Surveillance
Destse- Tile
13.
22 Facilizties
and
Sites
Jose Reassessment for Posulacions sm Aongeiao and Vririx
Following Exposure 29 Falsouc
Gx-DL+OL-52-3-)
Puolications
i ee, oat me,
None
14
Sccoce:
(a)
200 Word Summary:
‘Ineidences of thyroid nodules, benizn and malig-
mant, in the exposed sooulacions of Utirik and Rongelap have indicated critical
differences in correspondence between nodule incidence and thyroid dose for
che two populations. The estimated external dose received from the time iallout began to the time of evacuation shows that che Rongelap sooulacion vraeeived an external dose ( 175 rads) which was about tnirteen times ctnat for
the Ucirik population (14 rads), and the thyroid dose was about ten tines
larger, whereas the incidence of thyroid nodules in the two populations were
mot sianficancly difference.
A preliminary study nas indicaced that the critical area ci investigation
chat could shed Ligne is the period during tfallouc and evacuation Zor botn she
islands.
In addition, the face that the Ucirik population returned within 120
davs following evacuactisn, whereas che Rongelap scoulation recurned only ater
chree vears,
requires
that we
Look closely at the Usirik
a Longer exposure period, both internal and external.
soosulacion in terms of
Further scudies would,
therefore, have to concentrate on the re-examination of all available data in
reports issued by varicus agencies during that period, consultacions with scientific personnel iavelved at thac time, idencifying the areas of uncertaincy,
and using appropriate computer orograms to analyze the data. The end vresule
will enable us to look for correlations between the incidence of chyroid
nodules and che reassessed dose estimates,
13.
Relacionsaios 29 Other esatects:
(a)
This study will help establish dose escimates from the time of the
incident to the present, and will complemenc the aerial susvey, fer extarnal
radiation neasurements, ovar chese islands, wnich is scheduled soon.
Together
cney snould present a reliable sicture of doses received by the sopulations
and also enadle dose astimates to be srojected inco the future.
(b) This study will be in close conjunction wich the 3NL Radiological
Satety Program in the Marshall Islands and with relatad programs of the 3NL
Medical Department. Continued collaboracion with the University of Wasnington,
Laboratory of Radiation Ecology, in the area of environmental radioactivity
will be maintained.
16.
Tecnnical Proeress
in FV 1973:
Preliminary Literature search and consultations with Dr. C. A. Sondhaus,
University of California, nave been completed. This nas resulted in defining
areas of uncertainty in information and establishing the procedural steps chac
should be carried out cowarcs elucidating this problem.
Zrogress is being nade
(See Continuacion Shees)
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rm ee ee ee
=
ane