strate my medical opinion of the hazarés that the Marshallese people are facing and will continue to face in the future. I am hopeful that the statistical and medical studies which I have recommended will delineate more clearly the injury to the Marshallese, and allow the Marshallese leaders a better opportunity to understand the problem of their islands. This collection of information can well lead to an improvement in diagnosis of hitherto unrecognized food-chain radiation caused diseases, to the identification of the channels through which injury occurs, and ultimate result in better treatment and even prophylaxis of one type of another againt the development of such disease, -- for example, the prophylactic use of inorganic iodine, lessening further absorption by radioactive iodine from food by blocking iodine uptake. Very sincerely yours, CO b-4_ R.R. RRM:ls LTR217-F Merliss, La M.D.