below, and neutrophile counts dropped to 2500 or less.
The symptoms
of several persons who developed upper respiratory infections during
tuis period were carefully monitored.
rose tnreateningly,
1
When their temperatures
they were given antibiotics to prevent further
complications and they responded favorably.
treated with medication.
|
In all, 12 persons were
Fortunately no immediate serious illnesses
appeared, nor where there any fatalities.
Urine samples were taken
to try to calculate the original amount of radioactive material taken
radioactive material still remained.
Fifty-two days after the bomb
.
SAafetln
into the bodies of people and to try to determine what amounts of
exploded, seven people were selected from the Rongelap group to be
given a recovery agent, ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid (EDTA),
which has the ability to help speed the process of elimination of some
radionuclides through the body's normal functions.
The attempt was
‘
ended after five days, however, when it was determined that the general
effect of reducing the amount of the body's radioactive burden was so
slight as to be virtually useless.
i
This was due to the fact that
ke
little was being excreted at that time, due in turn to the fact it had
i
been nearly two months since radioactive material had been ingested,
‘ G
and it had become firmly settled in the tissues of the bodies.
by the time two months iad passed, after exposure, it appeare. that
any possible immediate danger had passed.
he exposed American service-
men, after careful study which shoved no positive findings, were
released to their duty stations.
}7
j
J
d
At the end of three months, the
people of Utirik, wno reportedly received the lowest dose of radioactivit™.
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