Sixty-four inhabitants of Kongelap received an
estimated dose of JTS 1. whok-body +v-radiation.
Is Ronyolay peopl: on Aiimgnae received abo
half thie dosage. and
357 of the people on Utiry
recarved about 14 1 whole-body radiation. Tn
exposed people were evacuated te. radiation-freislands in the Marshatls. Th Utirik inhabitaniwere repatriated soon after then evacuation when r
was determined that the islanc was sate for habitation.
The exposed Konyelapese. as well as some 15¢
unexpused relatives, were revirued vo Rongelap im
Judy 1957 when the radinioncal havard was judged
to have been terminated) There was. however, slight
residual radhoactivity remaining on the island. and
the body burdens of rudioacwive substances, particuJariv of cassiumn-137 and 2ine-85, and urinary excretior.
of nucleotides has risen im the Rongelapese since ther
revarn. Both the orwinally exposed and the unexposed pyople now have uiereased body burden, with
ho significant difference. between the twe groups.
The body burden of these radionuclides is below the
Maximum permissible levels.
Rongelap is in the western (Ralik) chain and
Ctirik in the eastern (Radak) chain of the Marshall
Islands. Some differences in lanwuage and customs
preva: between these twe sroups. but for most
purpuses the poople of Kong: and Utimnk may he
colsidered to be closely related racially.
fonselap urmes fran, G7) exposed (including 12
Otitees fron madisiduals exrose oon Atlmome.. bly
rinesxposed and 4 ubidentiged pespte were coleeted in
plastic butties containing thyino: preservative. The
sample vepresents 75-7 per cent of the population of
Uhe villare at the time of the visit. The sexes were
oqualis represented. and dhe ase. of fhe subyeets
varied from 3 vears veiete than TO veats Tn sane
cases, several menibers of the same family were
Incinded. and some Kimstips surtable for genet:
analysis Were available. Enghieen samples randomly
selected on Utirik were also studied. The urines were
kept at 4° C. and shipped in refrigerated containers 10
Seattle for analysis. Studies were completed 2-3
weeks after collection of specimens. Determinations
of B-amino-rsobutytic acid were carried out by highvoltage electrophoresis on paper’ and creatinine was
determined by the alkaline-picrate method.
During the course of the medica! evaluation of the
Rongelapese by Conard and his associates, the body
burdens of nucleatides were determined’, Through
the courtesy of Dr. 8. Cohn of the Brookhaven
National Lahoratory, who performed these measurements, the body burdens of csesium-137 and zinc-65
2