ATCMicC ENERGY COMMISSION WASHINGTON. OC. AOR227 20545 Eiy A 31 08 Mr. John T, Conway Executive Director Joint Committee on Atomic Energy Congress of the United States ee ree ‘Dear Mr. Conway: The following summarizes the current status on the incidence of, thyroid disorders among the people of Rongelap Island who were exposed to fallout on March 1, 1954. Dr. Conard, Medical Department, Brookhaven Netional Laboratory, conducted the most recent survey in March 1968, Te mw re mele ey The results of the 1967 survey were reported to you by letter dated May 12, 1967, At that time we indicated that 17 people had developed thyroid nodules, 11 of which had been treated surgically. In the most recent survey, 2 more cases of thyroid nodules in children who were exposed to fallout on Rongelap when they were less than ten years of age were found, This brings the total number of cases of thyroid abnormalities in the 67 living Rongelapese to 21; of the 19 children in the more heavily exposed group who were less than 10 years of age at . time of exposure, 17, or 90% heve developed thyroid abnormalities, DOE ARCHIVES It was decided that 4 cases should be brought to the Srookheven National Laboratory for complete medical evaluation and, if necessary, surgery. Preperations for their traensportection and reception are now teking place. Three are people having thyroid nodules wnich had not respondec to thyroid hormone therapy. Tne fourth is a 29-year-old women with en unidentified tunor in the neck lateral to the gland, In the pest, 11 Mershallese have uncergone surgery; oné women exposed as en adcuit wes founc to have cancer of the thyroid, wnile 16 who were expesec when jess then 10 yeers of age hac benign ecenomatous esiters, ‘BEST COPY AVAILABLE