Serum Iron Levels (With Hematocrit)
Subject No.
Hematocrit
Serumiron, pg
2
3
6
13
22
30
34
65
36
37
36
34
30
32
34
37
122
108
78
83
139
104
104
100
83
86
843
860
865
912
929
35
34
36
37
33
31
37
96
83
135
91
96
131
96
70
26
69
69 and 78 (both with low hematocrits) were subnormal.
Glucosuria
Routine urine analysis carried out on 87 indi-
viduals showed positive sugar reactions in 8 per-
sons, one exposed (No. 66, age 36) and 7 unex-
posed (No. 853, age 56; No. 893, age 40; No. 916,
age 39; No. 920, age 29; No. 956, age 53; No. 961,
age 68; and No. 991, age 53). Unfortunately, blood
sugar determinations were not possible. As noted
before, the incidence of diabetes in the Marshallese
appears to be higher than in the United States
population. These cases were of the chronic type
with no acute manifestations. In 1959, as reported
previously, however, an unexposed womandied of
uterine infection complicating diabetes.
Protein Boundlodine;
Serum Phosphorus and Calcium
These levels were determined in 6 children, 4 of
whomshowed evidence of retarded growth and
development (Nos. 2, 3, 6, and 65; see Table 10).
The PBI values found varied from 8.0 to 12.0
y°100 ml]. Sinee particular care had been taken
e571
C4
amt
7 wt
ei
<7
and specially cleaned glassware used, the shghtly
high values found appeared to be valid and substantiated the earlier findings of slightly increased
levels, particularly since the samples were analysed
at a different Jaboratory than previously. No ex-
mee me a Me
ainee
planation is apparentfor this finding. The calctum
levels were little on the high side of normal and
the phosphoruslevels, normal. Thus there was no
indication that the impairment in growth and
development noted in these children wasrelated
to these findings.
STUDIES OF GENETICALLY INHERITED TRAITS
Gm Phenotypes
These determinations were run on sera that had
been obtained in 1959. No further studies of genet-
ically inherited traits were carried out during the
1961 survey. The results on Gm phenotypes on
each individual are presented in Appendix 5. The
Micronesians were found to be 100% Gm'‘*"' and
nearly 100% Gm'*’. There was a complete absence of Gm* and a high frequency of Gm-like
(Gm‘). Table 15 shows the frequencies in percent
of Gm factors in the Marshallese (Micronesians)
and various other populations.
The following is taken from a summaryofthe
paper by Steinberget al.*
“Whites have a relatively low frequency of Gm*,
high frequency of Gm* and Gm", and have no
Gm-like. The African and Micronesian populations have a high frequency of Gm*, Gm’, and
Gm. 'ike, and have no Gm*. North American
Indians have a high frequency of Gm* and Gm*
(higher than whites), a low frequency of Gm’, and
have no Gm-like. Eskimos have a similar pattern,
but may have a lower frequency of Gm‘.
“The genetic aspects of the Gm factorsare discussed, Whites appear to have alleles Gm*, Gm**,
and Gm’. It is tentatively suggested that among
colored populations, alleles Gm*", Gm?*, and Gni***
mayoccur, where c represents Gm-like.”
Estimation of Internal Body Burden
of Radionuclides
BACKGROUND
For large scale surveys, such as the Marshallese
surveys, Measurement with whole-body gamma
counters (both liquid scintillation detectors and
crystal detectors) has proved to be the mostsatisfactory technique. Early evaluation of the body
burdens of the people of Rongelap was carried out
by radiochemical urinalysis, which is time con-
foe a cesareaneet mips peeneeaciiepeeetA rs Ae enh men aman Sante Meena“,
Table 14
at
1 ehI oe ot
dln lll