10
3.
4,
In some sections acanthosis, absence of pigment in the basal layer, and atrophy
and benign dyskeratosis were noted occasionally in the stratum spinosum of
the epidermis,
The papillary layer of the dermis freauently showed distinct degenerative aiterations in the collagen, characterized usually by homogenization of the latter
and what appeared to be an alteration in the distribution of mucopolysaccharide
when compared with control sections. Occasionally mucin was seen in areas
ot degeneration in the dermis.
5. Capillary dilatation was noted in the dermis and in one case in the hypodermis
(Figume 7). Medial degeneration in an artery was noted in one case.
6. A single case showed increase in heavy dense bands of collagen in both the
papillary and reticular layers of the dermis (Figure 8).
Most ot these changes were consistent with previously reported late radiation
changes in the skin.
Hematological Findings
Control
The control data* consisted of the hematological data on 134 Marshallese on
Majuro Atoll obtained in April 1954, and data on another group of 82 Marshallese from
Rita Village on Majuro taken in September 1954 and again in this survey. These control populations had been matched for sex and age with the exposed population.
Results
The hematological findings are presented in Tables 4 through 6 and Figures 9
through 13. As in the past, the groups were divided according to age and sex in order
to make appropriate comparisons of the various blood elements.** Babies born since
exposure were not included in the comparative studies so that there were fewer individuals in the younger age group.
Leukocytes. In both the Rongelap and Ailingnae people, the mean total leukocytes
and mean absolute neutrophile counts, as in the one-year examinations, were equal to
the control means in both the <5- and >5-year age groups (Tables 4 and 5, and Figure 9). However, there were some people who had neutrophile counts slightly below
normal (10 with counts of 2500 or below in the exposed groups compared with two in
the control group). The fact that none of these people had had comparably low counts
at the one-year examination tended to make the finding less significant, The mean of
the exposed groups was brought up to the control level by the presence of slight neutrophilia in some individuals. This effect is represented in Figure 10 by a slight change
in slope of the neutrophile cumulative distribution curves.
*Only 57 of the Rita group were available for examination during the present survey.
**The people were divided as follows:
Rongelap
Ailingnae
Leukocytes:
both sexes
<5 years
6
2
Platelets:
both sexes
male
>5 years
<10 years
58
9
16
2
Hematocrits:
male
female
male
>10 years
all ages
<15 vears
22
33
12
5
11
2
female
all ages
33
11
male
>15 vears
19
5