EFFECTS OF IONIZInd RADIATION
48
A Met oe
reached. The count was maintained at ap-
proximately 75 percent of control values from
the 7th week to the end of the initial study.
No farther recovery was evident t 6 n nthe.
Although both age groups followed the same
general time pattern of response, the lower age
group was below that of the older throughout
most of the observation period. At 12 months
the granulocytes had retu:ned to the control
range.
The absolute lymphocyte count of the older
age group (Fig. 4.2) had fallen by the 4d day
to a value approximately 55 percent of the
control group. This value was maintained
througl..ut the study, and there was no definite
evidence of an upward trend during the initial
or 6 month studies, At 12 months, complete
recovery had not occurred. The values for the
younger age group likewise fell before the ‘td
day toa value approximately 25 percent of the
control, following which there was a significant
With the total lymphocyte
control group. After this period the differences
expressed) as percent are less marked since re-
'
t
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=
CONTAERS GROAP a - ane 5 —
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thoae greater then 3 peers od, Group I ( Rongelap).
covery was more rapid in the younger age
group.
The cellular elements chiefly responsible for
the fluctuations in total white blood cell count
can be determined by comparing the total white,
neutrophile and lymphocyte counts (Fig. 4.3).
ft is seen that the lymphocyte count remained
essentially constant throughout the period of
study, while the total neutrophile count fluctuated with « pattern essentially identical to that
of the total white blood count (coefficient of
correlation of (19). Thus the fluctuations in
total count were due to changes in the neutroplile count.
This was true of both the older
and younger age groups. It can be seen from
Table +.2 that the neutrophile count was consistently yreater than the lymphocyte count in
the older age group. In the younger groups,
differences in the neutrophile and lymphocyte
count: were less marked and frequently the
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en
Piateg €£2.- Aeriai changes in lympaocwte count of
Growp 1 (Humectaps fur those ieee than 3 prere
and greater (han 5 years of age
Ilwinphoeyte count was greater than the neutrophile count.
Platelets were first counted It) days after exposure, at which time platelet values of the
females were approwumately 6) percent of the
appropriate control group (Pig. 4.4). Follow-
wy FT
or
upward trend.
count, there is a consistent difference bet ween
the two age groups. However, during the first
4 weeks the difference is accentuated when expressed as percent decresse because of the relatively high Ivmphocyvte levels in the lower age
Frovae 4.3.—Compereticr serial chenges in the totet
lenkoryte, neatropaule, and ipmphocyte counts in
hae es | ee a LA
ay
at