DRAFT

12

16 Mar 54

RADIATION

Naval station, Kwajalein, reports signs of radiation injury to the Rongelap
group with a "modest decrease in white blood cells.". During the fe 48 hours two
reportedly vomited and others experienced nausea.

approximately 125 r. cumulative."”

‘These r idents received

23 Mar 54

MEDICAL
RADIATION

26 Mar 54
CONTRACTOR
RADIATION

——

The RongelapIslanders are the only Marshall Islanders now h owing radiation
sickness symptoms, including hair loss, skin and mucous memb bre lesions, and
blood count averages about two-thirds of normal.”

The University of Washington Laboratory of Radiatio Biology (LRB)
participates in the first expedition to Rongelap Atoll to collect biol ical samples for
measurements of radiation contamination.”

1 Apr 54
ADMINISTRATION
MEDICAL

| | Shipman back
LASL Director Norris E. babury replies that

Graves requests the LASL director to contrive an excuse to

to Los Alamos as soon as possible.
Shipman is returning in a few days.”
13 Apr 54

MEDICAL
PLUTONIUM
RADIATION

Dr. Thomas L. Shipman of LASL reports that the anal sis of urine of
Rongelapese and air weather service personnel exposed to Castle Brdvo fallout shows
an initial total body dose of iodine’ of about 50 microcuries accom nied by shorterlived iodine isotopes equivalent to about 5 millicuries of iodine at the time of
uptake. The estimated total integrated dose to the thyroid is a ut 130 "rep" of
which 50 "rep” is from iodine’. Shipman gives estimated body urdens of other
nuclides; he finds plutonium as less than one-half of the m imum accepted
permissible amount."

20 Apr 54

CLAIMS
Prominent Marshall Islanders petition the UN to end the Pacif test operations
if possible, but, if tests are necessa ry, to take all possible precatof to protect the
health and welfare of the residents.
ADMINISTRATION
MEDICAL
RADIATION

eee

22 Apr 54

According to JTF-7 Commander Gen. Clarkson, although th Joint Chiefs of
Staff (CS) directive for Castle "is silent on responsibilities” for the rad ipactive exposure

Select target paragraph3