DRAFT
39
Late 1972
MEDICAL
RADIATION
According to urine bioassays from people coming to and Boing from Bikini
Island, cesium’ concentration shows an increase by a factor of four over 1970
results and strontium” levels increase by a factor of two.
The T.T. begins a program of sending monthly shipments offfood to Bikini.””
A Rongelap male dies of carcinoma of the stomach. This fnay be related to
radiation exposure, according to BNL.
A physician from BNL is stationed in the Marshall Islands as a resident
physician.
His responsibilities include monitoring the thyroid trdatment program;
visiting Rongelap. Utirik, and Bikini Atolls every
three to four monfhs; and assisting
the T.T. medical services with the care of Rongelap and Utirik patiengs
at Ebeye and Majuro.”"’
1973
at the hospitals
ADMINISTRATION
CONTRACTOR
RADIATION
A Radiological Assessment Review Group (RARG), organize
by the director,
DBER, reviews the adequacy and sufficiency of the Enewetak radiolbgical survey data
in order to oversee evaluations of the survey. Members are not directly involved in
the actual survey. These members are N. F. Barr, DBER, Chaif; T. F. McCraw,
AEC/DOS; B. Shleien, PHS; C. L Weaver, EPA; R B. Leachnfan, DOD; P. F.
Gustafson, ANL; C. R. Richmond, LASL; and A. H. Seymoilfr, University of
Washington.*”
Urine bioassays from people coming and going from Bkini Island show
cesium’”’ in urine higher than in 1970 by a factor of about ten afd an increase in
strontium™ by a factor of four. This information is provided asftestimony during
House Appropriations Committee hearings in spring 1978. It is thken from a BNL
report 50424, September 1975,”°
14 Feb 73
RADIATION
Field operations of the Enewetak radiological survey are cofmpleted.”™
21 Mar - 12 Apr 73
CONTRACTOR
MEDICAL
Conard of BNL and his team conduct the annual medical survey. No new
cases of leukemia or blood disorders are discovered. New thyroid [abnormalities are
detected, including three which might be related to the 1954 fallolit and three that
are probably unrelated. The th roid nodules in all but one case ar¢ scheduled to be
removed surgically in Cleveland within several weeks.”
11 Apr 73
LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY
Micronesian P.L. 5-52 provides for certain care and benefitg to the people of
Rongelap and Utirik Atolls exposed to the 1 March 1954 H-bomlj test fallout; "for
care and benefits to certain other people from Rongelap and Utigik, and for other
purposes.” The high commissioner of the T.T. is directed to “stek an executive
agreement With the Atomic Energy Commission whereby expensesipcurred under the
provisions of this act will be defrayed ... by the Atomic Energy
Commission."
In