DNA representatives briefed the panel on the details of the occupation, such as the units involved, troop arrivals and departures, billet locations, and mission and assignments. Science Applications International Corporation, a DNA contractor, then provided a worst-case estimate of the radiation doses received by the occupation forces based on historical reports of occupation troop activities and radiological data taken directly from refereed journals and technical reports available to the panel. Staff members of the Radiation Effects Research Foundation and the National Cancer Institute also provided expert testimony. Representatives of the veterans group took part in the discussions following these presentations. Based on the data presented at this workshop, the panel concluded the following, quoted from the report summarizing their meeting (8): 1. Scientifically sound studies of morbidity among military personnel who entered Hiroshima or Nagasaki soon after the bombings are impractical. Records of morbidity in this population are just nof¢ available, nor could they be assembled in any objective or systematic fashion. 2. Studies of mortality among these men are feasible. However, from a strictly scientific point of view, such studies appear to carry inordinate cost in relation to the potential benefit. 3. No study of the population in question could detect effects that would be predictable from existing knowledge of health hazards associated with radiation exposure. 4. The possibility that multiple myeloma is occurring in excess in these veterans, as has been alleged, should be explored. This should not at first involve a full-scale epidemiologic study. The number of confirmed cases of the disease in this population should first be determined, and an evaluation made as to whether this is excessive before any further studies are recommended.... Even if an excess number of cases of multiple myeloma is present in this population, it is unlikely to be attributable to ionizing radiation. DNA requested that conclusion 4 be pursued. The NAS accordingly appointed a new panel tasked to investigate all alleged cases of multiple myeloma among the occupation troops, verify the diagnosis, and compare the number of verified cases with the number of cases that would be expected ina similar (unexposed) population. 189 cm +