\ | LfLand. Wie /V/ M RT BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY REFER: UPTON, L.1.. N.Y. TEL. YAPHANK . - ‘ ASSOCIATED UNIVERSITIES, INC. 4-6262 July 25, 1997 AOES79P RY Dr. Charles L. Dunham Director, Division of Blology and Medicine Atomic Energy Commission Dear Chuck: At your request, in addition to plans for the regular annual medical survey of the Marshallese for next March which will be submitted in the near future, the following supplementary proposal is submitted, This proposal is based on the assumption that the Navy will again furnish an LST for the annual survey. It is also assumed that the LST will originate from Pearl Harbor. The use of an LST is considered essential for carrying out the entire medical survey and will be explained in more detail in the main proposal. Since little is known about the relationship in human beings of total body burden of radioactive isotopes to their urinary excretion rates data on these ratios would be of great importance. The Rongelap people generally have higher body burdens of radioisotopes than are found in other peoples of the world, This type of correlative analysis would therefore be more easily accomplished in this group. In addition the influence of the slight environ mental contamination which exists on the island conld be evaluated in the future from such studies. In order to achieve these objectives it is proposed that whole body gamma spectra be obtained as well as simultaneous urine collections for radiochemical analysis on all the exposed Rongelap people and the unexposed Rongelap people living with them in conjunction with the next survey. From studies of data from such mgasurements on body burdens of gamma isotopes and ur excretion rates of Sr’~ from fallout, it might be possible to predict the Sr” excretion rate based on body burdens of one or more gamma emitters determined from gamma spectroscopye These studies would alse correlate with similar studies contemplated for the Medical Department at B,N.L. The gamma spectra analyzers could be used at B.N.L, when not in use on the Marshallese, The following specific requirements are considered necessary: 1. Equipment: a) An 8" diameter by 4” thick Sodium Iodide, Thallium activated crystal. A large crystal of this type ia needed in order to achieve satiefactory resolution of the photoelectric peaks resulting from gamma rays of various energiese REPOSITORY Naber) Recor Coplhe . couection 6) BOX Ne. BOX — / FOLDER , 1481993 / L62 Ds Ms , ~ 7ie fsbo pow As S. i . ee