per year to an individual.

It was recommended to the people

that land and coconut crabs not be consumed because of their
selective absorption of strontium-90 and cesium-137.
It is accepted that the radioisotopes of iodine I-131, I[-132,

T-133, and I-135 contributed to the total dose to the thyroid
gland, resulting in the development of nodules in the thyroid

gland in 19 of 82 exposed people on Rongelap, with the preponderance in individuals who were less than 10 years of age
at the time of exposure.
The first thyroid abnormality was
discovered nine years after exposure.
Subsequent surgical
exploration was carried out in Guam, Hawaii, and the United
States on 18 of the victims, revealing three to have cancer
of the thyroid gland.
In addition, two boys were found to

have developed total atrophy of the gland resulting in hypothyroidism.
In an effort to prevent the development of

thyroid nodules, the exposed people were administered thyroxine
On a continuing basis.
In my opinion, the surgical and medical
treatment of the thyroid abnormalities afforded was comparable

to the best available in the United States.

The long term or delayed effects of radiation are in the main
the result of the radioactive isotopes strontium-90 and
cesium-137.
These two isotopes were plentiful in the fission
products and have relatively long half-lives.
Body burdens
for cesium-137 and strontium-90 by radiochemical assay of the

exposed Rongelapese in 1969 indicated no increase since similar
evaluations in 1965.
In addition, there was no significant
difference in the body burdens of the exposed and unexposed
persons living on Rongelap, indicating an equilibrium had been

reached.

It is difficult if not impossible to predict the

ultimate result of this increased body burden of potentially
Carcinogenic: substances.
It is generally considered that the
biological hazard from cesium-137 is not as great as strontium90, a beta emitter that is selectively deposited in bone.
There are animal experiments which indicate that strontium-90

in sufficient quantities may produce bone cancer and possibly

leukemia.

Pathological effects of cesium-137 in the muscle

mass of the body are not definitely known at the present
time.

At this examination, a nodular thyroid gland was detected
in a Rongelapese girl who was 12 years of age at exposure

and the first nodular thyroid in a woman exposed on Ailingnae

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when she was less than 10 years of age.
Unfortunately, the
first case of acute myelogenous leukemia among the exposed

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