33
in the exposed poptitation will be compared with
tion and various comparison populations since
those in the unexpased for differences that might
exposure in March 1954. In Appendices 3 and 4+
are listed the individual blood counts for 1959 and
1960. The data are also summarized graphically
in Figures 33, 35, and 38. The blood data have
been classified as in tHe past according to age and
sex. The results of blood counts in the 1959 and
1960 surveys may be summarized as follows.
White Blood Counts. The mean WBC in 1959
indicate possible premature aging effects. As
pointed out, such differences have not been apparent thusfar.
RESIDUAL BETA BURNS
' Teg people continued to show residual skin
damage from beta burns sustained 6 vears previously. Most of the residua consisted of very mild
_ changes, such as varving degrees of pigment alter-
showed a further trend upward in both the ex-
posed and unexposed populations, being slightly
lower in the former (see Table 2! and Figure 33).
The 1960 WBC level of the exposed people
ation giving a mottled appearance, sometimes accompanied by a roughening of the skin (increased
showed a considerable drop from a mean level of
rugosity). Some showed more pronounced changes,
such as atrophy and scarring. None of the more
9500 in 1959 to 6500 in 1960 as compared with
the trend during the previous two years (no counts
severe residual lesions showed any gross evidence
of breakdown with the development of chronic
radiation dermatitis or anv premalignant or ma-
"were made on unexposed people in 1960). The explanation for this is not clear. The percentagedis-
Neutrophils. The neutrophils in 1959 (Table
21 and Figure 33) showed an increase corresponding to the increase in WBC in both exposed and
unexposed populations, the mean level also being
moles in and around the affected areas. However,
this is not certain, and these moles will be observed carefullyin the future for any suspicious
changes. In Table 20 arelisted descriptionsof the
slightly lower in the exposed. A scattergram
residual beta burns seen in 1960. Figure 32 shows
(Figure 34) of the age distribution of the counts in
healed beta burnsof the feet 5 years after exposure.
1959 showsa greater tendency for the younger
groups to have lower mean counts in the exposed
than in the unexposed populations. This was
LABORATORY EXAMINATIONS
noted also in 1958. In 1960 the average of neutro-
Hematological
phil counts was 3500 for the exposed group com-
pared with +800 in 1959. This decrease correspond-
In Appendices {| and 2 are presented summaries
of the mean blood counts of the exposed popula-
ed with the decrease in the total white count.
Table 21
Mean Leukocyte and Platelet Counts, 1959 and 1960, by Age and Sex
Rongelap exposed
1959
WBC (x10"),
Neut. (x 107%),
age >5
Ailingnae exposed
1960
lOL% 3.1 (123)
40% 13 (60)
3.7411 (15) 3.0%1.2(13)
$1 1.4 (123)
Mono. (x 10-'), age >5
2.0 1.8 (60)
620.2 (54)
O4= 0.6 (60)
0420.11 (54)
Baso.(x 10°),
age >5
age >5
5.0 3.3 (60)
Plate. (x 10°*), Malesage5-10 32.3+!100 ( 7)
Females
*Standard deviation.
10 244+ 9.9 (20)
>5 27.6%10.5 (29)
3541.5 (34)
27408 (54)
2.7488 (54)
-
-
9.142.1 (15)
3.61.6 (13)
3.2%2.5(15)
0.60.6 (13)
6.024.2 (15)
0.520.8(15}
40.9
( 2)
26.3+6.0( 4)
26.83.7 ( 9)
**The numbers in parentheses are the numbers of people in the groups.
1185583
1959
97424(15) 73243014)
48> 1.9 (60)
Eosin. (¢10°*),
1960
9.5 2.3% (60)**65=1.8 (54)
age >5
Lymph. (1073), age >5
1959
Unexposed
5.2 2.1 (123)
244 2.3 (123)
4020.2 (13)
6.0= 9.9(123)
-
34.62£10.8( 11)
440-4 (13)
-
0.5% 0.8(123)
28.0+ B.4( 54)
3Lt+ 7.26 52)
aa
ae.
women who had sustained more severe neck lesions
seemed to be showing an increase in pigmented
—
tribution of the various white cell levels was not
very different, however, from that of the previous
values.
lignant change. No biopsies were taken. Several