55
HEMATOLOGEC OBSERVATIONS
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MEUTROMELES 2 10"
Fieve 4.4.—Cemaletire acatrophile counts for Group
I (Rongelap) et the time of masimam depressions
aed ath months after crposurc.
Tt is seen that in terms of absolute counts, the
children showed a greater depression of the
lymphocyte count. Expressed as percent of
control, all elements were affected more markedly in the younger age yroup. These results
would indicate that children are more sensitive
te radiation, or that other biological or physical factors resulted in a relatively greater effect.
One physical consideration that may have accounted in part for the apparently greater dose
received by the children involves a consideration of dose distribution in the body. Because
of their relatively small diameter, the dose received at the center of the body of a child would
be yreater than for an adult exposed to the
same dose xs measured free in air.
4.4
ot ete
—_
4.41
dividuals have been possible, and thus they comprise the most complete deta available on homan
beings exposed in the high sublethal range. It
is also of importance, therefore, to examine the
present results in conjunction with past expert-
Discussion
General
An estimation of the severity of radiation
damage incurred can be attempted by comparing the present results with previous hematological data on total body exposure. The
present date represent the only large series in
which svsteniatic serial count. on the same in-
of the hematological response of human beings
exposed to penetrating radiation in the subleth: | range.
in the following discussion it will be gener-
ally assumed that the hematological effects
noted were due primarily to the penetrating
gamma radiation received.
The beta radiation
injury of the skin may have contributed to
fluctuations in the white count during the pe-
riod of active lesions during the third, fourth
and fifth week, be is considered not to have
contributed significantly to depression of any
peripheralelements (Chapter 3). The degree
of interned contamination with fission products
(Chapter 5) was probably too small to contribute significantly to the early hematological
effects obverved. Although it is not powsible
te say with certainty that these added factors
did not materially affect the hematological pattern seen, it will become evident in the discussion that the changes observed are not inconsistent with thona to be expected from exposure
to penetrating fadiation alone. Thus, the
hematological changes noted are considered to
he the result of a sinyle exposure to penetrating
gamma radiation, délivered at a rapidly decreasing tase rate ovpr a period of approximately 2 days. Unless\otherwise stated all ciscussion will be limited o the older-age subdiViston of Group E
The principal sources of previous data available for comparison, and tt characteristics and
limitations of each are summarized in Table
4.40. Pernsal of the table HWomake apparent
the difficulties invelved in tfempting strict
Comparisons: however, some
Qatements can be
made despite the obvious Tuitations. For
eaxy reference, “normal” valine for peripheral
blow counts, frou the present
the literature are presented tn”
atu and fresas
the Ql.