1+
special interest here, since it is known that radia-
tlon exposure can, temporarily at least, increase
BAIB excretion,” and studies on the Marshallese
population may elucidate possible long-term effects.
Urine samples from 65 exposed and 119 unexposed people (75.7% of the population of the village) were collected in plastic bottles containing
thymol preservative. The sexes were equally represented, and the ages varied from 3 to > 70 years.
In somecases several members of the same family
were included, and some kinships suitable for
genetic analysis were available. Eighteen samples
collected on Utirik were also studied. Urines were
kept at 4°C andshipped in refrigerated containers
to Seattle for analysis. These studies were carried
analysis until L961. The Trust Territory officials
agreed to greater participation of their medical
personnel in future surveys and to the use of one
of their cargo ships (Figure 9), which routinely
made the roundsof the islands for gathering cop-
ra, for carrying out the survey at Rongelap. Accordingly, for the 1960 survey the team consisted
of only one physician and one technician from
Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the re-
mainder of the medical group, arranged by the
Trust Territory, included its Director of Public
Health, two Marshallese medical officers, and two
Micronesian laboratory technicians. The Difector
of Dental Services and one ofhis dental officers
also accompanied the team to carrv out treaunent
of the people. The District Administrator of the
Marshall Islands accompanied the team in order
to consult with the people on their agricultural
out by one of us (B.S. Blumberg) and Dr. S.A.
program. *
As in the previous year, several of the exposed
completed 2 to 3 weeksafter collection of the specimens. Determinations of BAIB were carried out
by high voltage electrophoresis on paper,** and
were examinedat these atolls prior to the Rongelap visit.
Gartler of the Department of Medicine, School of
Medicine, University of Washington. Studies were
creatinine was determined bythe alkaline picrate
method.
Radionuclide Body Burden Evaluation
The methods used in the radionuclide body
burden evaluation are described later in a sepa-
rate section.
people now living at Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls
PROCEDURES
As in previous surveys, examinations were
carried out in the dispensary and the schoolhouse
in Rongelap village. Interval medical histories and
complete physical examinations were carried out
*Again in 1960, when the team arrived ac Rongelap, the mag-
1960 Survey
BACKGROUND MATERIAL
The 1960 survey was reduced in size and scope
and limited to a very brief examination of the exposed people only. Several factors brought about
this change. The people had recovered to the extent that certain special examinations previously
11855bu
istrate requested a meeting with the people. The line of questions
and discussion was about the same as that reported for the previous year. Resistance toward the exarninations was expressed by
only one or two of the people. Objections were again raised
against the ban on eating coconut crabs, whichselectively concentrate Sr® to such an extent that their consumption had to be
prohibited (Figure 4}. The people were assured that these crabs
were being repeatedly examined and that, when it wassafe to
eat them, immediate notification would be given. Fish poisoning
apparently had been less of a problem during the past year since
only one case had been noted, and the subject was not brought
up again. Following this meeting, cooperation by the peopie in
the examinations was almost complete,
a
The fact that some of the Micronesians were exposed to considerable radiation in 1954 is of
.
genetic polymorphism mav be of considerable
value in anthropo-genetic investigations. ***7
As a part of the studyof the genetic relationships and origins of various Pacific peoples, this repor extends observations on BAIB excretion to
the Micronesians inhabiting the Marshail Islands.
out before. the Trust Territory officials were con-
cerned about the slowness of economic recoveryof
the Rongelapese and felt that the numerousvisiting scientific teams, particularly those with large
ships and crews, were partly responsible for the
unrest of the people and therefore requested that
the size of the surveys be kept to a minimum. It
was decided to defer the gamma spectrographic
iB
incidence of high excretors in varlous populations
have been demonstrated, and tt appears that this
carried out every vear need be done only once
every two to three years. In addition, as pointed
aT ey "A ae
=
a,
~!
lowexcretors @ftfrer heterozygous or homozygous
for the dominantallele. Striking differences in the