Mer Hicking).
t
T
mT
*
oT
rT
* EXPOSED, TEN YEARS POST EXPOSURE
* conte.
* EXPOSED, TIME OF MAXIMUM DEPRESSION
(31-39 Days)
{128-30 Cave)
‘
f
1
S
Composition
64 Marshalless
Cumt!| ATIVE PERCENT
Group*
Rongelap
rr es
eee
Ge
ov
su
OW
W
co
T
:
'
|
ma
+
Le
Fr
|
Estimated
h
PSs
Cumimiary Vl Taluut CTects
sR
Vs vears have passed since the people of the
Marshall islands were accidentally exposed to
fallout radiation'; complete reports have been published covering findings of the annual medical
surveys. The accident occurred March 1, 1954,
following the detonation of a high-yield nuclear
device during experiments at Bikini in the Pacific
proving grounds, when an unpredicted shift in
winds caused deposition of significant amounts of
fallout on four inhabited atolls to the east. The
Table shows the groups of people involved, the
number i each group, and the extent of the fallout
and exposure.
The present report summarizes the medicai
findings over a ten-year period of the 82 peopie
of Rongelap Island who were expused. The initiai
findings are only briefly revic wed, greater emphasis
being placed on the findings of more recent followup examinations. A group of relatives, away from
the island at the time of the accident, returned
Sy
Benign thyroid nodules were removed from three teenage Rongelap girls ten years after exposure from fallout.
(The thyroid dose received was estimated at about 1,000
rads, largely from radioiodines absorbed.) No thyroid
nodules were detected in 75 unexposed children. Other
possible residual radiation effects noted in the 86 exposed Rongelapese were 2s follows: slight retardation of
statural growth and hone maturation in boys exposed at
less than 5 years of age; greater incidence of miscarriages in exposed women during the first four years; incomplete recovery of some of the peripheral blood elements; and increased nevus-like lesions in areas of previous beta raiatio:. ourns of the skin. General health and
mortality has been about the same as in the comparison
population. No definite radiation effects on birth rate,
aging. leukemia, malignancy, or genotype have been noted.
a0
4
69
NEUTS n1073
LYMPHS 1107?
PLATLLETS 1107
1. Cumulative percent distribution curves of neutro-
phils, lymphocytes. and platelets.