“ ay
di!
“4
the “normal” cane for vadividual counts by the eighth eroninth week, qeiiher of thease values
for either the diph or low @xpesiure proups had ceturned to the nian bevels ot any ab the contra
populations disted i Table 4.10 at this time, nar by the end of Che study at bo weeks. * ©}
Lymphocyte counts cemained depressed at least throu the P2th week and probably through
the 15th week.
The present findingsiin the Marshallese are in accord with these characteristics, namely,
a) total white cell and newtrophile counts showed no definite minimum at four weeks as evidenced in Japanese_groups A to D, but rather fluctuated during the first few weeks with minimum mean counts occurring in the sixth week or later, b) Neutrophile cownts were unstable
over the first five weeks, and recovery to control levels was not completeby the 10th week.
c) Lymphocyte counts remained depressed (throughout the period of observation.
Platelet dala in the Japanese are not sufficient to allow more thin rough qualitative comparisons. This is unfortunate since changes in platelet counts in the present studies appeared
to show a more consistent pattern than did the leukocyte counts, Platetet counts on ane individual considered as atypical response in a non fatal Japanese” indicated an apparent fow at approximately day 30. This time trend agrees with that seen in the Marshallese and Americans
exposed to fallout radiation, }
It is worthy of note that the period of peak incidence of purpura in the Japanese victims oc-
curred between the 25th and 30th day, which corresponds to the time of imiaximum pintelet depression in the exposed Marshallese.
4.13.4
Comparison with Data from Laboratory Accidents
Although in the Los Alamos and Argonne accidents’the type of radiation and the conditions of exposure were markedly different from either the Japanese or the Rongelap situations,
a large component of penetrating gammaradiation was received and thus attempts at comparison may be of value. Some findings in the hematological responses are pointed out: a) a
uniform early rise in white and neutrophile counts over the first few days, similar to that seen _
early in the Rongerik American group was observed uniformly.{ b) Of three high-exposure but
non-lethal cases, the total white and leukocyte counts continued to show some degree of depression into the severth week orbeyond. c} The-lymphocyte count#in individuals exposed to
as little as 50 rem showed aninitial marked depression. In most cases the lymphocyte counts
remained at low levels throughoutthe period of observation. ad) Platelet counts were done by
a different method, and absolute counts are therefpre not comparable, However, of the three
high-dose survivors, times of maximum depression were net inconsistent with the value of 30
days obtained in the present studies.
The Argonne Laboratory accident® 4
ved four individuaty who were estimated to have
received 136, 127, 60, and 9 rep, respectivel The findings in the two highest exposed individuals in general were consistenFwith those ‘the present study. An initkat neutrophilic leukocytosis was followed by fiuetuations in total cau
“iiflow values contim@ing into the seventh
weck. Recovery was net comptes bye
rapid and marked, and recovery:#aB,a0e
platelet count were obtained between£
4.13.5
ae
> 20th yeek.
sR
: “Fymphocyte count depression was
by the Wth:week. Minimumvaluesfor the
thand.Sts,Gay. me §.
, ae
SAP OO
Comparison with AnimaData gow
Ye
ar.
yi
The time trends and severity Feralwiiod count change following total body radia-
tion in ani
has been critica:
are presenté
ined recently," and the following general conclusions
nee BR
tenn
no
cee an
“Counts 2 years later were not significantly different from control Japanese values. b2
tCounts on the Rongelap people 6 months after exposure showed noelevation of the mean
total white count, neutrophile or lymphocyte counts over values obtained during the 10th week.
tNo counts were taken on the Rongelap and Ailinginae groups during this early period,
85
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i
t
f
-t