BUC x4 959 med WO. 2320 Upton, L. 1, New York 4018441 Blood Bromine Levels in a Pacific Atoll! Population’ LUCIAN WIELOPOLSKI, WILLIAM H. ADAMS, AND PETER M. HEOTIS Brookhaven National Laboratory, Medical Research Center, Upton, New York 11973 Received December 2, 1984 Serum andred cells from 20 Marshallese on twoatolls and from 10 subjects in New York were compared for their elemental composition employing an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique. The elements analyzed in serum included Cl, Zn, and Br, whereas red - cells were analyzed for Cl. K, Fe, Zn, Br, and Rb. Both Marshallese groups showedstatistically significant (P < 0.01) elevations in serum Br (51 and 96%) and in red cell Br (393 and 478%) as compared to the New York group. The Marshallese Br/C] ratio in serum andin red cells was elevated when comparedto that of the New York group, whereas the Rb/K ratios were equivalent. The red cell Br/serum Brratio was also elevated in the Marshallese subjects. There were no similar differences noted among the other elements tested. Drinking liquids in the Marshall Islands were analyzed for Br but did not provide a clear source for the elevated Br levels. © 1986 Academic Press, Inc. INTRODUCTION Blood Br levels measured in several populations have been found to be similar (1-6). Although Br is not considered to be an essential trace element (7), its normal distribution in tissue is similar to the distribution of essential trace ele- UNLABELED ments(8, 9). A recent study of the elemental composition of serum andred cells in a group of 20 individuals from the mid-Pacific Republic of the Marshall Islands and 10 New Yorkers revealed that Br was singularly elevated in the Marshallese group. The investigation used the technique of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). This report presents details of the elemental measurements of serum FOLDER and red cells together with water samples taken from different locations. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Subjects. Thirty adults undergoing routine medical examinations were evaluated. Ten individuals were employees of Brookhaven National Laboratory, Long Island, New York. Twenty individuals were inhabitants of the Republic of the * Marshall islands. Of the latter, 10 lived on the remote atoll of Rongelap and 10 lived on Majuro atoll, location of the capital of the Republic and a well-populated district center. All groups were approximately age-matched and had a similar number of males and females. The Marshallese subjects receive periodic medical examinations and health care through a long-established program carried out by the Medical Department of Brookhaven National Laboratory. The purpose of the program is to diagnose andtreat radiation-related illness resulting from accidental 1 Research carried out under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC02-76Ch00016. 91 0013-9351/86 $3.00 Copyright © 1986 by Academic Press, Inc. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. m2 #4 IONS BOX No, EQICAL DEPT, PUBLICAT Brookhaven National Laheratary ISLANDS MARS HAL2 COLLECTION REPOSITORY BNi KECORDS The Medical Research Center ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 41, 91-98 (£986)