33
tion and various comparison populationssince
exposure in March 1954. In Appendices 3 and 4
are listed the individual blood counts for 1959 and
1960. The data are also summarized graphically
in the exposed population will be compared with
those in the unexposed for differences that might
indicate possible premature aging effects. As
pointed out, such differences have not been ap-
in Figures 33, 35, and 38. The blood data have
parent thusfar.
been classified as in the past according to age and
RESIDUAL BETA BURNS
sex. The results of blood counts in the 1959 and
1960 surveys may be summarizedasfollows.
White Blood Counts. The mean WBCin 1959
showed a further trend upward in both the exposed and unexposed populations, being slightly
Ter people continued to show residual skin
dam... from beta burns sustained 6 yearspre-
viously. Most of the residua consisted of very mild
changes, such as varying degrees of pigmentalteration giving a mottled appearance, sometimes ac-
lowerin the former (see Table 21 and Figure 33).
The 1960 WBC level of the exposed people
companied by a rougheningofthe skin (increased
showed a considerable drop from a meanlevel of
rugosity). Some showed more pronounced changes,
such as atrophy and scarring. None of the more
severe residual lesions showed any gross evidence
of breakdown with the development of chronic
radiation dermatitis or any premalignant or malignant change. No biopsies were taken. Several
womenwho had sustained moresevere necklesions
seemed to be showing an increase in pigmented
9500 in 1959 to 6500 in 1960 as compared with
the trend during the previous two years (no counts
were made on unexposed people in 1960). The explanation for this is not clear. The percentage distribution of the various white cell levels was not
very different, however, from that of the previous
values.
The neutrophils in 1959 (Table
21 and Figure 33) showed an increase corresponding to the increase in WBC in both exposed and
unexposed populations, the mean level also being
slightly lower in the exposed. A scattergram
(Figure 34) of the age distribution of the counts in
1959 showsa greater tendency for the younger
groups to have lower mean counts in the exposed
than in the unexposed populations. This was
noted also in 1958. In 1960 the average of neutrophil counts was 3500 for the exposed group com-
served carefully in the future for any suspicious
changes. In Table 20 are listed descriptions of the
residual beta burns seen in 1960. Figure 32 shows
healed beta burnsofthe feet 5 years after exposure.
LABORATORY EXAMINATIONS
Hematological
In Appendices 1 and 2 are presented summaries
pared with 4800 in 1959. This decrease correspond-
ray
Neutrophils.
moles in and aroundthe affected areas. However,
this is not certain, and these moles will be ob-
ed with the decrease in the total white count.
of the mean blood counts of the exposed popula-
Table 21
Mean Leukocyte and Platelet Counts, 1959 and 1960, by Age and Sex
1959
WBC (x10),
Neut. (X10),
age >5
age >5
Lymph. (x 107°), age >5
*Standard deviation.
1960
Unexposed
1959
1960
1959
9.54 2.3" (60)** 6541.8 (54)
9.7424(15)
7.34.3 (14)
10.14 3.1 (123)
4.0% 1.3 (60)
3.741.£(15) 3,041.2 (13)
4.1+ 1.4 (123)
48+ 1.9 (60)
Mono. (X107%),. age >5
20+ 1.8
EFosin. (x10-"}, age >5
5.0+ 3.3
Baso. (X10), age >5
04+ 0.6
Plate. (x10), Malesage5-10 32.310.0
Females
Ailingnae exposed
(60)
(60)
(60)
( 7)
>lO 244+ 9.9 (20)
>5 27.6+£10.5 (29)
3.5415 (54)
2.7408 (54)
0640.2 (54)
2.7408 (54)
0.440.11(54)
-
-
5.142.1(15)
3.6+1.6(13)
5.2+ 2.1 (123)
3.2425(15) 0.6+0.6(13)
604£4.2(15) 4.0+0.2(13)
0540.8(15) 04+0.4 (13)
40.9
(2)
-
24+ 2.3(123)
6.0+ 9.9 (123)
0.5+ 0.8 (123)
34.6+10.8( 11)
26.8223.7 ( 9)
31.14 7.2¢ 52)
26.356.0( 4)
** The numbers in parentheses are the numbers of people in the groups.
-
-
28.0+ 8.4( 54)
my
Rongelap exposed