13
plementfixation tests were carried out by Mr. H.
Turner and Dr. R. J. Heubnerfor the following
diseases: para-influenza 1, 2, and 3; respiratory
syncitial; psittacosis group; and Q fever. The
modified Bengtson method wasused.**-"”
Sodium and Potassium Levels. Determinations
of sodium and potassium urinary excretion and
dietary levels were carried out by Dr. L.K. Dahl
of Brookhaven National Laboratory. This study
was madeto see whetherthere was anycorrelation between salt consumption by the Rongelapese
and blood pressure levels. Both spot and 24-hr
urine collections on about 200 people were tested
wy
for sodium and potassium levels by flame photom-
Leon N. Sussman, Beth Israel Hospital, New
York, N.Y.; and haptoglobins by Dr. B.S. Blum-
berg and Zora Gentile of the National Institutes
of Health. Blood samples were obtained from 176
individuals representing 70% of the inhabitants of
Rongelap for the above studies. Aliquots ofurine
samples from 65 exposed and 119 unexposed
people collected for routine analysis were used for
determination of §-amino-iso-butyric acid. Eight-
een urine samples from Utirik were also analyzed.
Blood Groupings. To complementstudies begun in 1958, blood grouping studies were carried
out on 57 of the blood samples mentioned above.
In addition, 64 blood samples were collected at
etry. Several sample meals from the Rongelap
people were also analyzed.
Thyroid Metabolism. Since the largest dose to
any part of the body had been received by the thyroid glands in the Marshallese, studies of the
metabolic state of the thyroid gland have been of
interest. These studies have been made by Dr. J.E.
Rall at the National Institutes of Health. Samples
from the previous years’ surveys had shown surprisingly high protein-bound iodine levels. In
order to determine whetherthis was a true finding
or due to contaminationof glassware, 14 samples
were again collected, with very carefully cleaned
glassware used. In addition to protein-bound
iodine, butanol-extractable iodine and thyroxin
binding proteins were determined. Several urine
samples were analyzedfor total iodine content.
Serum Vitamin B,,.
Determinations of serum
vitamin B,, concentrations done during the previous year’s survey gave values higher than nor-
Utirik, and 65 at Majuro for this purpose. Dr.
Sussmantested these for ABO, MN, Rh-Hr, and
Therefore, 15 samples from the 1959 survey (7
from personstested the year before) were analyzed
by Dr. D.W. Watkin of the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health.
can develop a hemolytic anemia after the ingestion of certain drugs (e.g., primaquine or fava
mal in the majority of the Marshallese people.
Studies of Genetically inherited Characteristics
Studies of genetically inherited characteristics of
blood components andurine were continued on
samples brought back to laboratories in the
United States. Such studies, although not directly
related to radiation effects, are of interest in under-
standing the anthropological background of the
people and in establishing a base line of genetic
characteristics for detection of possible genetic effects of radiation in future generations. These
studies included the following: blood groups ABO,
MN, Rh-Hr, and Duffy, Kell, and Diego by Dr.
Duffy, Kell, and Diego factors.
Hapftoglobin and Transferrin. Further analyses
for haptoglobin by the method of Smithies were
carried out on these samples at the National Institutes of Health. Transferrins were determined
by the discontinuous buffer starch gel method of
Poulik'* on 66 Rongelapese sera, and on an addi-
tional 40 sera by the borate buffer, horizontal
method.'* No transferrin types other than CC
were seen.
Hemoglobin Types. Further starch gel electrophoretic studies of hemoglobin types were also
made on these samples by Dr. R.L. Engle, Jr., and
Dr. G. Castillo of the Cornell University Medical
Center, New York, N.Y.
Glucose-6-phosphate DehydrogenaseActivity of
Red Cells. Various studies haveindicated that a de-
ficiency of the enzymeof red cells is transmitted by
a sex-linked gene. Individuals with this deficiency
beans’°"'*).
In the present study the blood samples werecollected in ACD solution, refrigerated (4°C), and
sent by air to Seattle, Washington, wherethetests
were done by Dr. Arno G. Motulsky, Department
of Medicine, University of Washington. All tests
were performed within one week of collection.
Tests were done on 151 individuals: 75 males, 75
females, and onenotclassified.
B-Amino-iso-butyric Acid (BAIB) Excretion. Differential excretion of B-amino-zso-butyric acid
(BAIB) is under genetic control, and family data
indicate that a single major genepair is responsible for most of the variations.'*:?° High excretors
are homozygous for a single recessive gene, and