to the depth of the gland.
The return of the Rong2lapese to their home island in 1957 resulted in
exposure to low levels of radionuclides in their environment.
This is
discussed in Chapter Ll
12.6
Acute Effects
Examinations were carried out over a 72 day period initially followed by
re-examinations at 6 months and then on an annual basis.
compared with Marshallese people who were not exposed.
Findings have been
Since 1957 over 200
Rongelap people who were away from the island at the time of the accident
have since returned to live with the exposed people.
This group has formed
an excellent comparison population.
12.6.1
Penetrating Gamma Radiation.
During the first 48 hours typical radiation
induced gastrointestinal symptoms were associated with their gamma radiation
exposure.
About two-thirds of the Rongelap people experienced anorexia and
nausea and a few vomited and had diarrhea.
more heavily exposed group only.
These symptoms were noted in the
Following their evacuation from Rongelap the
people appeared well until the development of skin lesions 2 weeks later.
However, when first examined on the third day, it was apparent that significant
radiation exposure had occurred in view of the lowered lymphocyte counts.
Serial
hematological determinations including total white count, differential, platelet
count and hematocrit revealed that the hemopoietic depression was most marked
in the 64 people on Rongelap who had received 175 rads, less marked in the other
*roups receiving less exposure.
The average leukocyte and platelet counts are
shown graphically in figures 7, 8 and 9.
50071306
The first counts on the Rongelap group