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MIGRATION ————»
Figure 16. Blood proteins.
days; therefore, the data for the radiochemical
analyses are presented in disintegrations per minute per milliliter (dpm/ml). Approximate calculations may be made based on anestimated daily
urinary output of about 600 ml. Urine samples
from exposed and unexposed Rongelap people
collected over a 2-week period showed the former
to have a mean activity of 0.054 dpm/ml, or
roughly 7 dpm/24 hr in cesium-137 activity in the
latter. In contrast the Utirik samples showed a
meanvalue of2.39 dpm/ml (roughly 1434 dpm/24
hr). Samples from several exposed Rongelapindividuals who showed higheractivity shortly after
exposure also had high values (see Marshallese
No. 26, 40, 9, and 79). Individual Utirik samples
were considerably higher in cesium activity. Note
that No. 2123 had 827 dpm/ml, which, though
markedly higher than any other samplestested,
is still calculated to be well below the tolerance
level.
Radiochemical analysis for Sr°° showed only
barely detectable levels, far below the tolerance
Serum cholesterol examinations* on exposed populations showed a meanvalue of 169.58 mg per-
cent, and a mean value of 196.647 mg percentin
the unexposed population. There were no abnormally high readings in either group. Someofthe
values wereslightly low.
Serum creatinines* averaged 0.99+0.05 mgpercent in the exposed and 1.03+0.03 mg percent in
the unexposed group. There were no abnormal
readings.
Body burden of radtoactive isotopes: Radtochemical
analysts of urine. The results available at present
for regular chemical analyses ofurine** and wholebody gamma-ray spectroscopyt are presented in
Table 8. Figure 17 shows the gamma spectroscopy
tracings.ff It was difficult to ascertain the 24-hr
output in individual or pooled urine samples,
since the samples were collected over a period of
*Weare grateful to Dr. Donald D. Van Slyke and Dr. L.
Hankes of Brookhaven National Laboratory and Comdr. Demette (MC) USNof the Naval Medical School for their assistance
in carrying out the cholesterol and creatinine determinations.
**We are grateful to Col. James Hartgering (MC) USA, Maj.
Kent Woodward (MC) USA, and Le. Ariel Schrodt of the
Walter Reed Army Medical Research Institute for their assistance
in carrying out the radiochemical analyses of the urine.
tWe are indebted to M.J. Rose and Dr. C.E. Miller of
Argonne National Laboratory for doing the spectrographic
analyses.
+tThis figure is taken from Argonne .Yational Laboratory Sem:annual Report, ANL 5755, January through June 1957.
level.
Whole-body gamma spectroscopy. The results of the
whole-body gammaspectroscopy are shownin
Table 8 and Figure 17.'° It can be seen that the
exposed Rongelap people have higher cesium
levels than Americans, and the Utirik people have
levels still higher. However, the estimated body
burden of the Uurik people was 0.22 and 0.41 uC,
values well below the accepted tolerance level
(90 uC). Well-defined peaks for Zn*> were found
on spectrographic analysis in all the Marshallese.
Note (Table 8 and Figure 17) that these levels are
much higher in the Utirik people.
Discussion
Three years have elapsed since the accidental
exposure of the Marshallese people to radioactive
fallout; therefore, the possible late effects of ir-
radiation are receiving more consideration. However, persisting evidence of acute or subacuteeffects merits careful consideration. Eartier findings
will be briefly reviewed in chronological sequence
in order to give a clearer picture of the present
status of the people. In this discussion theeffects
of radiation with respect to whole-body penetrating effects. superficial irradiation of the skin, and
internal radiation from body burden of radioisotopes will be divided somewhatarbitrarily into