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,
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