Response to Question a. 7 The estimate for cancer deaths in the United States was given in the National Academy of Sciences report, “Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation” (BEIR) III (1982), as 16.4%. Since this 16.4% applied to a heavily industrialized nation, the United States, the authors of the DOE-1982 booklet used a value of 15% as being more applicable to the population of the world, which includes a large fraction in lesser Since the northern Marshall Islands are not industrialized countries. industrialized, the authors believed cancer deaths were more likely to be about 15% than as high as the 16.4% in the United States. The value of 10 deaths in 30 years from nonradiation-related cancer among the Rongelap population was estimated by first calculating the estimated number of births and deaths using information from the final draft of the Marshall Islands Five Year Health Plan, prepared by the Trust Territories Department of Health Services, Office of Health Planning and the Resources Department. From this Plan, the following were obtained: (1) Rate of increase of the population had been N3.8% per year (2) Infant death rate: 3.2 deaths per 100 births (3) Overall death rate: X1.54% per year (4) Birth rate: 4.2% per year Total population at end of 30 years (beginning with 233 people), P30: P3(-J= 233 (1 +0.038)30 = 713 Number of Births, B: B = 0.042x 233 / 03!l.038)x dx (X = time between O and 30) B = 541 Deaths = b. c* 0.034x 233 / ~3!l.038)x dx = 70. Assuming 15% of deaths are due to naturally occurring cancer, 15% of 70 = -’10. I do not know if DOE has a position on whether nonradiation-induced cancers are a greater threat and risk to the Rongelap people than radiation-related cancers. Since, as stated in 7b above, I am not aware of any position held by DOE in this regard, there is no basis for a statement. Response to Question 8 a. In the DOE-1982 booklet, estimates were given for the person, who in some one year, might receive a radiation dose larger than anyone else because his or her dietary practices and metabolism might have led to intakes and retention of radioactive material greater than that of the In this booklet, the highest average radiation doses average person. 5