252
RADIOACTIVITY IN MAN
may occur early and again late in the syndrome but are not outstanding features. With sublethal doses there may occur mild,
early gastrointestinal symptoms and later slight or moderate
hemopoietic depression.
Acute Effects on Marshallese. In the people of Rongelap re-
ceiving a high sublethal dose (175 r) there was widespread nausea,
and a few people vomited during thefirst day or so after exposure.
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Figure 2. Mean neutrophil and total leukocyte counts of exposed Rongelap
people from exposure through five vears after exposure. Stars represent mean
values of comparison populations,
Hemopoicuc depression, though moderately severe, was not sufficient to result in clinical effects. Figure 2 shows the changesin total
leukocytes and neutrophils. Following depression to about half the
mean devel of the comparison populauon at 40 to 45 days, there
was gradual recovery with the mean counts reaching comparison
population levels by about one year. During the period of maximum neutrophil depression, an epidemic of infections of the
upper part of the respiratory tract occurred. The exposed people
showed no adverse response to this epidemic, and tater their
responses to epidemics of measles, chicken pox and other diseases
did not appear to be impaired.
Figure $3 shows the changes in the Ivmphocytes which were de-