4 counts and:types, alkaline phosphatase staining, and basophil counts of 4000 white cells showed no evidence of leukemia or leukemic tendency. One child in the irradiated group had 3% basophils but no other positive findings. The cardiovascular and arthritts surveys, as well as the generalresults of the physical examinations, have not shown any apparent increased incidence of degenerative diseases in the exposed people. No radiation-induced cataracts have been observed in any of the exposed people. Genetic effeets have not been specifically studied because of the small numberof people involved. No apparent radiation-induced genetic changes have been detected on routine physical examination in the first-generation children of exposed parents. Hematological surveys again showed considerable fluctuation in the year-to-year meanlevel of leukocytes in both the exposed and unexposed groups. The mean leukocyte level of the exposed group showed a marked decrease at the time of the 1960 survey (no unexposed people were examined). The reasonsfor these fluctuations are not apparent. At 5 years post exposure, exposed people still had mean platelet levels 10 to 15% below those of the unexposed group. However, lymphocyte levels ap- pearedfor the first time to equal those of the un- exposed group. Mean erythrocyte levels were also slightly lower in the exposed people. These blood elements in the Ailingnae group also showed some slight depression below the unexposed levels but not quite so marked as seen in the Rongelap ex- posed group. A general anemic tendency was noted in all the Marshallese, both exposed and unexposed. Price-Jones curves, on the average, showeda slight microcytic tendency. Serum tron levels were generally normal. The fact that some of the blood elements in the exposed group have not vet returned to the levels in the unex posed group raises the possibility that a residual radia- tion effect on the bone marrowpersists, but other, not immediately apparent, factors may be involved. Studies ofgenetically inherited characteristics. Blood 57 quency of the Hp’ gene th be higher than ix European populations thus far tested and consistent with populations living near the equator. The distribution of haptoglobin types showed the population to be relatively homogencous. TransJerrins in all sera were type CC, the common European type. 8-Amino-iso-butyric acid urinarylevels showed the Marshallese to be the highest excretors of this acid of any population thusfarreported. Levels in the exposed group were about the same as in the unexposed group, and no cor- relation was found with body burden level of radionuclides; this indicates that there is probably no correlation with radiation exposure. Glucose-6phosphate dehydrogenase of the red cells appeared to be deficient in the Marshallese. Considerable caution must be exercised in evaluating theresults of these studies on genetically inherited characteristics because of the small number of samples tested. The data do seem to indicate relative homogeity of the population and closest kinship with people of Southeast Asia. These data also maybe useful as a base line should genetic changes appearin later generations, possibly related to radiation exposure. DOE ARCHIVES Results of other laboratory studies carried out during the 5-year surveyincluded the following: Serum protein levels, as has been noted before, were generally on the high side of normal; the reason for this is not apparent. Complementfixation studves for parainfluenza 1, 2, and 3, respiratorysyncitial, psittacosis, and Q fever showed antibodies to all groupsof viruses except that for Asian influenza, which probablyhad not yet seriously involved the people of the Marshal] Islands. The anubodyuters appeared to be somewhat lower in the exposed people. Sodium levels in the urine and food indicated about the same consumption of NaCl as in Americans. The generally lower incidenceof hypertension in the Marshallese might be related to the fact that the formernative diet was probablylower in salt content than the present, more westernized diet. It will be interesting to see whetherthe incidence of hypertension will later increase. Repeat grouping studies in the Marshallese showed rela- studies ofprotein-bound todine, total iodine, and butanolextractable iodine of the sera showed levels lower total absence of Kell and Diego factors. These characteristics differ from those of Polynesians and suggest relationship with Southeast Asians and Indonesians. Haptoglobin studies showed the fre- still somewhathigh. Four cases of glucosuria associated with elevated blood sugar were found in the unexposed population, which indicated a rather tively high B gene frequency, a high N genefrequency, an extremely high R’ gene frequency, and than previously reported, and the previous higher readings are thought to be in error because of con- taminated glassware, although some readings were O3 wee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee eee Le