These levels represent about
@” over the 1958 levels.
durden ofthe exposed group
heir initial exposure,since at
difference between the levels
hexposed populations living
The body burdens are of
terms of radiation hazard.
STUDIES
tnhernted charactertstics. Blood
' Marshallese showed a relaquency, a high N genefre-igh R‘ gene frequency, and
;and Diego factors.'" These
fom those of Polynesians and
ith Southeast Asians and
in studies showed the fre-
to be higher than in Eurofar tested and consistent
~ near the equator. The dis-
in types showed the popula-
omogencous. Transjerrins in
C, the common European
w acid urinary levels showed
‘the highest excreters ofthis
\ thus far reported. Levels in
re about the same as in the
no correlation was found
! of radionuclides: this indiabis no correlation with ra‘globin types were considered
AL). Sticking tests showed no
nv of the people. Clucose-6-
af the red cells appeared to
irshallese. Studies of Gm
“Marshallese to have 100%
“Y) Gm. There was a
mm and a high irequency
siderable caution must be
tthe results of these studies
4 characteristics because of
:mples tested. The data do
+ homogeneity of the pop-
ship with people of South-
iso may be useful as a base
anges appear in later ge n-
2d to radiation exposure.
‘ratory studies included the
levels were generally on the
: electrophoretic patterns
showed the increase in proteins was largely due
to an increase in the gammaglobulin fraction. The
reason for this is not apparent. Numerous chronic
infections may be an explanation.
Sodium feveis in the urine and food indicated
about the same consumption of NaClas in Amert-
immunoeilectrophoretic analysis showed neither a
paraproteinemia nor a typical picture of antibodydeficiency-syndrome,but a high frequency ofincreases of some of the immunogiobulins was noted.
Blood volume studies with Cr’'-labeled sodium
chromate showeda significant reduction in red
sion in the Marshallese might be related to the
fact that the former native diet was probably
lowerin salt content than the present, more westernized diet. It will be interesting to see whether
the incidence of hypertension wil] later increase.
Marshallese.
cans. The generally lower incidence of hyperten-
Serum cholesteral levels (1957, 1959} were some-
what lowerin the exposed population thanin the
comparison or Utirik populations, but were in the
low normal range. No abnormally low readings
were noted.
Serum creatiame levels (1957) were in the normal
range with no abnormal levels noved.
Serum vitamin B,. concentrations (1958, 1959)
were generally significantly higher than American
levels. The possibility of contamination of the sam-
ples with bacteria producing vitamin B,. must be
considered, since mycloproliferative and liver discases were not seen.
Serum protein bound todine levels (1957, 1959, 1962)
were generally slightly elevated. Evidence for thy-
cell mass and/or plasma volume in 15 of 23
DIFFICULTIES ASSOCIATED
WITH THE EXAMINATIONS
As mentioned in previous reports, several diffi-
culties were associated with carrying out the examinations as well as interpreting the findings.
1. The language barrier made examinations difficult, since very little English is spoken by the
Marshallese. However, there were sufficient Engtish-speaking Marshallese to assist the medical
team in most instances.
2. The lack of vital statistics or demographic
data on the Marshallese imposed a serious difficulty in interpretation and evaluation of the medical data. Records of births, deaths, etc., have been
made by the health aides or magistrates of the vil-
lages and supposedly forwarded to the district ad-
ministrator; however, such records have been in-
roid dysfunction was not apparentin the people.
Glucosurta and elevated blood sugar were found in 8
people (1 exposed and 7 unexposed). An increased
incidence of diabetes is prevalent in the Mar-
complete or lost in most instances, and vital statis-
75% of the people to be infected with vartous
types.'' For the three major pathogens found, the
culties in interpreting some of the studies to be
shallese people.
A survey for intestinal parasites (1958) showed
tics are therefore inadequate. Trust Territory
officials are now attempting to assemble such data.
3. There is uncertainty on the part of some of
the Marshallese as to their exact ages, particularly
among the older group. This imposes certain diffi-
outlined.
over-all infection rates were, for Entamoeba histo-
fytica, 18.2%; for hookworm, 5.5%; and for Trichur
inichtura, 34.3%
Evsnophtlia >3% has consistently been noted
COMPARISON POPULATIONS
Duringthefirst 2 years, two separate groups of
in about half the people. The fact that half the
cases with eosinophilia showed no helminthic infections at all suggests that otter factors besides
Marshallese people were used for comparison,
each of comparabie size to the exposed Rongelap
sinophilia may be related to chrunic fungus and
other infections, particularly of the skin.
Complement fixation studtes for paraiafluenza 1, 2,
and 3, respiratory syncitial, psittacosis, and Q fever showed antibodies to all groups of viruses except that for Asian influenza, which probably had
not vet seriously involved the peer'e of the Marshall Islands. The antibody titers appeared to be
attrition rate over the 2 vears, which made it unsatisfactory At the time of the 3-year survey, it
was found that during the preceding 12 months
parasitic infections must be responsible. The co-
somewhat lower in the exposed people.
Table 9
group and matched for age and sex. However, this
population was found to be unstable, with a large
the Rongelap population at Majuro Atoll had
doubled because of the influx of relatives who had
come back from other isiands to live with them.
These people had been away from Rongelap Atoll
at the ume of the accidental exposure. This group
matched reasonably well for age and sex and was
Table 10
Cunk Pediaunc Population