37
counts and types, alkaline phosphatase staining,
and basophil counts-e64000 white cells showed no
evidence of leukemia or leukemic tendency. One
child in the irradiated group had 3% basophils but
no other positive findings. The cardiovascular and
arthritis survevs, as well as the genera! results of the
physicaiexaminations, have not shown any apparent increased incidence of degenerative diseases
in the eXposed people. No radiation-induced
cataracts have been observed in anvof the exposed
people.
Genetic effects have not been specifically studied
because of the small number of people involved.
No apparent radiation-induced genetic changes
have been detected on routine physical examina-
tion in the first-generation children of exposed
parents.
Hematological surveys again showed considerable
fluctuation in the year-to-year mean level of leuko-
quency of the Hp' gene to be higher than in
European populations thus far tested and con-
sistent with populationsliving near the equator.
The distribution of haptoglobin types showed the
population to be relauvely homogeneous. Transferrins in all sera were type CC, the common European type. 8-4 mino-iso-butyric acid urinary levels
showed the Marshallese to be the highest excretors of this acid of anv population thus far reported. Levels in the exposed group were about
the same asin the une assed group, and no correlation was found with body burden level of
radionuclides; this indicates that there is probably
no correlation with radiation exposure. Glucose-6-
phosphate dehydrogenase of the red cells appeared to
be deficient in the Marshallese. Considerable caution must be exercised in evaluating the results of
these studies on genetically inherited character-
istics because of the small number of samples
reasons for these fluctuations are not apparent. At
5 years post exposure, exposed people still had
tested. The data do seem to indicate relative
homogeity of the population andclosest kinship
with people of Southeast Asia. These data also
may be useful as a base line should genetic changes”
appear in later generations, possibly related to.
radiation exposure.
°
unexposed group. However, /ymphocyte levels ap-
Results of other laboratory studies carried out
during the 5-year survey included the following:
cytes in both the exposed and unexposed groups.
The mean leukocyte level of the exposed group
showed a marked decrease at the time of the 1960
survey (no unexposed people were examined). The
mean platelet levels 10 to 15% below those of the
peared for the first time to equal those of the unexposed group. Mean erythrocyte leveis were also
slightly lower in the exposed people. These blood
elements in the Ailingnae group also showed some
slight depression below the unexposed levels but
not quite so marked as seen in the Rongelap exposed group. A general anemic tendency was
noted in all the Marshallese, both exposed and
unexposed. Price-Jones curves, on the average,
Serum protein levels, as has been noted before, were
generally on the high side of normal; the reason
for this is not apparent. Complementfixation studies
for parainfluenza 1, 2, and 3, respiratory syncitial,
psittacosis, and © fever showed antibodiesto all
groups of viruses except that for Asian influenza,
which probably had not yet seriously involved the
people of the Marshall Islands. The antibodytiters
appeared to be somewhat lower in the exposed
showed a slight microcytic tendency. Serum iron
people. Sodzum levels in the urine and food indicated
about the same consumption of NaCl as in Amer-
not yet returned to the levels in the unexposed
group raises the possibility that a residual radiation effect on the bone marrow persists, but other,
tension in the Marshallese might berelated to the
levels were generally normal. The fact that some
of the blood elements in the exposed group have
not immediately apparent, factors may be in-
volved.
.
Studies ofgenetically inherited characteristics. Blood
grouping studies in the Marshallese showed relatively high B gene frequency, a high N genefrequency, an extremely high R' gene frequency, and .
total absence of Kell and Diego factors. These
characteristics differ from those of Polynesians and
suggest relationship with Southeast Asians and
Indonesians. Haptoglobin studies showed the fre-
1185601
icans. The generally lower incidence of hyper-
fact that the formernative diet was probably lower
in salt content than the present, more westernized
diet. It will be interesting to see whether the incidence of hypertension will later increase. Repeat
studies of protern-bound iodine, total todine, and butanol-
extractable 1odine of the sera showed levels lower
than previously reported, and the previous higher
readings are thought to be in error because of con-
taminated glassware, although some readings were
still somewhat high. Four cases of g/ucosurza associated with elevated dlood sugar were found in the
unexposed population, which indicated a rather