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AOR ERS
June 4, 1975
Senator Amata Kabua
Majuro, Marshall Islands
96960
Dear Anata:
I have just finished a meeting with Dr. Conard during which I told hia
of sy visit with you at Mejuro last month. 1 talked with him especially
about your understanding, or belief, that some of the Rongelap people
who were absent from Rongelap at the time of the Bravo test, but who
subsequently returned to Rongelap had experienced some symptoms of
iliness frow radiation exposure.
standing may have arisen.
I believe I see now how that misunder,
As you know, Or. Conard and hfs team of doctors have identified what {s
referred to as a control group - unexposed people with the same general
physica) characteristics and the same life style for comparison with the
expesed population. Thus, fn studying such things as rate of growth of
children and other fnadicaters of health and well-being they have a
“normal” population to measure against and can more readily identify
abnormal trends.
The contro] group is examined requiarly, of course, and occasfonally
some fllness or abnormality appears in that group alse - just as may
happea {fn any population at any lecation. There have indeed been a
few cases of thyroid abnormalities {n the contro} group, and when
found these have been promptly treated; but this {a no way suggests that
the cause of the abnormalities {s fallout radiation. In fact, Dr. Conard
has stated that he has found no evidence of radiation effects in any of
the ceatrel group.
I hope that this explanation answers the question you ratsed. Should
you wish to pursue {t further I am sure that Dr. Conard would welcome
a letter from you.
With best regards.
Siacerely,
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
Roger Ray, Assistant Manager
for Operations