~hDuring the first 8 months after their return to Rongelap
their body burdens of Cesium!3T are estimated to have increased by
factors up to 100 (resulting in a mean body burden of 0.68yc);
Zinc®5 is estimated to have shown a concomitant increase (mean body
burden of 0.36uc).
Strontium? showed about a twenty-fold increased
rate of excretion in the urine. Only one sample of bone is available
for estimating the body burden of Strontium90, This is from a
Rongelap man who died in April 1958 (nine months after his return
to Rongelap) which showed 3.6y:pc/Sr90/gm Calcium (Strontium units).
On the basis of North American data it is expected that the values
for children would be higher.
Based on preliminary analysis of data from the most recent
survey period, 8 to 20 months after return to Rongelap, it appears
that the people have begun to attain an equilibrium with their lightly
contaminated environment. The Cesium37 lgyels appear to be slightly
lower than the year before, while the Zinc > has increased slightly.
The Strontium? analyses, unfortunately, are not available yet.
body burdens estimated above are far below the
The
permissible
levels; Cesiuml37 is about 2% of the MPL, and Zinc? 1% of the MPL.
In summary, a medical survey of the Marshallese people in
March 1959, five years after exposure to fallout radiation, showed
that the people had recovered from the acute effects of their radiation
exposure and appeared to be generally in good health. The following
specific statements can be made in regard to their radiation health
status:
i. WNo illnesses or diseases were found that could be
directly associated with acute radiation effects.
2. One case of cancer and three deaths have occurred, but
with no direct relation to radiation effects.
3. Fertility does not appear to have been affected. The
incidence of miscarriages and stillbirths appears to be somewhat
higher than in the unexposed Marshallese, but a deficiency of vital
statistics precludes definite conclusions as to whether or not this
is a radiation effect.
.
4, Suggestive evidence of slight lag in growth and development of exposed children noted previously is being re-evaluated on
the basis of better age data obtained during the past survey.
5. Blood platelet levels are within the normal range but
somewhat below that for the unexposed population.
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