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

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