PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED
42
of the reacting antigen was under genetic control.
Individuals with a dominant gene designated 4¢*
it single or double dose (genotypes 4¢*/Ag*,
Ag*/Ag) were reactors [phenotype Ag(a + )| and
those homozygousfor the recessive allele Ag nonreactors [Ag(a —)|. The antigen or antigens that
react with the antibodies present in the serum of
the frequently transfused patient are serum low
density £-lipoproteins.'’ A serum from a second
patient (
-), the New York antiserum, was also
found to react with a low density 8-lipoprotein.
Preliminary family studies indicated that reactors
were homozygous cr heterozygous for a second
gene, while nonreactors were homozygous for the
alternate recessive allele. [mmunologic, genetic,
and population studies showed that the lipoproteins
selected by the two antisera were antigenically
distinct and controlled by different genes. '”
Sera collected from the inhabitants of Rongelap
Atoll in 1962 were tested with both the C.deB.
[anti-Ag(a+)| and the New York antisera. The
total results compared with those on several! other
populations are shown in Table 22. There isa
much higher frequency of C.deB. antiserum re-
actors and a much lower frequency of New York
antiserum reactors in the Rongelap population
than in U.S. whites and Negroes. The reasons for
these differences are not known, but may depend
on differences in past or present selective forces
which affect the baiance of the polymorphisms.
“Because of the lower frequency of New York
antiserum -eactors, the Rongelap population was
useful for family studies. From these studies it was
tentatively concluded that reactors with the New
York antiserum were cither homozygous or heteruzygous for a dormant gene. and nonreactors were
homazygous for its alternate allele.”
Rediechemical Analyses of the Urine.
Determinations of body burdens of gamma emitting
isotopes {princtpally Cs'' and Zn*’) by whoiebody gamma spectroscopy were not done during
the past two surveys. Data in (961, by that tech-
nique, indicated that the body burdens of Cs' °
were not signihcands diferent from those of two
years before. and Zn” levels had dropped by a
factor of about tO. It was decided, therefore, to
defer whole-body counts until the 1965 survey.
Results of radiochemical urine analyses for Cs'"
and Sr™ on 38 urine samples for 1963 and 27 sampies for |1¥64 are presented in Tables 23 and 24.
The data are divided into the following groups:
exposed and unexposed of ages <l5 and >15
years, living on Rongelap, Ebeve, and Uurik.
Sr" urine levels for 1963 and 1964 have not increased over the 1962 levels. In 1962, the mean
Sr*" values from the individual adult 24-hr sam-
Group
Roscecar
Unexposed, age
ples were 12.45 pC/'I or 14 pC,g Ca. From these
values, on the basis of previous calculations,” ‘
the body burden was estimated as 12.0 myC for
aduits and 28.4 myC for children. On the same
basis, the estimates for 1963 body burden levels
of Srare LE.3 myC (adults) and 21.8 mypC
(children); and for 1964, 10.7 mgC (adults) and
23.4 myC (children). As shown in Table 23, the
levels of both Cs'** and Sr"" are lower for the
people living on the uncontaminated island Ebeye
at Kwajalein Acoll.
Mean
Exposed. age <
Thus the return of the Rongelap people to their
home island was refiected in annual increases to
1962 in estimated body burdens of Sr" based on
urinary excretion values. The annual estimates in
mpC for adults were as follows: 2.0 in 1958; 6.0 in
1959; 6.9 in 1961; 12.0 in 1962; 11.3 in 1963. and
10.7 in 1964. The present body burdens are about
5 to 6% (adults) to about 10% (children) of the
maximum permissible concentration (MPC) of
Ser™ (200 mpC) for non-industrial populations. It
appears now that equilibrium with the environ-
mental contamination of Sr™ has been reached in
the people living on Rongelap Island, and the
previously estimated equilibrium value of 23 myeC
will not be reached.
No bone samples were obtained from autopsy
maternal during the past two years for Sr** anal-
ysis. Estimates of body burdens from previous
analyses of bone samples had shown fairly good
correlation with those obtained from unne analyses.
Poot
In view of the paucity of the previous data on
Cs'* urinary levels, it is di.acult to interpret the
present levels in terms of body burden. However,
the levels are generally less than the mean [958
Cs'" urinary level of about 4 nC,'l. Thisis in accord with the finding by gamma spectrograph
determinations that the whole-body burdens of
Cs' in 1901 had not increased.
Analvses of three coconut crabs for Sr?’ and
Cs'* are shown in Table 25. Thoughthe levels of
Sr’” (pC/g Ca) are lower than in the crabs ana-
Mean
Barve
Pooled
Urieug -Exeosen
Age <1
Mean
Age15
lyzed in 1962, they are still sufficiently high to ne-
cessitate continuation of the ban on their consumption by the people of Rongelap. [tis interesting that
the Cs'"’ levels are also quite high in these crahe.
Mean
SUMMARY
Rongelap, all :
Rongeiap. al!
Ebeve
Cunk, all <1
Uunk, alt >1-
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