MEDICAL SURVEY RETORT TO THE UNITED NATIQNS! GROUP ON THE STATUS OF THE RON :ELAP PEOPLE AQEIOF Majuro, Me Ie, March 1956 On March 1, 195), following experimental detonation of a thermo- nuclear device in the Pacific, several inhabited islands were accidentally irradiated with fallout. This was the same accident in which the Japanese fisherman were irradiated. The fallout material, a white powdery material, fell most heavily on Rongelap atoll, about 100 miles fron the detonation and to a lesser extent on islands further away. The people on these islands were irradiated fron the fallout by three routes: 1. Penetrating radiztioti (gamma) from the ground, trees and houses, resulted in whole body irradiation; 2. Skin contamination, with fallout resulted in spotty localized irradiation of the skin and scalp; and 3. Internalcontamination occurred from ingesting of contaminated food and breathing in fallout material. The island groups and extent of involvement was as follows: GROUP PERSONS INVOLVED Rongelap Rongelap people an Ailingnae Rongerik Utirik 6 Marshallese 18 Marshallese 28 Americans 157 Marshallese ESTIMATED PENETRATING DOSE I75 roentgens 69 roentgens 78 roentgens DEGREE OF SKIN CONTAMINATICGY "Extensive Less extensive Slight 1 roentgens None (measurable) The above people were all evacuated to Kwajalein where they were cared for and studied extensively for several months. The Utirik people who had only the most minimal signs (blood effects) of radiation effects were moved back to their homes on Utirik. The “merican servicemen who also showed only minimal effects were returned to duty shortly afterward. The more heavily exposed Rongelap people were moved to Ejit Island in Majuro Atoll for further care and study. The following facts concern this latter groupe About 2/3 of the “ongelap group experienced nausea during the first 2-8 hours after the detonation and a few vomited and had diarrhea which was believed due to the penetrating radiation exposure. A large number experienced itching and buming of the skin, and a few of the eyes, which was believed due to the irradiation of the skin. Following this, the people were free of any complaints until about 2 weeks later when skin lesions developed. The results of the three types of radiation were as follows: $i. & ° Penetrating = (175 roentgens - a chest xeray gives about G=6 roentgens). Effects were manifest only on the blood elements FE J TSS -Sh ‘ "as follows: (a) White Slood Cells (which protect the body against infectim) Lo/. 3. HfNelA 7 SIEZ. DOA B25 VL ATOR GF | i depressedto about 50% of normalby about the 6th week. (b) DOE APOEUTS Platelets(which keep the body from bleeding spontaneously) were aeoressed to about 30% of normal by the lth week. These blood elements have gradually recovered to normal range at subsequent studies at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. c¢9