B3
tion and various comparison populationssince
exposure in March 1954. In Appendices 3 and 4
’ 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-
‘are listed the individual blood counts for 1959 and
1960. The data are also summarized graphically
in Figures 33, 35, and 38. The blood data have
been classified as in the past according to age and
sex. The results of blood counts in the 1959 and
parent thusfar.
RESIDUAL BETA BURNS
1960 surveys may be summarizedasfollows.
Ten people continued to show residual skin
damage from beta burns sustained 6 years pre-
White Blood Counts. The mean WBC in 1959
showed a further trend upward in both the exposed and unexposed populations, beingslightly
lower in the former (see Table 21 and Figure 33}.
viously. Most of the residua consisted of very mild
changes, such as varying degrees of pigmentalteration giving a mottled appearance, sometimesac-
The 1960 WBC level of the exposed people
companied by a roughening ofthe skin (increased
showed a considerable drop from a meanlevel of
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 ex-
rugosity). Some showed more pronounced changes,
such as atrophy and scarring. None of the more
severe residual lesions showed anygross evidence
of breakdown with the development of chronic
planationfor this is not clear. The percentagedistribution of the various white cell levels was not
radiation dermatitis or any premalignant or malignant change. No biopsies were taken. Several
women whohad sustained moresevere necklesions
very different, however, from that of the previous
values.
Neutrophils. The neutrophils in 1959 (Table
seemed to be showing an increase in pigmented
moles in and aroundtheaffected areas. However,
this is not certain, and these moles will be observed carefully in the future for any suspicious
21 and Figure 33) showed an increase correspond-
ing to the increase in WBC in both exposed and
unexposed populations, the mean level also being
slightly lower in the exposed. A scattergram
changes. In Table 20 are listed descriptions of the
residual beta burns seen in 1960. Figure 32 shows
(Figure 34) of the age distribution of the counts in
healed beta burnsof the feet 5 years after exposure.
1959 showsa greater tendency for the younger
groupsto have lower mean countsin 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-
LABORATORY EXAMINATIONS
Hematological
In Appendices | and 2 are presented summaries
pared with 4800 in 1959. This decrease correspond-
of the mean blood counts of the exposed popula-
ed with the decrease in the total white count.
Table 21
Mean Leukocyte and Platelet Counts, 1959 and 1960, by Age and Sex
Rongelap exposed
1959
WBC (x10-},
Neut. (X107*),
age >5
Ailingnae exposed
1960
10.14 3.1 (123)
4.04 1.3 (60)
3.741.1(15) 3.0+1.2 (13)
4.1 1.4 (123)
3541.5 (54)
Mono. (x 10°*),. age >>5
Eosin. (X10°’), age >5
2.0+ 1.8 (60)
50+ 3.3 (60)
0640.2 (54)
2.7+0.8 (54)
Baso. {X10-?), age >5
0.4+ 0.6 (60)
Plate. (<10-'), Malesage5-10 32.3410.0 ( 7)
*Standard deviation.
1959
9.7+2.4(15) 7.344.3(14)
48+ 1.9 (60)
Females
1960
9.54 2.3* (60)**65418 (54)
age >>5
Lymph. (107°), age >5
1959
Unexposed
>10 244+ 9.9 (20)
~>5 27.6210.5 (29)
2740.8 (54)
0.4+0.11(54)
.
-
5.142.1(15)
3.64£1.6 (13)
3.2#2.5(15)
6.044.2(15)
0.60.6 (13)
4.00.2 (13)
26.3+6.0 ( 4)
-
5.2 2.1 (123)
24+ 2.3 (123)
6.0 9.9 (123)
0.5+0.8(15) 0:4+0.4 (13)
40,9
( 2)
-
05+ 0.8 (123)
34.6+10.8( 11)
26.84+3.7 ( 9)
31.14 7.2¢ 52)
**The numbers in parentheses are the numbers of people in the groups.
-
28.0+ 8.4( 54)