(
AQS797
BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY
ASSOCIATED UNIVERSITIES, INC,
UPTON, L. I., Ne Ye
Ry
September 25, 1957
Dear or. Chuck,
I am anxious to formulate plans for studies to be carried out on the annual
medical survey to be conducted on the Marshallese in March, 1958,
It is an-
ticipated that three weeks will be spent on Rongelap Island and several days
on Majuro Island,
im carrying out the examination,
Complete history, physical
}
alla
and laboratory examinations of a basic nature will be carried out as in the
past,
However there are special studies that should be considered and I
would like to outline my thinking on the subject at this time and would appreciate your comments,
Keeping in mind the limited facilities and personnel with which the examination
will be conducted as weil as the language barrier difficulty, it would seem to
me the priority for special studies should be based on the following consider1,
Those studies which have revealed positive findings in the past in re-
2.
Studies based on known long term effects of radiation in human beings,
gard to possible radiation effects should be pursued with greatest vigor, I
refer to )a) the hematological effects, (b) growth and development studies in
children, (c) beta lesions of the skin and (d) body burden of radioisotopes,
particularly in the Japanese and animals,
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FOLDER
ations:
Such studies include effects on
aging and longevity, incidence of degenerative diseases, malignancy (leukemia,
etc,) fertility, cataracts, and genetic effects,
3,
Studies of positive findings common to both exposed and unexposed Marshall-
ese people which may have a direct influence on the future prognosis of the long
term effects of radiation,
Such findings include the tendency to anemia (low
hematocrits), high incidence of parasitism, high total proteins and gamma globulin of the sera, high incidence of congenital defects, Of less priority would
be studies of the homogeneity of the population, psychological studies, etc,
Purther elaboration on the various studies in these different categories follows,
1,
(a) Hematological, It is anticipated that three complete blood studies on
each person including WBC, differential counts, platelet counts and hematocrits,
will be conducted over the three week period as was done last year.
In view of
the fact that the lymphocyte and platelet mean counts have remained slightly below
the mean counts of the unexposed groups it would be desirable to investigate the
possibility of lowered reserve canacity of the hemapoetic tissues for these blood
elements, For instance, it might be possible to test for lymphopoetic capacity
by challenging with some lymphocytic stimulating substance (pertussis vaccine?) ,
or platelet response by stimulating platelet production by some means, Possibly
radioiron uptake studies micht be of value in evaluation erythropoetic integrity,
Do you have any suggestions alonz this line?
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