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
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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.
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