4O2 B72
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Bricf Sunmary of Medical Findings in the Marshallese
J
Ba Gear
Accidentally Exposed to Radioactive Fallout in 1554
The accidental exposure occurred on March 1, 1954 following detonation of a thermonuclear devise on Bikini in the Pacific Proving Grounds.
A shife in wind resulted in fallout on the following inhabited islands*
Depd
Island
Distance from Bikini
Rongelap
.
No. of People
wa
estima dea
Gamma dose
105 miles
64
Allingnae
110—Cts
18
69
Rongerik
135
#"
28"
70.~—O"
Ucirik
275
="
175 rads
158
4
"
"
American Service men
There were no deaths but certain acute effects were noted, particularly
in the Rongelap people.
Trans¢ient depression of blood cells was follow-
ed by recovery to near normal levels by one year.
Fallout deposited on
the body resulted in skin burns and spotty loss of hair in the Rongelap,
Ailingnae and Rongerik groups.
cut complications
in
The burns healed and the hair regrew with-
several months.
Urine analyses revealed that inter-
nal absorption of radioactive material had occurred from inhalation and
ingestion of contaminated food and water but no acute effects were observed from this source (as will be seen below late effects did occur).
Follow-up examinations during the first decade showed few findings
that could be related to radiation exposure.
Possibly related was che
occurrence of about twice the number of miscarriages and stillbirths
in the exposed compared with unexposed Rongelap women.
ence was not seen after 5 years.
This differ-