INTERV linesses The outstanding 2 vears on Ronget epidemic, which ox demic apparently by the crew of a st atoll within a wea departed. The ep 2. he " .~ : a a Doe _Sr ; ee Gy or eA Figure 9. Typical Marshallese living conditions at Utirik. apt pio . xs, \ ee Sor tetSoAee the stage of chromosome preparations. Chromosome studies of peripheral blood cultures, however, tal examinations were carried out on all persons > 40 vears of age. This included in the case of men palpation of the prostate gland. Radiographs of the chest and other parts of the body were obtained as indicated. Hematological data were obtained and were available for evaluation. In detection of possible leukemia (or preclinical evidence of incipient leukemia; the lymph nodes and spicen were carefully examined; hematological data were analyzed. including rouune hemograms and percent basophils in 4000 white cell count; and alkaline phosphatase smears of the white blood cells where done were available for review. LABORATORY PROCEDURES Hematological studies included white cejl counts with differentials, red blood counts, hematocrits, hemoglobins, platelet counts, serum proteins, blood smears for alkaline phosphatase, and basophil count studies. Techniques for these procedures have been described in previous reports.' ’ Bone Marrow 4so'rations for differential study were collected on * exposed and 2 unexposed individuals. Considerable effort was spent on chromosome studies in the past two surveys Of particular interest was the possibility of studying the chromosomes of cells cultured from the “beta burn” areas of the skin. Some 30 skin biopsies were obtained and successfully grown in most cases. However, contamination of these cultures occurred under the field conditions of these studies, and unfortunately all were lost before thev could be brought to have been considerably more successful. During 1963 a large numberof bloods were cultured successfully. However, the final chromosomespreads in many cases were not completely satisfactory. and the study was repeated during the 1964 sur- vey. Ac this time successful 2- and 3-day blood cultures were obtained on 64 exposed people and Tl unexposed. Excellent growth and chromosome spreads were obtained, and the slides are now being evaluated.* Sera were collected both years on most individuals, and the foilowing examinations were carried out in U.S. laboratories’ protein-bound 1odines on 9 exposed and 8 unexposed people and a few blood sugar determinations; ** serum folic acd levels on 52 exposed and 85 unexposed people.*** During the 1963 survey 38 urine samples were Atoll in Januarv-! and 3 adults stricd older exposed won involved were all chiidren of exposer Miid residuai faci: in 8 and more seve cases will be furthe Section. This epide within a few mon Sabine vaccine by Health Service. Tr nately Cuirik Atoli Other than the p val medica! histor past 2 vears and o not reveal any epe per respiratory &: fungus and other nated in the sickm Only a few cases from eating impr reported. collected, and during the 1964 survey 27 samples, Deaths J4+-hour sampies, though several pooled samples Four deaths ha. during 1962 and for radiochemical analyses.” Most of these were were obtained. Most were from peopie living on Rongelap lsland, but some were obtained at Ebeye. *Assuting in these studies are Dr Shields Warren and Dr. Hermann Lisco at the New Engiand Deaconess Hospital. Miss Agnes Stroud at Argonne Nationai Laboratory. :nd Miss Parnaa Crummsine at tne Women's Medical College. Philadelphia. We are grateful to Drs Michael Bender and Carolyn Gooch of Oak Ridge, WM. Court-Brown of Edinburgh, Scotiand, and Kurt Hinwiom of New York Universuty jor advice. "*Dr L.V Hankes and the Clinical Chemistry Group in the Medical Departrnent 0f Brookhaven National Laboratory were responsible for these anaivses ***Or Thomas Lynch, Hackensack Hospital. Hackensack, N. J. did the folic acid determinations Dr Edward Hardy and others at the AEC Heaith and Salety Laboratory, New York, N.Y . carmed out these anaiyses. 60 vears of age. | diagnosis of cance inations had show increasing hyper bleeding was nol gynecological che but death occurrer autopsy was obta of age. Died July rouc heart disease and senilitv. Noa male, 21 years of 3 monthsaftera fal